by Regan Black
"Clear."
"Here, too." The first guttural voice was answered by an equally deep and dispassionate reply.
She waited, pressed flat against the wall, for the rest to check in. None did. Her lips curved. Her against two put the odds heavy in her favor.
She listened to the footfalls to determine the intent of the intruders. Hearing the quiet whir of her computer told her they were most likely after Brenda's pictures.
"Found it. What about you?"
Two searchers. Two targets. But was she the second target or the diary? Somehow the Judge knew what she was about, knew who she was this time. As far as she could recall, he'd never come directly after her before.
Jaden had to move before the computer revealed the diary's location.
With a rude burst every light in the place came on at full power. The man at the computer had found the master controls. Soon he'd activate the infrared to show the location of everyone in the house, blowing her element of surprise. It was a standard security system and relatively pointless. Any hack with the most basic password finder could seize control with little effort.
This was precisely why she'd personally rewritten a new code and layered it over the standard system.
With heavy footsteps beating a quick pace to her position, Jaden dropped to a crouch and ran, using the wall as a shield.
"The east side. Hidden access."
The informed shout gave her pause and made her decision easier. Changing direction, she leaped for the nearest control panel, entering her contingency code.
Jaden heard the soft hum and click as her commands took effect, but the following whistle of a passing bullet earned her full attention.
The lights snapped out, just as she'd programmed, and the cursing of the intruder at her computer told her he couldn't stop the cascade of automatic responses.
"Retire the side and let's get out of here."
The unmistakable sound of a revolver being loaded reached Jaden's ears. She knew only one enforcer still using a revolver.
"What about the package?"
"Working on it. If ya had better aim, we wouldn't need it."
In the silence she felt the signals. Signals she would use if she were the hunter. Taking the only strategic advantage left, she rolled out of the open door toward her nearest opponent and slid into his knee with a single, bone-crunching kick. His shot went high and wide.
His agonized screams ended with her merciful knock out sweep to his neck. Now armed with his weapon, an old-school automatic, she maneuvered through the darkness to find his boss.
Keyed to every nuance of sound in her home, Jaden heard the move he'd assumed to be silent. She aimed the mac-10 at her opponent, squeezed off a warning shot and gave the voice command to bring the lights up halfway.
"Stand up," she called to the intruder. "Hands high and let me see the gun."
Even in the dim light the man's polished revolver gleamed.
"Triple Threat Tony," she said, using the nickname he'd given himself years ago. "What brings you by?"
"Just business, Ms. Jaden." The revolver's business end still targeted her ceiling.
It might've sounded like any other mundane conversation, but she kept the gun trained on him. Tony would've ruled the Wild West with his talent for speed and accuracy with a firearm. She didn't dare relax.
"So, how much am I worth?"
"Not you, hon. Not you. Couple trivial items is all. That's all I need."
"Tony, I'm not deaf. You told your worthless buddy over there to kill me. And trivial's a matter of perspective."
"True, hon. That's true. Give me a break, huh? I knew his aim would give you a fair chance."
Jaden glanced at the time display just over Tony's left shoulder. "Look, you've got about one more minute before cops are crawling all over this place. Tell me who's paying you and I'll give you a head start."
"Can't do that."
"Can your pal?"
"He's not dead?"
"Tony," she scolded. "You know better."
He shrugged, and she took it as an apology of sorts.
"He doesn't know nothin'. Worthless, just like you said."
"C'mon, Tony. Give me a line on the money."
"Sorry, sweetie." The wail of sirens grew closer. "Time's up." Tony dropped his arm and got off a shot, forcing Jaden to dive sideways while firing his buddy's weapon. As she lay there, her first concern was how Tony had missed. Then, willing her breathing to slow, she counted back the shots fired. Three.
Three?
"God, no!" She leaped up and vaulted the counter to see Tony lying in a puddle of blood, his hand still wrapped around the gun at his temple. "No! Tony!"
"Police! Step back, ma'am," a new voice boomed behind her.
She didn't. Instead she swiped the tears from her eyes and looked for where her shot lodged. In the fridge, of all places. She shook her head.
"I'm fine."
"Good for you. Care to explain?"
"A break in. Hacked my system. I engaged the backup."
The officer didn't seem to care. "With two dead, the paperwork'll kill me."
"Two?"
"Yeah, two. You didn't pop this guy here?"
Jaden shook her head again, understanding the impact of the three shots. Tony had killed his partner, then himself. With an outdated silver revolver. What wasted skill.
For Jaden, it confirmed the obvious. The Judge wanted those pictures buried and Jaden with them. Failure was clearly not an option Tony cared to explore.
"Wouldn't put it past her."
Jaden turned to see the glowering face of Chuck Loomis. "The ballistics will clear me."
"Good thing we've got us a shiny new van," Chuck said with a sneer.
I miss Larry too, she thought as Loomis pulled gunshot residue from her hands and labeled the sample.
"Why are you using guns anyway? Thought you were the hands only expert."
"She's both."
The new voice belonged to the Chief of Police, a.k.a. the 'street rat'. Turning, Jaden noted the slight limp and would've bet her best code-breaking card the bruise was dark, purple and painful.
She extended her hand in an effort to head off further hostilities. "Jaden Michaels. What brings the Chief out on a routine call?"
"You consider two dead men routine?"
Apparently he hadn't spent much time on the streets of his city. "Not at all. Nor is breaking and entering. They compromised my security system and came gunning for me."
"Yet here you stand without a scratch."
"A woman's got a right to defend herself." And others who can't.
His arms folded across his chest and she wondered how dense she could be. His arrogance, intensity, his every movement should have alerted her to his real identity, regardless of the shabby disguise he'd used on the street.
"You run a tidy profit on that theory I'd bet."
"I get by," she said.
His bark of laughter startled her and when he walked away, inviting himself for a full tour, having to follow him grated her nerves.
"This place is tricked out beyond a typical 'getting-by' income." He fingered the control panel in her private workout room, eyes widening as it responded negatively to his touch. "Well beyond."
"Touch sensors aren't that pricey."
His eyes narrowed and Jaden felt the years melt away. Long ago those storm gray eyes gave her that same look of disbelief. The disbelief that had cost her life then and several times over in the years since. Jaden, meet your executioner. Again.
The burst of awareness stole her breath and she stumbled toward the nearest chair.
"Are you okay?"
"No." Any idiot could see she wasn't.
His hand pushed her head between her knees. "Breathe," he ordered, and then called for water.
"Leave me be," she muttered in the general direction of her crotch. But he ignored her.
When the water arrived, he helped her sit up and sip slowly. Then he began
to question her.
"Did they steal anything?"
"I stopped them."
"So what'd you do to earn a bad contract?"
"Guess I helped the wrong woman."
"Maybe so. One of my officers swore you were the best hand-to-hand teacher in the district. We'll need your student roster."
"No."
His eyes went wide.
"No, thank you." Jaden scooted out from under his hovering to stand up on her own.
Based on their history, trusting him ended badly, fatally, for her. It amazed her that he seemed the one piece of the puzzle completely oblivious to the horrendous connection she shared with him and Albertson. Regardless, she didn't have time to explain to him, or anyone else, how and why she intended to fulfill her mission.
"Chief Thomas, I can deal with this threat without exposing my students to more trouble."
"We're trained to keep them safe, Ms. Michaels."
"They're safe now. I see no reason to change what's working. If you'll excuse me, I'll provide my DNA sample to help your men on their way." Then she could blow up her warehouse and retreat to an alternate hideout.
"In a hurry?"
She forced herself to sound casual. "Just a busy day tomorrow." She checked the clock. "Today. Whatever."
A piercing wail sliced through her mind and she reached for the nearest stability. But it wasn't the wall or even a chair. It was the police chief.
He held her forearms in a secure grip, her own hands instinctively gripping him in turn. When her knees buckled under the second scream, Jaden gazed up at the man she'd once loved with utter abandon.
"What's happening to you?" he asked.
His brow furrowed with confusion or concern, she couldn't tell. And he couldn't see. Even touching her, he didn't know her, didn't see the truth.
"Ms. Michaels?"
He knelt, searching her face, but the tragedy unfolding on the fringes of her consciousness stole her voice.
She had to end the Judge's reign of terror, but her strength was failing. She struggled for breath, no longer aware of her fingers digging into the chief's arms, oblivious to both her white knuckles and his hiss of pain.
She braced for the next wave, but instead of crushing her, the pain eased. Instead of exhaustion, she felt a shimmer of renewed energy.
Opening her eyes she filled her vision with him and understood. Cleveland was right, she needed help. But why did the source reside in the one man who'd never once in over a thousand years believed her?
"Thank you," she murmured, her touch lighter now.
"What happened?" he ordered.
"You tell me." She didn't dare volunteer anything. Who knew what he'd reveal to the Judge or use against her in the current case.
"You paled, cried out, and fell."
"Mmm-Hmm."
Chief Thomas released her suddenly. The cold loneliness returned with a wicked rush, but the Judge was done, leaving her to bear only her own burdens for the moment.
Thomas shook his head, rubbed at his arms. "You've got a strong grip."
"Guess so." She stood, the moment gone and with it her desire to have any partner in this venture.
"That's all?"
"I said thanks."
"But what...what caused you to...to do that?"
"Low blood sugar I guess." She stepped back, and away, eager to resume her original plans.
His hand landed on her shoulder and spun her back to face him. She wanted to lash out, but wanted to serve time for assaulting an officer of the law even less.
"Yes?" she managed.
"You're lying." His eyes locked with hers. "I know you, now. The thief." His voice dropped to a whisper. "This was a trick. A little bait and switch."
"No." She wished. "How's the knee?"
"Chuck! Get over here; I've got charges to press."
Funny, she did too. But of a much different nature. "Don't do this. You don't get it." Loomis crossed the room. "Where's the trinket you lifted?"
He held up a palm to stop the approaching detective. "Fine," he growled. "Fill me in."
She calculated her options and the price. "As soon as you clear everyone out." Maybe then, with no distractions, she could make him see the truth.
He scowled at her and she sympathized, momentarily, with his confusion. Then he snapped orders to the evidence crew to clean up and list the case as closed–with her name cleared. Larry's partner didn't care for this development, but all his protests were cut off without further discussion.
When the apartment was clear, she gently probed the issue at hand. "You've known Judge Albertson long?"
"Most of my life."
"He's like a father, a mentor, right?"
"Yes," he admitted, with a frown.
She ignored the doubt stamped on his face and the skeptical set of his mouth. "I'm testifying in his courtroom tomorrow."
"What sort of case?" He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "Breaking and entering, maybe?"
"While I've testified on the validity of certain security systems–"
"Which you test by defying them."
She dipped her head, then met his ferocious gaze. She loosened the leash on her street temper. "Who're you to judge me?" Her chin jutted and her finger stabbed at his chest. "You followed me in. You took out one of your own."
"Not without regret."
"I should hope not." Jaden turned away. She'd let it matter too much. Let Cleveland fill her head with stupid ideas about teamwork. Innocents were counting on her. Time to get on with it.
"All right, talk. Why me?"
Hell, if she knew that, life would be too easy. "I thought you might be more reasonable than your officers."
"Loomis is pretty unhappy."
"So am I," she lashed out. "Of all the people your little stunt had to cost, that's the one man I needed."
"Oh, this'll be good." His hands came out of his pockets and folded across his chest.
She remembered that pose. It wasn't a good sign. She tried to dial down her emotions. "Larry kept important evidence safe."
"Safe from what?"
"From people who wanted it gone."
"Evidence doesn't bow to the whim of 'people'."
"It shouldn't. But–"
"But nothing. Our department has protocol and procedures. We've worked hard to reclaim the integrity of law enforcement. Give me something concrete or stop insinuating otherwise."
"I give up." Exasperated, Jaden hitched her thumb at the door. "Go away. I've got to sleep if I'll be worth anything in court. Check into the Brenda Calhoun case. Then, should you care to broaden your mind, stop by your buddy's courtroom."
* * *
Jaden heard the question, but looked straight at the Judge rather than the advocate. He needed to see her courage wouldn't falter.
"Answer the question, Ms. Michaels," Judge Albertson prompted.
"The woman arrived, bruised and bleeding, begging for help."
"And you took pictures?" the Judge interjected in a patronizing voice laced with doubt.
"Yes. After I called the police. Ms. Calhoun gave her statement to them and the evidence crew collected information–"
"And took pictures," the judge interrupted again.
Stay calm. "Yes. Then I escorted Brenda to the hospital for treatment."
"Did they also take pictures at the hospital?" the defense-advocate inquired.
"Yes." Hell must've frozen over, she was wishing for an attorney. These proceedings were tedious under the wrong judge, and Albertson was as wrong as they came.
"Yet only your set of pictures remains?"
"Apparently."
"Pictures any four-year-old could create on his home computer."
The judge waved the defense-advocate to his seat and assumed the questioning himself.
"No," Jaden said quietly.
"No?"
"No. You can scan my programs. I don't have photo enhancement software. You can review the pictures themselves and yo
u'll see no trace of tampering."
"So where are these pictures?" Judge Albertson snapped.
Jaden paused, looking for the verbal trap. His henchmen had failed to kill her and the evidence. What did he hope to gain by staring at the proof himself?
She pulled a slender tube out from her portfolio. The courtroom door opened and Chief Thomas walked in. After last night, he was the last person she expected here.
Jaden unscrewed the cap off the tube and set several flat disks on the rail between her seat and the Judge's dais. Pressing the power button on, she brought each hologram to life. Close-ups of Brenda's bleeding, swollen face shimmered in the air between Jaden and the judge.
His face went red. "You said pictures," he snapped.
"Yes. I have those too." She reached into her portfolio and extended the envelope containing the dozen or so prints.
He hesitated, then accepted, his eyes hot with temper. All courtrooms were wired with a constant feed to the news services and anyone interested could tune in to any case.
In light of the incontrovertible proof she'd just presented, the Judge would have to send his friend to behavior modification. Brenda would be free to get on with her life. An angry look passed between the Judge and Brenda's ex. The accused looked away.
Jaden waited until the Judge ordered her to light the last disk. It wasn't a still. It was a recording of Brenda's testimony as given to the evidence crew.
"Ms. Michaels, is this a stunt to earn an interview for a detective's position?"
"No sir. I merely wanted to help one of my students."
"You consider yourself better equipped than the legal system we have in place?"
She couldn't believe he'd opened that door. To her, of all people. "I believe our law enforcement faces the same challenges it has in the past. Corruption and over work. I merely wanted to see justice served."
Judge Albertson brought his robe-shrouded bulk out of his chair. "Chambers, Ms. Michaels," he bellowed. "Bailiff take those things to the lab for verification."
Jaden watched the bailiff scurry to gather up the disks, then followed the judge behind the bench to his chambers.
The door slid closed behind Jaden and she heard the lock engage. A perfect opportunity to take down a demon incarnate. But without an escape route, more importantly, without the answer of how to break the curse, she wouldn't act.