Justice Black: The Game Never Ends

by Gartia Bansah

  With a smile, Justice lifted her chin. “Dr. Joseph, I know you can.”

  With a grin like that, he was irresistible. Kaitlyn wanted to hug Justice, but she couldn’t even though she needed comfort. He could give her that. She hesitated and tried to resist when he pulled her into his arms.

  “Please don’t do that,” he whispered. With tender words and merciless touches, he nudged and prodded her until she weakened. He refused to leave her alone in that dark and lonely place.

  There was no turning back. Kaitlyn had no idea that being with someone in such a short time could be this powerful. Her body still throbbed from his earlier demonstrations of how much he’d wanted her. He was her redemption. So she willingly surrendered. Instincts and the powerful need for him took over; she soon heard her heart roar in her ears and believed she’d stop breathing if he continued. He was relentless. Then she trembled. She was thankful Justice was both stubborn and persistent.

  “Tobiah?” she later managed to ask.

  “I got you, sweetheart, and don’t worry about Gwen,” he assured her with tenderness.

  “Gwen who?” she sighed.

  Justice readjusted her robe as they walked to the door. The morning air, though cool, was refreshing as they stood in the doorway and hugged.

  Her sparkle was back. Neither one of them wanted to separate, and didn’t hear or see Marvin until he coughed for attention. Justice merely turned with Kaitlyn.

  Although Marvin stammered, he’d scrutinized the couple’s intimate position long enough for his regular morning gossip with Barrett and Aurora.

  “Oh, Dr. Joseph, I see…I mean…well…”

  Kaitlyn sighed. Aurora and Barrett would surely question her after Marvin’s report.

  Justice let Marvin off the hook. “You’re here about the move?”

  “Yes, Dr. Black, I am.” He curiously looked at Kaitlyn. “Dr. Joseph, here’s the key to your new place.” He pointed. “You will be exchanging with Dr. Black here, or has he told you?” Based on their current situation, he wondered why the exchange was even necessary. But he prided himself on maintaining the tenants’ privacy and tried ignoring the entire scene.

  Kaitlyn, shocked, turned back to Justice and narrowed her eyes at him. Justice stood quietly, wearing an innocent smile.

  “No, he didn’t.” She took the keys but never took her eyes off Justice. “Thank you, Marvin.”

  “You two can exchange apartments anytime,” Marvin yelled over his shoulder, leaving as fast as he could. “Come by the office, and sign the paperwork.”

  “Like I said before, you’re pure meanness.”

  Justice threw his hands up and backed away from her menacing steps. “I told you I was moving and, if you recall, also told you to keep the keys. You will need them.”

  “That’s not cute.”

  “Can I help it if you didn’t ask more questions like, ‘Darling, where are you moving to?’

  “I didn’t think it was my business to be so bold, darling.” She playfully swatted at him and walked away with a laugh. “So make yourself at home in your new home. Let me show you around your place.”

  Justice caught her from behind and pulled her to him.

  “So, neighbor, where are those boxes?”

  Kaitlyn laughed.

  “Tobiah, I don’t know how to thank you.”

  He kissed her neck. “Anytime you need something taken care of, let me know.”

  Her face flushed. Justice laughed at how she could possibly still be embarrassed after all they’d done.

  “You are terrible. How can I ever repay you?”

  “I’ll think of something.” He then smiled. “You owe me for my poor fish. That’s not him; mine’s mate had eaten a part of his tail.”

  chapter

  FORTY-SEVEN

  Desirae and Peter now remembered a very critical piece of information, which helped Justice and the families. He passed the information on to Caldwell for their investigation of Ed and his sister.

  Kaitlyn prepared Wil for Gwen’s attacks, but Wil only had concern for Kaitlyn and her staff. Wil sat in the briefing like a mother hen next to Kaitlyn. They had weathered many storms together; this simply was one more.

  Wil was too familiar with Gwen’s style of reporting, having treated those who’d had the misfortune of becoming her victims. Gwen warned Wil she’d air that in retaliation for being forced to babysit Jamie Wood, Desirae had blocked the restaurant’s exits. Wil called her bluff. The story never aired.

  Kaitlyn worked around the clock, exhausting herself. After she’d told Justice about Ed, she no longer worked on the case and had made a painful decision.

  Alice’s interruption was a welcome relief. It forced her to take a moment for herself.

  “Dr. Joseph, your appointment is here,” Alice announced.

  “There must be a mistake, Alice. I don’t have anyone scheduled for ten o’clock.” Kaitlyn checked her calendar. “Unless I forgot to write someone down. Surely I’m not getting that absent-minded.”

  “You forgot,” Alice said when she showed Justice in, left, and closed the door.

  Kaitlyn held her breath. Although they had exchanged apartments a few days ago, they had created distance between themselves. Justice didn’t like it, but because of Gwen, Kaitlyn wanted it. He addressed her only as Dr. Joseph. Forget-me-nots from him came regularly.

  When he’d given her a ride to either the Baptist or Catholic church, their conversations were brief and all business. He’d asked her why she attended two different churches. First she said, “Never tell southern grandparents you’re not going to church.” She’d explained as a teen she spent summers with her Baptist grandparents and told them since she was Catholic, she wouldn’t be going to church with them. Both grandparents just said, “God is at our church too, you’re going so get dressed.” She enjoyed it. Now when she needed soul stirring, it was Baptist; for meditation, it was Catholic. Other than that, Kaitlyn avoided running into Justice and only saw him occasionally in the parking lot. Even then they were formal and polite.

  Justice leaned against the door in his usual hands-in-pockets stance and quietly studied Kaitlyn. He didn’t like the tiredness in her eyes. She stood rigid and tensed; her hair was in that tight knot again. She rarely slept. He often heard her playing her sax until early morning. He didn’t give a damn about Gwen or how people talked. He could have forced this “distance” issue but didn’t for Kaitlyn’s sake. She needed to have the control. He didn’t.

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Black. There must be a mistake. I don’t have you scheduled for an appointment.”

  Kaitlyn tried to hold back the mist forming in her eyes, and her voice quivered. Determined not to break down in front of him, she frantically readjusted things on her desk. “God, I hate this,” she whispered.

  This was a rough time for her.

  “Dr. Joseph, how are you?”

  “I’m good,” she lied.

  “You’re sure? You come to me and tell me if you’re frightened or hurting.” She had pulled into a shell. “You wanted this ‘distance,’ not me. You can change your mind anytime you want. I’m always here for you.”

  “I know.” Kaitlyn did as she always did when faced with a challenge: wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. She slowly moved away from her desk, walked to the large window, and stared at the horizon, seeking solace. “The weatherman said a possible storm is coming soon. He’s probably right for the first time. I wonder how long it will last.” It was a dry comment in spite of the dark clouds that formed along the skyline.

  The rustic colors she had chosen for her office lent softness to the room’s atmosphere, which was hardening as Justice stared at her rigid back.

  Kaitlyn turned away from the window and exhaled. With arms still folded, she walked to him and rested her forehead on his chest.

  “
Justice, I didn’t want you involved in any of this. Gwen will be vengeful. I’ll fight this.”

  Protecting other people, that was Kaitlyn. She placed her own life in the back of her mind when she was with her clients. Listening and helping others helped her do that. Her faith and trust in God kept her shielded and balanced.

  “We will fight Gwen together. Promise me you won’t punish yourself, that you’ll come to me if Ed contacts you in any way.”

  “I promise,” she whispered. “Justice, you’ve got to promise me you won’t punish yourself. I know out of your sense of commitment and duty you’ll take this burden on your shoulders alone. You’re always the soldier.”

  He didn’t deny what she said. Instead he said, “I needed to see how you were.”

  Kaitlyn would punish herself. Justice knew it. He made arrangements for her favorite meals from Leo’s to be delivered to her place, with Barrett providing reports on her. Kaitlyn screamed from fright one morning when Justice barged into her apartment without saying one word, cooked breakfast, and sat her at the table with a stern warning: “Damn it, eat, or I’ll have Aurora feed you.” Then he left.

  He couldn’t have her weak; Ed was out there insanely hunting for his Cat.

  Everyone waited for Caldwell to say anything. The room was miserably hot, and there was so much tension no one dared to even sneeze. Lane was perturbed. Caldwell was stoic and unreadable. He made a mental note to tell his boss again he hated BrightTown. Lane interrupted everyone’s thoughts with a loud cough.

  “Yes, thanks to Dr. Joseph,” Lane interjected with sarcasm, “we have a lead on some of this country’s most wanted, loveliest citizens. Remind me to nominate them for something.” Justice had briefed him on Ed’s connection to Kaitlyn. Lane thought he’d like to kill the bastard himself. “Dr. Joseph, you have my deepest respect,” he added with slight sadness in his voice. Lane paused as he looked at Kaitlyn and then back to Wil and rubbed his scratchy chin three days overdue for a shave.

  “What can we do?” Wil asked.

  “Follow Dr. Black’s orders,” Caldwell said. “Security has been heightened around the city, and we don’t believe you, Dr. Joseph, are at any risk. As far as I can tell, there is no reason for anyone to even know about that part of your life.”

  “That may not be true,” Wil interrupted.

  This time Kaitlyn answered. “Gwen Marcus plans to do a story, and the mayor’s wife wants me to speak at one of her fundraising dinners.”

  “The hell with my brains,” Lane said as he rubbed his thinning hair. He did what he did best when pushed—he paced.

  “Dr. Joseph,” Caldwell interrupted, “don’t talk to that Marcus woman. I will handle anything that comes up from her. Clear all public speaking with Dr. Black.” There was no need to tell her that was Justice’s order.

  Gwen Marcus held true to her anger as her evening teaser opened with a picture of Kaitlyn with the headline: Noted Psychologist Dr. Adeena Joseph Lived with Terrorists.

  Shortly before three that morning, two more houses on the north side blazed in the night. Signs painted in red were planted in both front yards that said: “Justice Black don’t care about BrightTown.” Along with the signs an effigy of Justice dangled from a silver maple tree.

  chapter

  FORTY-EIGHT

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” James shouted as he grinned at the newspaper photo of Kaitlyn. “Ed’s little bitch is famous. I’d know her anywhere—those same deep eyes that looked like she would pull your throat out without flinching. I would have taken her mother, but she was just as mean as her kid.”

  “I bet Ed don’t know dick. The bastard never kept up on current events.” He looked at the paper with regret. “Well, Doc, it’s too bad I’m in here. Guard, get in here. I want my lawyer.”

  Instead Justice walked into the room and motioned for James to sit.

  Bullshit had been happening all week, and now he faced James. A few days ago, James “Double Man” James and his cellmate had managed to escape from prison with the help of James’s girlfriend, a former clerk who’d forged release papers. Three days of intensive manhunt Justice found James in Dallas heavily armed and prepared to cross the border into Mexico. One of Justice’s men was critically wounded. The cellmate was still out there, and yesterday, Justice had been arrested by two sheriff deputies who accused him of being the escaped cellmate. Justice was lucky the idiots hadn’t killed him. So no, he was not in a good mood.

  James sat half sprawled with an air of arrogance.

  “I see we meet again.”

  James was used to Justice’s type: he was hard-nosed, hard faced, and thought he could bluff him. He knew about the fire. Whenever a media-grabbing crime with messages happened, they all marched here. He vowed Justice Black would be no different; he’d leave here with nothing.

  “You mean the good folks ain’t thrown you out yet? I hear you ain’t so popular. Sorry about your arrest. Black man can’t get a break these days, I hear.”

  James’s kind wasn’t any different from the others he’d sat across; they all had a strong need to maintain their toughness.

  “I see you kept abreast of current events on your brief run. Now, Mr. James, I suggest you listen well. The ball is no longer in your court. I hold the ball. I pass to you if I choose; otherwise your stupidity will cause you serious problems. You play hardball with me, everybody loses. Are we straight on this? I’m not here to negotiate. You’re no longer necessary. The deal you made with those others ran when you did. The only difference is I’m not bringing it back.”

  James sat straight in his chair; he hadn’t thought of the deal. “If that’s what you think will turn me, give it your best. I mean, what, you gonna kill me?”

  “You keep playing that game, someone will. Now tell me about Ed Drayton and the chairman.”

  James hated Ed; it was his screw-up that put the light on the operation.

  “Ed is a prick. He said he was good with demolition. His claim was he was military, but the truth was he’d avoided that through his father’s millions and contacts. But,” he laughed, “you already know that.”

  He did. Ed’s father had had millions until poor investments and a Ponzi scheme took that away.

  “As for a chairman”—James leaned comfortably back—“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Justice had expected he’d say that. That was a minor detail. “What about the kids with Ed?”

  “There were lots of them; he used his own nephew Clerry to help recruit other stray kids he’d use in sales, transporting, you know, those kinds of pimp activities. If you ask me, I’m not sure Clerry was really his nephew. Clerry’s mom was probably some bitch Ed picked up. Ed was a regular Fagin. Parents should take better care of their kids. Ed knew the rules: no freaking underage kids. We had good protection and didn’t need people like you snooping around.”

  “Abstaining from being a pedophile was a moral standard you kept?”

  “That’s one. What are yours?”

  Justice too leaned comfortably back in his chair. He’d gotten a better insight of James.

  James thought for a moment. To hell with Ed. “I caught Ed once with a couple of kids; as far as I could tell, he hadn’t done anything yet. I beat the hell out of him as a warning. He wanted that pretty doc that’s in the papers. I recognized her. Like her mother, she’s a looker now, although she wasn’t much as a kid. Ed had a hard-on for her. The kid hated him, plus that damn mother of hers, if given the chance, would have killed Ed.”

  “Out of curiosity, what are you about, James?”

  “This country is going to hell, and something needs to be done. Laws can’t be changed to suit some political needs for racial preferences and immorality.” James’s condescending look to Justice was meant to intimidate. “We will do whatever it takes to get this country back, even if we have to start from scratch.”
James steadied himself. “Time is long; life is short. No matter how dicks like you come after us, we will come back stronger and smarter. Know this: no one is who they say they are. Not even you.”

  “Is that a fact?” Justice asked. “Was Rodney’s Place fire arranged by your chairman?”

  “Don’t know no chairman. I told you that. Besides, it wouldn’t be too wise to let me know in case dumbasses like you show up to ram my ass with dumbass questions.”

  “You know, Double Man.” The usage of his nickname corralled James into that insecure state Justice needed him in. He was very large as a child. Justice imagined he was teased a lot and still had those scars. Even after losing over half of his nearly five hundred pounds, the name still stuck. “How did the killing of innocent people figure in your quest for power? I thought your balls were bigger than that. But hey, I’m a dumbass with dumbass questions.”

  “Sometimes you have to weed out the weak,” James replied.

  “I see.” Justice nodded. “You didn’t have a problem taking the money for this ‘weeding,’ and your mom got what, nothing? So,” he sighed, “about your standards. Tell me about Cutter—or is it Dallas Righter, David Ransom, whatever he’s calling himself these days. You think Cutter will need weeding once Legion learns about his birth?” Wild card.

  Stunned, James said, “I’m done here.”

  No surprise there. “Double Man, you won’t need to worry yourself about Evening Primrose and Tansy. You probably know Gus as Evening Primrose. Those flowers have been clipped.”

  James slammed the table with his fist. Hate burned in his eyes.

  “You screw with my family, you’ll regret it, you black son of a bitch!” His father had several children from several women. Tansy was one of his half sisters; Gus was a cousin.

  “Double Man, you weren’t there when your family needed you.” He wanted James to think hard on his words; the man had a lot to pay for. “And your son Cutter well no need to go into details. He won’t be around. Once Legion finds out the truth, with their penchant for cleansing, he’ll be on their AR list. You and I know that since you were the one who enforced that standard. It’s amazing how you managed to keep that birth a secret even from Cutter.”