Justice

by Debra Webb

  “ It’ s true.” He leaned back into the supple leather of his chair. “ I’ ve been in love with her for years.” A faraway look claimed his features as he went on, “ We fell hard for each other shortly after my mother’ s death.”

  Kayla’ s heart slammed hard against her sternum. Could she have been so wrong about this? She just couldn’ t believe Rainy would have cheated on Marshall.

  “ But it didn’ t work out,” he added, a keen sadness in his voice. “ We were both too young and foolish to recognize what was best for us.”

  As relieved as she was to learn their relationship had ended long ago, that didn’ t give her all she wanted to know. “ So you and Rainy hadn’ t been involved since,” Kayla pressed. She needed more recent history. The pain she’ d seen in his eyes when she first entered his office was far deeper than that suffered from a lost love so very long ago. David had been in love with Rainy. Still was.

  “ Last year,” he confessed, “ we worked on a trial together.” He stared down at his hands as if the right words would somehow fall within his grasp. “ We spent a lot of time together… talked.” He let go a weary breath. “ I fell in love with her all over again. I think she felt strongly about me as well.”

  Disappointment speared Kayla all over again. She didn’ t want to hear this about her dear friend. Rainy was too strong to be weak where her marriage was concerned. She’ d always been the strong one. Always. This just didn’ t fit. And yet, Kayla had to hear it all.

  “ But,” he continued, “ Rainy loved Marshall.” David’ s watery gaze fastened on Kayla’ s. “ Though her marriage was less than idyllic, she would not cheat on her husband.”

  Extreme relief bloomed in Kayla’ s chest. She should have known better than to doubt Rainy. A frown nagged at her brow as she processed the rest of what David said. “ What do you mean her marriage was less than idyllic?”

  He took a few moments to gather his thoughts or to choose his words carefully before he answered. “ She wanted children desperately.”

  That much Kayla had learned.

  “ Marshall didn’ t seem to care one way or the other.” David lifted his hands in a gesture of uncertainty or indifference. “ He wanted a child if that’ s what would make Rainy happy but he didn’ t want to bother with the extreme measures. When she didn’ t conceive, he wanted to move on. To forget about it. Rainy was intensely disappointed. I think the whole situation put a strain on their marriage.”

  David leaned forward, clasped his hands together on his desk. “ I don’ t have any hard feelings toward Marshall. Maybe I should. But he didn’ t steal Rainy from me, he merely took what I foolishly let go.” The true depth of his regret showed in his listless eyes.

  It hurt just a little that Rainy would share these intimate details with David and not her friends. Did Allison know? Kayla had known Rainy wanted children, but not this. An ache churned through her at the idea of how her friend must have agonized over the situation. Kayla’ d had no idea. Even Marshall hadn’ t indicated that things between him and Rainy had digressed to this point. But then, why would he?

  “ Had she confronted Marshall about this?” It felt like a betrayal to Marshall to ask, but she had to. The cop in Kayla could not do otherwise.

  David shook his head. “ I don’ t think so. At least, if she did, she didn’ t mention it to me.”

  Kayla’ s instincts went on point. “ Do you recall her seeming upset or acting any differently than usual?” Her heart thumped hard. How long had Rainy known? What steps had she taken before invoking the promise?

  “ Those last few months… especially over the summer… ” He hesitated, clearly grappling to maintain his composure. “ She always seemed preoccupied. Distant. I thought maybe she’ d begun to feel guilty about our time together though it was completely innocent.”

  Maybe on Rainy’ s side, but on David’ s it had gone way beyond friendship. He’ d fallen hard for Rainy… again.

  “ The last couple of times I saw her, she was upset. She wouldn’ t talk about it.”

  A weight settled on Kayla’ s chest. Rainy had been upset because she’ d discovered the truth. Maybe weeks before asking for help. She’ d known what someone had done to her all those years ago. Kayla had to look away from David then. He’ d loved her, maybe as much or more than Marshall had. All this time Kayla had thought Marshall was the perfect husband. How could he have been indifferent to Rainy’ s needs… to her distraction those last weeks of her life?

  Or was it easier for Kayla to take that position considering what Hadden had told her and now, with this new evidence? Did it make her less guilty for enjoying Marshall’ s kiss for a second? Something was wrong.

  No. She couldn’ t judge Marshall so harshly just yet.

  But was that her objectivity speaking… or the woman in her? She would be lying to herself if she claimed not to have been affected by his kiss… his touch.

  Christ, she was losing all objectivity here.

  “ Thank you for your time, David.” She stood, certain she couldn’ t listen to any more of his heartrending stories about Rainy. Obviously there was nothing of benefit to her investigation that she could learn from his personal torment.

  Had Rainy secretly loved him? Would she have gone to David if Marshall hadn’ t been in the way? Had Marshall suspected as much? The rage Kayla had witnessed today was so unlike the man she’ d known all these years.

  Some aspects of Rainy’ s final days she might not ever understand.

  Her grandmother would say that there were some things a mere human didn’ t need to know. Maybe this love triangle was one of those things. But if the information would help her bring down the ones responsible… help her find Rainy’ s child…

  Kayla drove back to Athens, her heart floundering in her chest. Maybe she wasn’ t objective enough to conduct this investigation properly. She could talk to Jim, let him help. Or Hadden.

  She dismissed both possibilities.

  She owed it to Rainy to do this one personally. The promise. She couldn’ t back out on that promise now. No matter how hard the going got.

  Rainy was counting on her. Rainy’ s child or children had to be found. The motivation behind this evil legacy had to be uncovered, those behind it brought to justice.

  Kayla had to do her part. Alex and the others had already done theirs.

  Her cell phone vibrated, reminding her that she’ d set it on silent vibrate before going into David Gracelyn’ s office.

  “ Ryan.”

  “ Mom, where are you?”

  For an instant panic gripped Kayla’ s heart. “ What’ s wrong?” She glanced at the clock. 6:15. Had she made a mistake about the time to pick up her daughter at choir practice? Had something happened?

  “ Nothing, Mom,” Jazz said, relieving her mother’ s mushrooming anxiety with the simple statement. “ My friend Lexi wants to know if I can spend the night with her so we can study for the science test tomorrow.”

  “ Jazz.” Her daughter knew how much she hated last-minute sleepovers like this. They always put someone involved at a disadvantage. The girl was probably standing right beside Jazz, listening, hoping.

  “ It was her mom’ s idea,” Jazz put in quickly. “ Honest. She said she’ d make homemade pizza and everything. No TV, just studying.”

  Kayla hoped her lack of cooking skills wasn’ t the motivation behind her daughter’ s mention of homemade pizza. Mary had taken to the cooking skills their mother and grandmother had taught. Kayla was just hopeless. But she could outweave her sister any day of the week. She just didn’ t have time for any hobbies lately.

  “ Please, Mom.” Jazz evidently took her silence for hesitation.

  Granted, Kayla could use the time to try and track down Betsy Stone. The woman apparently never went home, and certainly never responded to her messages.

  Kayla caved, just like she always did. “ All right, but this had better be the last time you give me short notice like this.”

  Her
daughter’ s squeals of delight were sufficient justification. The echoing peals of joy were no doubt from Lexi, who had been listening. Oh, well. Anything to make the kid happy.

  Kayla tucked her phone back into her pocket and took the turn that led to Athena Academy. Like Christine, Betsy resided in one of the staff bungalows on school property. Not that she was ever there. It was late but Kayla intended to check her house as well as the infirmary for any sign of the elusive woman.

  Maybe Kayla would just wait outside the nurse’ s house all night. After all, her daughter would be with a friend. She had no reason to go home.

  That thought depressed her. The little house she and Jazz called home would be empty, too quiet and too lonesome. If Kayla turned on the television or her favorite CD she could make some noise, but she’ d still be alone.

  Not even a whole bottle of wine would chase that empty feeling away.

  Peter Hadden’ s image traipsed through her mind before she could stop it.

  She rolled her eyes and made a scoffing sound. What was wrong with her lately? She was only twenty-nine. It wasn’ t like she was an old maid, not by today’ s standards. Maybe it was Rainy’ s death, her missing offspring. Or Marshall’ s desperate loneliness.

  Suddenly and with complete certainty, Kayla knew that she didn’ t want to end up that way.

  Alone.

  Annoyed at herself for launching the pity fest, she drove to the infirmary. The place looked utterly deserted. When classes were in session, the infirmary was open 24/7, but with most students gone for the holidays, hours were limited now.

  Instead of climbing back into her Jeep she opted for walking to Nurse Stone’ s bungalow. It was smaller and several houses away from Christine’ s place. The principal’ s lights were on. Kayla considered dropping by to talk with her but decided to give Christine some time to come to terms with her own confession before she intruded. She felt certain emotions would still be tender. Christine had been harboring that dark secret for a long time.

  Kayla knocked on Nurse Stone’ s door but didn’ t get a response. The house was silent and dark.

  Not to be deterred, Kayla took a seat on the top step leading to the bungalow’ s porch. She would wait all night if necessary. Betsy Stone had put her off long enough. She’ d claimed on the two other occasions when Kayla had interviewed her that she knew nothing, but she had to. There was no way around it.

  Christine stated that Betsy had had an affair with Dr. Bradford. Cleo Patra, the surrogate who had carried a baby that could possibly be Rainy’ s child, also claimed that a Nurse Stone had worked with Dr. Reagan during her pregnancy. The description matched Betsy Stone. No way could the elusive nurse lie her way out of this. Kayla had the proof she needed now to push her harder.

  The idea that Betsy was involved made perfect sense. Betsy Stone had access to all the students’ files. She would have known what to look for in the event Rainy’ s selection as an egg donor had required certain characteristics.

  She needed to find Dr. Reagan’ s files. She also needed to find Carl Bradford. He appeared to have dropped off the face of the earth a couple years ago.

  That made him a primary suspect.

  Could he be in hiding?

  The hair on the back of Kayla’ s neck suddenly stood on end.

  She stilled, listened, her hand going instinctively to the weapon at her side.

  The whisper of foliage against fabric reached her. She eased up from the step and moved silently in the direction of the corner of the house.

  Kayla flattened against the aged siding. She forced her respiration to calm and listened harder.

  Someone was here. Close.

  Nurse Stone?

  Why would she sneak around in the dark?

  Where would she have left her car?

  Kayla moved along the side of the house, pausing to listen every few seconds. The sound never came again. In fact, she didn’ t hear any kind of sound. Not even the crisp night air stirred the barren limbs of the trees surrounding the staff housing area.

  Nothing.

  Keeping her movements stealthy, she eased all the way around the house, listening, watching. Still nothing.

  She made another round of the house, this time looking in the windows. Everything seemed normal.

  When she felt certain she was alone, she moved back to the front of the house and waited in the shadows of the porch.

  Most of the staff members who lived on campus were away for the holidays. It wasn’ t impossible that Betsy Stone had taken a trip to wherever her family resided. She didn’ t always report in to Christine during the school’ s downtime. Kayla would have to question Christine about any family Betsy had and look into that possibility if the woman hadn’ t shown by daylight.

  She shook herself, ridding her body of the lingering sensations of not being alone in the dark. Looking at the situation from a rational standpoint, it wasn’ t impossible that she was feeling paranoid since Rainy’ s murder. She’ d worked plenty of investigations in the past, even a couple of murder cases, and hadn’ t gotten spooked. But Rainy was more than just a case, she was a lifelong friend. A good friend. Maybe that was the reason Kayla felt under constant scrutiny.

  But that wouldn’ t explain the person she’ d chased through the cemetery. Whatever the reason, she didn’ t like the feeling of being watched. The sensation gave her a new outlook on how suspects felt when she and her partner were on a stakeout. Only, she wasn’ t the guilty party here.

  Or was she?

  The idea that Mike might have hired someone to follow her in hopes of pinning some bad rap on her to help him gain custody of their daughter slammed into her brain with all the subtlety of a broad ax.

  What if Mike didn’ t just want to see Jazz? What if he wanted her all to himself? Those meager monthly payments could stop and maybe being a single father would make him look less self-serving to his superiors. Getting custody of Jazz might help to mend his damaged reputation. After all, being a father could go a long way in changing people’ s opinions about a man.

  He would take Jazz over Kayla’ s dead body.

  She shivered.

  There were people who could arrange that very situation.

  Shit. Now she was really dancing to the tune of paranoia.

  Maybe she’ d take a walk down to Christine’ s anyway. Talk for a few minutes. Ask about any family Betsy Stone might have. Anything to get her mind off Mike and stalkers.

  As she strode along the sidewalk she mentally kicked herself for being such an idiot. She was not afraid of Mike Bridges. She doubted his damaged reputation could be mended if he showed up in front of his commander with a whole gaggle of kids. For all Kayla knew, Jazz might not be his only child.

  Something else she didn’ t want to think about.

  She tapped on Christine’ s door and waited. The sound of the television filtered through the wall. One of those legal dramas everyone who had time for television loved.

  She rapped again and this time while she waited she surveyed the darkened area around the bungalows. The inky drive that cut in front of the small homes. The thick copse of trees that provided shade during the long, hot summers. In the distance, the dormitory she’ d once occupied stood, scarcely visible and tomb-silent in the meager moonlight. If Jazz attended Athena she would stay there. Instantly the memory of midnight snacks and giggles echoed through Kayla’ s mind. No matter how closely they were monitored, the Cassandras always managed to have the occasional midnight rendezvous.

  Kayla smiled. Their lives had been so different then. Who would have thought they’ d have grown up and lost Rainy. That familiar ache pierced her. Each of them had achieved a level of professional success any woman would find satisfying. And it wasn’ t as if their personal lives were any more screwed up than the average person’ s in this day and time.

  But they’ d felt so special in their Athena days. Like the rest of the world couldn’ t touch them. Somehow above it all.

  They’ d bee
n wrong. Evil had touched them through Rainy. Whoever had set that evil in motion had to be found and stopped. What if more students had been touched by it? There was just no way to know yet.

  Kayla looked away. She felt torn. Jazz would blossom here. No doubt about that. But would she be safe from men like Dr. Reagan and Dr. Bradford?

  Would she really be safe anywhere?

  Just another worry for a parent.

  She expelled a sigh. Every parent went through these same scenarios, or very similar ones in any event. Protecting her child was priority one.

  She frowned. Why hadn’ t Christine answered the door? She tried to peer in a window, but the blinds were closed.

  Kayla pivoted and banged a little harder this time.

  Cocking her head, she strained to listen.

  Over the sound of the television program she heard… a muffled groan or cry.

  Adrenaline lit like a wildfire in her veins.

  She tried the door.

  Locked.

  Not wanting to waste time picking the lock she reared back and kicked the door in.

  It flew inward, banged against the wall.

  Christine lay on the floor. She reached out toward Kayla then wilted into a heap.

  Kayla rushed to her.

  “ Christine, are you— ”

  And then she saw the blood.

  Far too much for comfort.

  “ I’ m calling for help.”

  Not leaving Christine’ s side she stabbed the speed dial number for 911 on her cell.

  Once she’ d passed along the necessary details she focused her attention on doing what she could for Christine.

  As she attempted to slow the blood spilling from her friend’ s abdomen, she wondered aloud, “ What the hell happened here?”

  Christine gasped in pain, then stuttered, “ I— I— ”

  Her eyes looked glassy. Her skin was too cool to the touch.

  Kayla swore silently. Not good. She took the necessary steps for rudimentary treatment of shock, careful to keep her right hand over the wound. Despite her best efforts blood still seeped between her fingers.

  Christine struggled to say something… but her words were nothing more than choked gasps.