Justice Black: The Game Never Ends

by Gartia Bansah

  “I’m glad you told me.” There was a soft whisper to his words. He was amazed at her strength and courage. “Honey, listen to me. Your name is not what you are. It’s what’s inside of you that defines you. You know that. You’ve been holding on to that deadweight too long. It’s about time you let it go. Gwen is a minor detail.”

  “It wasn’t easy for us. If Dad had been alive, none of this would have happened. He would have protected us.”

  “I know that, sweetheart, and your childhood should have been easy. Let me tell you something. I learned the enemy sends its best attackers using its most powerful weapon—fear. The power to stand against our enemies does not come easy or cheap. But you know what? Like your mother, you are an extraordinary woman.”

  She took a deep breath and shivered. “I hate Halloween.”

  “I’ve never celebrated it.”

  “I didn’t trust men. I never wanted anyone to tell me I was pretty or smelled or looked good. I wanted to be left alone. But I realized if I continued to do that, it meant Ed had won. I tried to stop the process of grieving, but by doing that, I was called cold. When I stopped fighting grief and let the naturalness of it come, I cried a lot, got angry, and eventually found peace. Some called me weird and probably still do.”

  “So be weird,” he said with a smile.

  “That’s why I took a few chances. I didn’t want to be emotionally stuck in those ages I lived with Ed. Ed couldn’t be the man I compared others to. I worked hard not to do that.” She hugged him. “And now I’ve met you, an extraordinary man.”

  “And you are my extraordinary Duchess, always,” he whispered. “One day you’ll throw those broken scissors away.”

  “Always,” she whispered, “and I know one day I will throw the scissors away.”

  “Finally,” he breathed with relief but then tensed. “Kaitlyn, I need to know, were you ever frightened of me? Because you did call me a bully.”

  She considered their nakedness and answered as seriously as possible. “You were cocky, I’ll give you that. But no, Tobiah. I was never frightened of you. Your way of doing things is to do what is necessary to get your job done. I understand that.”

  “Good.” He relaxed. Kaitlyn was no coincidence but had come into his life to rid them both of their ghosts.

  “Now that we’ve solved that other minor problem, how about we start making good memories honoring the name Kaitlyn?”

  “Wow,” she giggled, “and you are without a doubt thorough in solving problems.”

  “I told you,” he teased, “I’m your fix-it man.”

  Boldly, with a sly grin, Kaitlyn made a move that surprised him.

  “Damn,” Justice swore. He carefully rolled and balanced his weight and selfishly enjoyed the fact he was responsible for that glassy, very happy look appearing in her eyes.

  “Dr. Black, that’s cheating.”

  He offered no apology.

  chapter

  FORTY-SIX

  Justice waited until Kaitlyn fell asleep before he contacted Pen.

  “I’ll be damned, Justice. This is the best damn news so far. Are you ready to eliminate more spiders? We’ll peel Legion one layer at a time like you planned and kill the den underneath. Those big boys on the hill can go straight to hell. This is damn good information.”

  “Pen, I need Ed out in the open. Halloween is his special day. But odds are he won’t wait for Halloween; he will make contact with his sister, his weak point. The sister may or may not know half the things her brother did. The two lived apart under aliases for decades. As Jarrod said, no one used their real names.”

  “Well, son, you let me know what you need, and it’s yours.”

  A slow-fired anger gnawed at Justice as he lay awake and pieced together bits of Kaitlyn’s life. He was thankful she was here and not drugged out, prostituting in some foreign country, or dead. Cutter was capable of making any of that possible.

  Justice felt his team had been chasing their asses since the fire. Everything seemed like a deadend but with Kaitlyn’s information finding Cutter would defintely shed light. The problem was no one actually knew what Cutter looked like, and most people who did were afraid to say. As in Jarrod’s case, Cutter communicated either through the Internet or several proxies. His last photo was age ten. Numerous computer-generated images of how he may now look turned up empty. With all of his resources, there was a good possibility Cutter had changed his appearance and wasn’t in the country. He was smart, had no consistent habits, and was a well-protected Legion broker.

  “Hey, you.” Kaitlyn woke from her sleep, then teasingly nudged his ribs. “Did I scare you off?” Though she teased, Justice heard the uneasiness in her voice.

  “Duchess, you have to do better than that. If that call to the animal people didn’t work, nothing will.” He lightly nipped and kissed the top of her shoulders and gently blew on each.

  “I don’t want you to think my life was always bad. I was happy with my parents, Mrs. Queenester, grandparents, and Grandmom. I would have given up if I hadn’t first known happiness within a healthy family. I think Momma would have too. Wil also helped me stay sane. She encouraged me to help form the band. ‘Music and dancing is therapy,’ she’d said.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Wil taught you that step?”

  “No, that was all my doing. Should I jazz it up a little more?”

  He laughed. “No, everything is jazzed enough.”

  “Really?” There was relief in her voice that Justice didn’t think she was damaged. “With your permission, tomorrow I’ll cook breakfast for you.”

  “I’ll think about it.” His grin was smooth and sly. “I may be full.”

  Embarrassed, Kaitlyn was relieved the telephone rang.

  Justice answered. “Rayford, what’s wrong?”

  “I know it’s three in the morning, but my babies are here. I have a beautiful daughter and a handsome son.”

  “Congratulations. How’s Gracie? Aren’t they early?”

  “Thanks. Sarah is tired but good. They’re a few weeks early.” Rayford proudly gloated, “My beautiful daughter has my eyes and looks like Sarah, and my handsome boy, of course, looks like his dad.”

  “That performance must have rushed everything. Four kids in three years. You really should take the pets.”

  “Nice try, hotshot. I’ve heard those creatures and seen Seymour. Sarah would kill you and then me. We have a cat that’ll eat Seymour. I’m surprised those birds haven’t done it.”

  “Right. Congratulations again. Kiss Gracie for me.”

  “Sure. Kiss Dr. Joseph for me.” Rayford laughed.

  “Gracie had a girl and a boy.” He said as he hung up.

  “Good. Gracie wanted a girl. How’s everyone?”

  “They’re fine. Rayford said no to taking Seymour and the birds.”

  “I’m sorry.” Kaitlyn thought, Poor thing. He sounds disappointed, but even I’d say no to all of that. “They are crazy in love with each other.”

  “Yes, they are.”

  “I’ve seen their twins. They look so much like Rayford.”

  “Yes, they do.”

  Justice studied Kaitlyn for a moment. There was a different look about her.

  “Do you want babies, Duchess?”

  Kaitlyn hardened at his question. “Where are you going with that?”

  “It’s only a question. Can’t I ask?”

  Kaitlyn sat up, upset. She knew exactly what he thought; she also knew he thought wrong.

  “No, you can’t ask me that. You said you can’t have any more children. So why mention it?”

  The parrots screeched at her high voice. She found their noise even more disturbing.

  “Now see what you did? You woke the birds.” Hurt and disgusted, Kaitlyn elbowed him and leaped from the bed. “I know what you’re thin
king. If you dare open your mouth and tell me I need someone younger, you’ll regret those words. I mean it, Justice Black. I can’t be bothered with that.”

  Geez, what happened? He was confused. “What I did? Duchess, you’re the one having a meltdown. Look at you.”

  Kaitlyn trembled, trying her best to hold everything together. She shoved him aside and with one smooth motion grabbed the sheet and stormed out of the room.

  “You don’t have to shout; I’m leaving. You are ridiculous.”

  “The hell you are. Kaitlyn, stop. Come back here now.”

  She did. Justice was dumbstruck and stared at her as if she’d suddenly sprouted wings and grew talons; he sat and carefully pulled her onto his lap as they listened to the parrots chirp to quietness.

  After he felt it was safe, he caressed her arms and turned her toward him and kissed her until she relaxed and the fight had gone out of her.

  “What’s wrong, Duchess?”

  “I’m sorry, Tobiah. I didn’t mean to yell like that.” She knew why she’d reacted after hearing about Gracie. Even if Justice couldn’t have more children, she wanted to be with him, and that was more important.

  “Shall we go back to bed?”

  “Carry me.”

  He gave her no arguments.

  Again, Kaitlyn nestled peacefully against Justice and listened to him silently think.

  It was best to change that subject. “Honey, how long did you live with Ed, and do you remember where?”

  “We were there for nearly two years. The question should be where we didn’t live. We were in Texas, Utah, Kentucky, and finally we ended in California after a brief stay in Arizona.”

  “What about Vicky Dansworth?”

  “That was in Texas. Why?”

  He didn’t answer right away. “The man you called Cutter, where was he?”

  “He was with Ed in Arizona and California. I never saw him. I heard Ed tell one of the others that because of Vicky, Cutter moved to Texas.”

  Justice caressed her back and kissed her forehead.

  “I see. Honey, I will look for Clermont. At least I want to help you find your peace.”

  “Thank you, Tobiah. Even if you can’t find him, thank you.” Her eyes misted. He was so kind.

  “Honey, for the record, there absolutely isn’t a thing wrong with you.”

  “Love me again,” she whispered.

  Morning came too soon. He looked over at Kaitlyn and wondered whether she wouldn’t mind spending Thanksgiving with them and what she and Jeremiah would think of each other. There were two things he had to do today: first, call Jeremiah; second, get on the contractor’s ass. He needed everything done before Thanksgiving.

  He needed a shower to think. He and Pen had discussed Double Man and Cutter and their connection with Anderson Ed Drayton. Ed was good with explosives. He’d taught himself. The states they lived in had similar fires, and there were two unsolved kidnapping cases in Texas. He was certain of one thing: Kaitlyn was off the case. He was right. Ed and Cutter collected runaways to help with their purposes. They were perfect targets. The boys in his nightmare could have been runaway kids in the system or kids without caring parents.

  Justice felt small arms wrap around his waist and laughed.

  “So you sneak around too, I see.” Kaitlyn kissed his back and began soaping it. “You know, people could say all sorts of ugly things about you.”

  “Some do.” His voice was flat when he repeated, “Some do.”

  Kaitlyn heard a lonely meaning to those words, for once upon a time she had and was so sorry.

  “Don’t listen to what people say. They don’t know you.” Her voice cracked through a whisper.

  Later, dressed in his robe, Kaitlyn gathered her things as she complained of his amusement at her having to crawl halfway under the bed for her shoes.

  “You could have gotten them for me, you know. I think you pushed them that far intentionally.”

  Justice shrugged and offered a smile.

  She gave him a serious warning look and decided she would do without the shoes.

  “I have some good news, maybe.” She was so excited she barely controlled herself as she repeatedly tugged at the robe to prevent it from constantly slipping off her bare shoulders.

  “Yeah, me too. You go first.” He tugged at the robe to let it slip again.

  She slapped at his hand and frowned at his amusement. “According to Mr. Marvin, he has a soon-to-be-vacant upstairs apartment. So I will be moving. That’ll be wonderful since Grandmom is coming for a visit. God, I’m so happy.”

  He wasn’t expecting this. Damn it, this was the grandmom she told everything to.

  “Your grandmom is coming?”

  “Yes. Didn’t I tell you?”

  “No, you didn’t tell me.” He saw her tiny mischievous grin. “When is Grandmom coming?”

  “In a few days. I’m sure you’ll like her.”

  “That’s great, and I’m sure I will.” He lightly tapped the end of her nose. “I will be moving too.”

  Kaitlyn’s eyes quickly dimmed, and her body tensed.

  “Don’t worry. It won’t be far. Besides, the parrots like you,” he teased. “They haven’t squawked one bit since last night. I might let you keep both.”

  “Oh.” It was difficult to hide her disappointment. She handed him his keys. “Here are your keys.”

  Justice shook his head. “Not yet. You’ll need them. Come on, Duchess. I’ll walk you to your place.” He glanced at her bare feet and then picked her up and carried her to the door. She gave him a thank-you kiss and opened the door to Gwen Marcus standing on the other side.

  Gwen glanced with hurt and hatred in her eyes at Justice’s bare chest back to Kaitlyn in his arms and obviously his robe.

  “Oh, excuse me. It appears I’m interrupting a private thing here.”

  Justice, not the least bit concerned with Gwen, didn’t release Kaitlyn. But he was furious.

  “What are you doing here, Gwen?”

  “Since you haven’t called me, I needed to see you about the fire, and isn’t it providential that I should run into Dr. Joseph here? I needed to see her as well.”

  Against Justice’s resistance, Kaitlyn slowly stood. Justice quickly grabbed her hand with a tight grip.

  “Stay here,” he said before he turned back to Gwen. “And you couldn’t call our offices for that?”

  Kaitlyn cleared her throat and calmed her nerves. “Ms. Marcus, is this urgent?”

  “There is no need to be formal. Do call me Gwen. May I please call you Adeena?”

  In spite of how she was currently dressed, Kaitlyn responded with the utmost professionalism.

  “No, you may not, Ms. Marcus. Let’s keep this on a professional level that we both can respect.”

  “Be as it may”—Gwen waved in dismissal—“it’s about that interview we discussed.”

  Damn professionalism. Justice stepped forward. “What are you after?” After she ran those photos, Pen had called him. Gwen’s investigator had requested records on Kaitlyn.

  Having been at the other end of Justice’s wrath from past stories they disagreed on, Gwen was familiar with Justice’s cryptic warning tone and stepped back.

  “Her life story. The peope have a right to know what Dr. Joseph is about.” Gwen looked at Kaitlyn and added, “I have that right, you know.” Then she said to Justice, “You seemed to be interested in her.”

  “I’d be real careful about how you use that right,” Justice cautioned.

  Gwen turned to Kaitlyn. Jealously got the best of her. “Well, Dr. Joseph, is there something that I should know before I start digging?” She had been in the news business long enough to know that everyone had something to hide.

  “No, Ms. Marcus, and any business that you wish to discuss will be he
ld in my office through an appointment. I suggest you remember that.” Undaunted, Kaitlyn stood her ground. She’d fight whatever Gwen thought she could use against her. “Justice, I’ll see you later.”

  With head held high, without any expression, Kaitlyn walked past Gwen. Justice, familiar with that look, chuckled. Gwen was in for a battle. His bet was on his Duchess.

  Justice, with fire in his eyes, immediately crowded Gwen against the wall and spoke in a calm, even tone.

  “Gwen, listen to me. Don’t mess with Dr. Joseph or anyone in her office. You don’t want to do that. Trust me. You will be the loser.”

  “What reason do you have to be so angry? What’s going on between you two that I need to know?”

  “Gwen, hear me well. This is your first and last warning. Don’t you ever show up at my place again. If you do, it’ll be your regret. Now when I blink, you’d better be gone.”

  Justice hurriedly grabbed his shirt and rushed after Kaitlyn.

  Gwen was dumbfounded but mostly appalled that Justice had attacked her in such a horrible way and quickly stormed off. “Justice is sleeping with the slut, and Dr. Joseph has something to hide.”

  Justice was not surprised Kaitlyn wouldn’t open the door and persisted anyway.

  “C’mon, Duchess. Open up, or else I’ll get the key.” If he thought there was a real need, he could easily get in. He didn’t want to go that far.

  The door opened slightly. Kaitlyn was still in his robe. That sparkle she had earlier had been replaced with dull eyes that matched the weak smile she presented.

  “Why would you want to do that?” Kaitlyn looked at his bare chest. “You need your shirt on.”

  He heard the poor attempt in her voice to minimize the effect of Gwen’s visit.

  “Are you good?” Putting his shirt on, Justice stepped inside, dismissing her attempt to barricade the door with her body.

  “Look, Justice.” She couldn’t believe the stupidity of everything. “Whatever Gwen thinks she can do to me is absolutely useless.” She helped him button his shirt. “All she can do is open up some old wounds. I can handle this.”