“Pleased to meet you, Dr. Joseph.” The sunglasses weren’t very dark. He could see her eyes were round and beautiful, and the small mole above her upper lip accented her mouth. In spite of that don’t-touch-me hairstyle, he saw a pretty woman. Nothing she wore suited her.
“Justice, as you requested, since the fire victims’ case files are located here, I have set up a temporary adjoining office for you to use.”
“Are you all right with that, Dr. Joseph?” Justice asked. He wrote her edginess off as first-day jitters.
Kaitlyn fidgeted as Justice studied her. How much more uncivilized could he get? “No problem,” she answered and silently vowed she’d definitely kill her friend later and take her office.
“Good. Dr. Joseph, Alice will show you where your office is located,” Wil offered.
Kaitlyn jumped at the perfect exit opportunity and hurried for the door, only to be stopped by Justice. Her stomach jumped; she had to get out of the room, mainly because he kept staring at her.
“Welcome to BrightTown, Dr. Joseph.” His smile exposed two dimples. “And I have one piece of advice for you. Make sure you know your neighbors before you take up residence. There are some nut cases out there.”
Kaitlyn nearly gasped. She was definitely insulted by his statement and couldn’t care less about his dimples. Instead, with a sarcastic retort, she agreed. “I’m sure you are absolutely right, Dr. Black. There are real breathing deviants out there, and thank you, I will be careful. No one has time for that.” She held her head high and walked out of the office.
“Did I say something wrong?” He was puzzled by the tart reply and glanced over his shoulder as Kaitlyn walked away. There it was. That particular I’m- in- a- hurry walk that he hadn’t been able to get out of his head. Not only that but her accent and the way she said “that,” her build, her profile. Everything about her was the damn woman who’d called him an idiot and moron and now a deviant. Yesterday she’d nearly run him over again. He turned to Wil with a half-opened mouth and in a whisper said, “Impossible. She couldn’t be that damn neighbor?”
Since she hadn’t asked Kaitlyn where she actually lived, Wil truthfully replied, “I have no idea.”
Too late, Justice saw that gleam in Wil’s eyes. Kaitlyn’s entire demeanor had put Justice in an amused mood. He swiftly stood, ready to catch up with ill-tempered Dr. Joseph.
“Excuse me, Dr. Eastermann. I’ll be right back.” He needed to confirm his suspicions. “OK,” he mumbled, “Dr. Joseph plays games.”
Wil stood smiling in her doorway and watched her friend nervously try to outwalk Justice.
“Gianna, you are in for a rude awakening in the meaning of a good, healthy alpha male,” she laughed.
“Where is she going?” Alice asked. “She doesn’t know where her office is located.”
“Dr. Joseph,” Justice called, “you want to hold up for a minute?” The bruise on his forehead throbbed like hell; he wasn’t in fine form today.
Kaitlyn stopped and sheepishly frowned at the bruise as if it was contagious. “What happened to you?”
“Well, I had sort of an accident with a fish tank and parrots.” He waited for any reaction. It was slight and quick, but he saw she blinked at the mention of parrots. He thought, Yes, smartass, you’re the one.
“Oh,” was all that Kaitlyn would say.
Alice stopped both and motioned them to the large suite at the end of the hall.
Kaitlyn was impressed. There was a large cherrywood desk in the middle of her office, and two miniature water fountains. She smiled at Wil’s thoughtfulness. Wil knew she loved to hear the flow of water. It relaxed her mind. There were paintings of green valleys with grazing horses and clear lakes on the walls. The chairs were not those hard-backed, sit-straight kinds. They were ergonomically friendly. She smiled at one particular item: a kneeling chair. She had told Wil how a patient with a severe back problem found it more comfortable to kneel in a chair, as it eased the pressure on his back. Wil had thought of everything.
“How lovely, Alice. I love this.”
She enjoyed the city view from her large window, which also offered a wonderful view of the children’s playground outside.
“Dr. Joseph, if there is anything you don’t like about the room, please let me know.” Alice prided herself on making sure the staff had comfortable working space to make their jobs pleasant. Dr. Eastermann had given her plenty of detailed information to make her office pleasurable and inviting.
“Dr. Black,” Alice said, “your office is through the adjourning door here.”
“I’m sure everything is great, Alice. Thank you.” He gave her a wink.
Alice grinned at Wil when she returned to her desk.
“Dr. Black didn’t bother to look at his office. He said everything was great,” she blurted.
“I told you,” Wil said. Whether Justice knew it or not, Alice would now do anything for him.
Kaitlyn placed the stack of files on her desk and then sighed and spoke aloud, “Age quod agis.”
Justice stood in the doorway and watched Kaitlyn immediately pour herself into her work. Her reaction to the office told him she enjoyed simple things. In a way she fit the room.
Impressed at her use of the old Latin phrase, he responded, “Indeed, do what you do. I see you speak the dead language?”
Kaitlyn never looked up from the file she had opened and said, “Dead to who? I speak it.”
“I see.” He ignored the curt response. “Dr. Joseph, excuse me, is something wrong with your eyes? I mean, the sunglasses?”
“I have severe allergies,” she lied.
He nearly smiled. That’s probably a lie too. “You need to see a doctor about that, you know. Could be something serious.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Since you are new in town, I know of a very good specialist.”
“Thanks, but there is no need for that. I am capable of finding my way around.”
Again, he heard her accent on “that.”
“I’m sure you are.” Satisfied he had his answer, he switched to business. “As soon as you get settled, I’d like to go over the files with you. There are some things I need to cover first.” Justice excused himself to get the packet Jeri had prepared; plus he needed to make a call. When he returned a few minutes later, Kaitlyn was still reading files.
“I’m ready when you are, Dr. Black.”
She was so thankful he’d left her. Head of defense, she bet he knew everything, no matter how he pretended. He may even know she turned him in to animal control.
Justice handed her a file of photos and reports on each person she needed to review. It took his staff a day to gather this much information. Caldwell and Lane had gotten him out of bed at four this morning with more information. With Jarrod’s information, he wanted to get a head start on everything.
Kaitlyn thumbed through the pages and made notes about each one. She’d almost forgotten Justice was in the room.
“Dr. Black,” Kaitlyn finally said, “I’d like to separate these into similarities, and that will let me know the ones I’d interview first.”
“All right. Let me know, and I can have it arranged for the interview together or with someone else.” Distracted with thoughts of his own, he sat on the edge of her desk and continuously thumped a pencil on it. The noise irritated her.
“I am afraid you misunderstood me, Dr. Black. I will interview alone. That’s how I work.” She bristled and tried hard not to show her irritation with his comment and thumping. “I don’t want them to feel they are being nut busted by some cop-like presence. I’m sure they’ve had their fill of that. I know what I’m doing.”
He was not surprised; her choice description of him at his door was proof of her strength with words. Still, he needed to set things straight.
“Dr. Joseph, I don’t doubt yo
ur expertise, and I completely understand your professional reasons, but when I say I will sit in, it happens like that. No rationalization, and it is certainly not a request. I’m putting that up front, no compromises. Is that clear?”
Kaitlyn’s back bristled. His hard look penetrated through her sunglasses, and she returned one of her own.
“So that’s the way things are going to work? You make the rules?”
“That is how it will be.” He wasn’t smiling.
She eyed him with disdain and would have told him about his controlling behavior, but her instincts warned her Justice Black would do what it took to get what he wanted. She told herself this was an anthill and to step off it. But first she had to speak her mind.
“Dr. Black, you needn’t think you can bully me. I don’t back down easily. I’ll tell you what. When I’m ready, it’ll be on my terms. I need to freely do my work.”
Justice merely grunted. “This is not bullying. If you have a problem with what I said, discuss it with Dr. Eastermann.” God Almighty, this is not a good way to start work.
Kaitlyn bit the inside of her cheek and reluctantly responded with a slight nod of her head. “I can do that.”
Familiar with controlling men like him, Kaitlyn swallowed her pride and focused on her work. She didn’t know how much longer she could take his chauvinistic attitude but she would not let Wil down. Deep inside, she was certain of one thing: Justice Black could go to hell. But her professional side kept her from actually saying it out loud. This is not a good way to start off working together.
Justice didn’t like being called a bully. The two remained firm as boulders, unyielding. Tension grew in the room. Kaitlyn was relieved when Wil stuck her head in the door.
“Oh my.” Wil said. Being too familiar with both personalities, looked at the two and she made a fast decision. “Excuse me. I am sorry to interrupt. Could I see you for a moment, Dr. Joseph?”
Kaitlyn rose and calmly walked out of the office, avoiding any eye contact with Justice. Justice moved slightly to allow her to pass.
“Listen, Gianna,” Wil whispered. “I hate to do this to you, but I really need my car tonight.” Wil knew Justice, being the gentleman he was, would take Kaitlyn home.
Kaitlyn panicked. “Are you sure?” Since her car was still in the shop, this would leave her stranded, and it was too late to get a rental.
“Yes, I am quite sure.”
Kaitlyn smelled foul play. She wouldn’t be manipulated by her friend, and she silently stared at Wil and channeled the message “What you’re doing won’t work.”
Wil bit her lip, afraid she’d laugh.
Justice politely stepped outside. Dr. Joseph’s attitude was a minor thing for him. Wil had just handed him a golden opportunity.
“Excuse me. I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation. Dr. Joseph, if you need a ride, I will be glad to give you a lift. Where do you live?”
The stiff silence surrounded the three and rattled Kaitlyn’s already-fragile nerves.
“Oh, Dr. Black,” Wil cut in, “that would be great if you could do that.” She wasn’t worried. Kaityn would be perfectly safe with Justice.
Kaitlyn squinted at Wil, hoping she could read her mind, which said, “You will pay for this. I don’t even know this man.”
That done, Wil had a problem: she had two cars to get home.
“Well, that’s nice of you, Dr. Black,” Kaitlyn said. “I’m working late tonight, and I need to do some errands later. I’ll take a cab.”
“Nonsense. It’s a small town. There’s only one cab. It would cost you a fortune, and the driver is not reliable. Besides, I’m working late too.” Justice stood with his hands in both pockets and watched her shoulders drop, accepting defeat.
A large package on Wil’s desk caught her attention when she returned to her office. There was no return address. Although strictly forbidden, some of the families, grateful for the help, often slipped in their tokens of appreciation.
“Alice, do you know who brought this package?”
“No. Maybe Ken did. I’ll ask him.” Alice contacted the clerical pool and shortly hung up with a puzzled look on her face. “Ken said the package was delivered to the clerical pool with the office number on it. Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m curious as to who would send it. Make sure everything goes through you.” She opened the package, surprised to see that it had more stuffing inside than anything else. There were two books, Faust Legends and Mephistopheles Legends. “What is this?” She shrugged and placed them with her other reading materials before crushing the box in the recycle container. Some of her colleagues often sent her odd reading materials.
“Dr. Eastermann, there is a message here from a Trenton Boudreaux for you to call him.” Alice passed the number to Wil and closed the door. Wil grinned and placed the number inside of her pant pocket and prepared for her next client. Trenton could drive her car home.
Kaitlyn worked as much as possible on the reports until her back pinched and her eyes blurred. She needed to go home and get some real sleep. She shook her head in dismay at Wil’s stunt. “Thanks, Wil,” she mumbled.
As if summoned, Wil appeared at her door.
“Gianna, do you have a ride home?” She wanted to make sure she was not stranded because Kaitlyn would balk at Justice’s offer.
“Now that’s real funny,” Kaitlyn mumbled. “I’ll take a cab.”
“Nonsense. The driver is not reliable, and he cheats,” Wil said.
Justice leaned against the doorway. “Remember I offered.”
“She’ll accept. Dr. Joseph, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before Kaitlyn could protest, Wil abruptly walked away.
The room suddenly became smaller, hotter, and too quiet for Kaitlyn. She silently chastised herself for wearing the thick two-piece suit. She considered shouting her guilt to breathe freely again. Instead she turned and gave Justice a tiny cool smile. She could lie and tell him she had a few more things, but her stomach growled for food.
“Dr. Black, shall we go?”
“By all means,” Justice said as he grabbed his jacket. “Please, after you.”
She sat in the passenger seat, burning inside at the ridiculousness of the position Wil had placed her in. She then mumbled, “I will not be manipulated like this.”
“Excuse me?” Justice turned, slightly annoyed with her. “Dr. Joseph, my offering you a ride is not manipulation.”
Embarrassed at her outburst, she offered an apology. “Oh, I am sorry, Dr. Black. I was thinking out loud. It’s a bad habit of mine.”
“I noticed.” He imagined that was one of several bad habits. “Please call me Justice. Since we’ll be working together, there’s no need for formality.”
She drew the line at this. It was too personal. “No thanks. If you don’t mind, I’d rather keep it strictly professional.”
Justice smiled at her stubbornness and whispered, “This is killing you, I see.”
“What?”
Touchy. “I said, you worked hard to get where you are.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Sarcastic, bossy, and an all-around chucklehead. That was three strikes on her list of the description of one Dr. Justice Black. She would speak to Wil; there was serious doubt whether she would last long with him.
“Should it mean anything? I’m making light conversation.”
“Well, don’t feel obligated to do so.”
“I beg your pardon?” He was getting a little tired of her attitude. Dr. Joseph was the last person who needed to have an attitude considering what she’d already done.
“Oh, nothing. Thinking out loud again. That’s all. I’m sorry,” she answered.
“Dr. Joseph, you were in a bind and needed help, which is why I offered.”
Well that made her feel small and ungrateful. “Thank you, a
nd if you don’t mind, there is a grocery store at the next turn. I don’t want to hold you up. Please, I’ll take a cab home.” She looked at him for an argument, but none came.
Justice sensed her need to escape; he’d already called Marvin. She was defintely his downstairs neighbor. He suspected she had reported him to animal control too. Suddenly he had a much better idea in mind for Dr. Joseph. Besides, he needed a little fun.
“Sure. No problem. I have to make a stop before I get home, so this will work for both of us.” Justice turned into the parking lot and grinned at the speed with which she ejected from his car. She forgot her purse. “Hey, Dr. Joseph,” he yelled as he dangled her purse out of the window. “You’ll need this.”
Kaitlyn rushed backed. “Thanks,” she said. Embarassed, she grabbed her purse but didn’t waste time getting into the store.
Justice laughed before he turned his car around to head back to the hospital. Something Desirae and Peter had said earlier bothered him, and he needed to check it out.
Kaitlyn nearly fainted, and her heart was in her throat, when she saw Barrett and Garland. “I love you, God,” she said.
chapter
NINETEEN
The invention of the cell phone could be viewed as a curse. His had been ringing all day. This time it was Pen.
“Are we going to have a problem with the investigation?” Pen supported Justice in all of his decisions. As far as he was concerned, Justice had good instincts and judgment. It was shown in the types of men and women Justice chose to work with him.
“No. I’ve pulled all of the cases that I’ve had threats, but it didn’t include those sitting behind big political desks.”
“Hell, it’ll take two decades to do that,” Pen joked. He’d first spotted Justice in college and later brought him in from the military. Justice was good in a good-bad sort of way, much like he was, and the fire would bother him deeply. Then his tone changed to seriousness. “By the way, you did a good job in Kentucky. Taking down that bank should take some financial wind out of Legion.”
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