Tracking Justice (Texas K-9 Unit)

by Shirlee McCoy

“Hopefully, someone will track him down before he gets out of these woods and disappears into Sagebrush.”

  “You got a good look at him, right?” the officer asked.

  “Not as good as I would have liked. Just what I called in over the radio. Dark hair. Medium build. Five-ten, max. Maybe a hundred and seventy pounds. No distinguishing features that I could see.”

  “I’ll run that through the computer back at the station. We might get lucky and pull up someone you recognize. Internal affairs is going to want to interview you. From what I see, this was a clear case of self-defense and appropriate use of lethal force, but you know how these things work.”

  “All too well.” Austin sighed.

  “If you want to head back to the station, you can get the interview over with and get on with your day,” the officer offered. “When I get back to the precinct, I’ll email you the Billows file. You can look through it yourself. Maybe there’s something we missed.”

  “Thanks.” He called Justice, hooked the leash to his collar and scratched behind his ears.

  Justice shook his big head, his ears flapping, his nose sniffing the air as if he were wondering what had happened to the prize he’d spent half the night searching for.

  “You did good, boy,” Austin said. “You found him. Now, all we have to do is keep him safe.”

  Justice cocked his head to the side, his dark brown eyes soulful. Then he barked as if he understood exactly what Austin was saying.

  SIX

  Twenty minutes of winding, bumpy pathways, a quick ride in an ambulance, an hour of doctors prodding and poking Brady while Eva answered an endless barrage of police questions, and finally...finally...it was over. Brady was settled under thick blankets, his blond hair brushed back from a bruised forehead, his eyes closed. Eva touched his scraped cheek, felt his still-cool skin. A few more hours, and he would have succumbed to hypothermia.

  The thought made her physically ill.

  She’d been so close to losing him.

  Too close.

  It felt like her fault. No matter how many times she told herself that it wasn’t, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she should have kept him safe.

  In the years since her parents’ murders, she’d done everything that she could to create a predictable routine and normal life for Brady. A life that was nothing like the one she’d had as a kid. No police officers banging on the doors at all hours of the night. No hoodlums visiting in the wee hours of the morning threatening violence if a debt wasn’t paid or a secret kept. All Eva wanted was to be a typical mother, doing typical things with her typical son. She didn’t want drama. Didn’t want danger. Didn’t want any of the things that she’d grown up with.

  A few more months of college and she’d have her teaching degree. She planned to apply to school districts far away from Sagebrush, Texas. Go somewhere north where there was snow and freezing weather in the winter. Where the days were longer in the summer and the air clear and crisp rather than humid. She planned to make a brand-new life where no one knew about her father.

  But plans meant nothing if Brady wasn’t part of them.

  Her life.

  Her heart.

  Being his mother had forced her to become stronger. More self-sufficient. Much more patient and willing to wait on God’s plans.

  Most of the time.

  Lately, she’d felt unsettled and discontent. As if the life she’d built for herself wasn’t enough. As if there was something special waiting just around the corner. She’d wanted to run to whatever it was, grab it with both hands.

  Instead, she just kept plodding along, doing the same things she’d been doing since Brady’s birth—working as a waitress at Arianna’s Café, going to school part-time, striving to provide a good life for her son.

  She touched his cheek again, her chest tight. He still felt too cold. She pulled the covers up around his shoulders, wishing she could go home and get his favorite blanket. Wishing she could smooth the frown that marred his brow as he slept.

  “Momma?” He opened his eyes. Looking in them was like looking into his father’s. Only Rick’s gaze had always been calculating, his smiles designed to disarm and manipulate.

  “You okay?” She lifted Brady’s hand, careful of the scrapes and cuts in his palm.

  “I need to ask you something.” His voice had a raspy quality that worried her. She wanted to ring for a nurse, demand that the doctor check on Brady again, but he was already hooked up to IV fluids, already warming up beneath a layer of blankets. There wasn’t much more that could be done.

  “What is it, sweetie?”

  “Do you think they’re going to come here?”

  “Who?” she asked, but she knew, and the knowledge shivered through her.

  “The bad men. Will they come to the hospital?”

  “Of course not.” She hoped. Prayed. Wanted to believe.

  “How do you know?”

  “There’s a police officer sitting right outside the door. He’ll keep the bad guys away.”

  “What if he doesn’t?”

  “He will, okay? The bad guys will be too scared to come around him.”

  “I wish Austin and Justice were there instead.”

  “They’re busy.”

  “Looking for someone else who needs help?”

  “Looking for the man who kidnapped you. They’re going to put him in jail. Then you won’t ever have to worry about him again.”

  “There were two men, Momma. Remember?”

  She couldn’t forget. The body lying beneath the blanket, the gun close beside it. Thank goodness Brady had been too tired to pay attention to the scene outside the cave. “They already took care of one of them.”

  “So, just one more?”

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe Austin and Justice will come here after they find the bad guy.”

  “Sweetheart, they already helped us, and there are so many more people they can do that for.”

  “But they really liked me. Justice licked my hand and Austin even called me sport.”

  “Of course they liked you. Everyone likes you. But Austin and Justice have a very important job, and they don’t have time to visit people at the hospital—”

  Someone knocked, and Eva jumped, angling her body so she was between Brady and the door.

  “Who is it?”

  “Austin.”

  “I knew he would come! I knew it, Momma!” The hero worship in Brady’s eyes was unmistakable, and Eva wanted to tell him not to put his hopes in Austin. He’d only be disappointed.

  That was her life experience.

  She didn’t want to taint her son with it, but she didn’t want him hurt, either.

  “Come on in,” she called, and Austin walked in.

  No more police uniform. Just faded jeans and a fitted black T-shirt, his abs taut beneath the fabric. He had his leather bomber jacket under his arm and scuffed cowboy boots on his feet, and she didn’t think she’d ever seen anyone look quite so good.

  Her cheeks heated, and she looked away, refusing to acknowledge the butterflies in her stomach or the little skip of her heart when he moved close.

  “How are you doing, sport?” he asked.

  “My head hurts and my throat hurts and my knees hurt, too. They got all beat up when that mean guy pushed me and made me fall. See?” Brady shoved all the blankets away and rolled up the little blue pajama pants that the hospital staff had dressed him in. Both of his knees were bandaged, one of them wrapped tight. A bruised kneecap, the doctor had said.

  Eva hated to imagine the amount of force it would take to knock a child down so violently that his kneecap bruised.

  “You need to stay warm, remember?” She slid the pant legs back down and pulled the covers back to his chin, her elbow bumping Austin’s solid thigh.

  She blushed again.

  Called herself every kind of fool.

  The man had saved her son. Of course she found him attractive. It didn’t mean anything.

>   “I don’t like all these blankets on me, Momma. I’m hot.”

  “Then why are your hands and cheeks cold?”

  “Because...” He couldn’t think of a good reason and fell back onto his pillow, his gaze jumping to Austin. “Where is Justice?”

  “Home. He worked hard last night, and he needed a little time off.”

  “Momma said you were both out looking for the bad guy. She said you were going to throw him in jail so that he never came and got me again.”

  “Your mom is right. There are lots of police out looking for him.”

  “But you’re here.”

  “I have to take a little vacation. Once I’m back at work, I’ll be out looking for the bad guy every day.”

  “A vacation?” Eva asked even though she knew it didn’t matter. As long as there were other officers working to protect Brady, she didn’t need to know where Austin would be or what he’d be doing.

  “Administrative leave.” He dropped into a chair, not offering further explanation. It took a moment for the words to sink in.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s nothing to do with you or Brady, Eva. It’s just procedure. The way things are going, I should be back to work in a couple of days.”

  “That fast?” She wasn’t sure she believed it, but then she’d made it a habit to not know how the police department worked.

  “You’ve been interviewed by a police officer already, right?”

  “Yes.” She’d answered dozens of questions while the doctor examined Brady.

  “He was from internal affairs. They’re moving quickly on things because the investigation is fairly cut and dry, and because I’m lead investigator in another case.”

  “The one involving Slade’s father?”

  “That’s right. There are other officers that can take over if I can’t proceed, but there’s no reason to think I won’t be able to. What happened was justified, and I followed protocol.” He crossed his feet at the ankles. If being put on administrative leave bothered him, it didn’t show.

  She narrowed her eyes. “So, if you’re on leave, why are you here?”

  “To check on Brady.”

  “That wasn’t necessary, Austin.”

  “Wasn’t it?” he asked mildly, and she felt small and petty.

  “I think it’s my turn to apologize. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. After all that you’ve done, you’re welcome to visit Brady anytime you want.”

  “And, next time, you’re welcome to bring Justice,” Brady said, and Austin chuckled, the sound as warm as a summer breeze and about ten times as nice.

  “Not to the hospital, sport, but I’ll bring him by your house once you get home.”

  “I don’t know if Momma will let him come. She doesn’t like dogs. She says they’re mean and they bite.”

  “Not all dogs, Brady. I’ve told you that. Some dogs are perfectly nice.” Eva’s cheeks were pink, her gaze skittering away from Austin’s.

  He made her uncomfortable. He could see that, but he didn’t plan on leaving. He might be on administrative leave, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do a little investigating.

  “But you said that we couldn’t have a dog because we don’t have the time for it and because they can be fishes and mean.”

  “Fishes?” Austin asked, and Eva offered a slight smile.

  “Vicious. He’s a typical seven-year-old. Sometimes he needs his ears cleaned out.”

  “And sometimes I need to plug them up.” Brady yawned, his eyelids drooping, a dark bruise on his forehead livid against his pale skin.

  “Why don’t you close your eyes for a while?” Austin suggested, but Brady shook his head.

  “I think you’ll be gone when I wake up.”

  “Maybe I will be, but I’ll come back again.”

  “You will?” Brady implored.

  “Of course.” He patted the little boy’s hand, ignoring Eva’s scowl. “And even better, if you sleep now, you’ll get strong enough to go home a lot more quickly. Then I’ll be able to visit you at your house.”

  “With Justice!” Brady made it sound like Austin had just offered the moon, and Austin’s heart melted a little more than he wanted it to. A little more than he should allow it to.

  He’d been down that road before.

  It hadn’t ended well.

  He wouldn’t go down it again.

  “Yes,” he responded, because he couldn’t say no to Brady. He’d just have to be careful. Make sure that he didn’t get pulled in any deeper than he already had been.

  Brady nodded, but his eyes were already closed, his arm flung up over his head, an IV needle taped to it. A long scratch snaked from his wrist to his elbow and what looked like finger marks bruised the inside of his arm. His kidnappers hadn’t been gentle with him. Of course, they probably hadn’t expected that he’d be alive to complain to anyone.

  “You don’t have to come by to visit, Austin. I know that you were just trying to be kind, and I appreciate that, but I can tell Brady that you’re busy. He’ll understand,” Eva whispered, and he looked into her eyes, felt the breath leave his lungs at the impact of that one glance.

  He hadn’t noticed how green her eyes were, how soft and misty. Hadn’t noticed her flawless skin or her full, pink lips. He’d been working, and that had been his only focus. Now he was on leave, his focus on Brady and on Eva because it had nowhere else to be. Not his empty house. Not even his tired K-9 partner, who’d seemed more interested in lying on the sofa than playing a game of fetch in the backyard.

  Truth be told, that’s what had driven Austin to visit Brady.

  He’d wanted to know that the seven-year-old was okay, but he’d also wanted to reassure himself that what he did, the things that had kept him tied to his work and away from the life he’d always wanted to build, were worthwhile.

  They were. He knew it, but there were times when he wanted more. A wife. Kids. A loud and busy house to go home to.

  “If you want me to leave, Eva, I will.” He stood, ready to walk out of the hospital, go back to his house and wait for the phone to ring and IA to give him the all-clear to go back to work. He needed to sleep anyway, catch up on the hours he’d missed while he was searching for Rio and for Brady.

  “Wait.” She touched his arm as he moved past, her fingers trailing heat as they slid away. “I...”

  “What?”

  “You don’t have to leave. Brady has been dozing fitfully, and he could wake up any minute. If he does, he’ll be happy if you’re here.”

  “What about you?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t mind if you stay.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Eva. You don’t have to allow me to be here out of some kind of obligation. If I make you uncomfortable—”

  “You don’t!” She protested a little too loudly, and Brady shifted in his sleep, turning on his side and moaning softly.

  “You don’t,” Eva repeated in a hushed voice as she brushed hair from Brady’s forehead. She looked beautiful standing there, her expression as soft as her eyes, her lips curved into a small frown. Not as young as Austin had thought. Closer to thirty than to twenty.

  “Knock, knock!” A female voice called, and the door opened. A tall, thin woman walked into the room, an oversize stuffed dog in her arms. Austin knew her. She owned Arianna’s Café, a busy restaurant in the heart of downtown Sagebrush.

  “Arianna! What are you doing here?” Eva’s brow furrowed, her eyes shadowed and wary.

  “You’ve been working for me since you were in high school. Did you think I wouldn’t come visit your son while he was in the hospital?”

  “How did you know he was here?”

  “You’re all over the news. I have to say, I’m a little upset that I didn’t hear it straight from you, but I suppose you’ve been busy. How is he?” She approached the bed and dropped the dog onto the end of it.

  “Hypothermic, bruised, still scared. Things could be worse, though.”

&nbs
p; “Of course they could. I hear that he was taken right out of his bedroom window. Not surprising that someone could break into your place like that. The house is nearly falling down, it’s so old.”

  “It was built in the 1920s, Arianna, so it’s not that old and it’s not even close to falling down.”

  “It’s not secure, though. You have to admit that. Maybe it would be best if the two of you came to my place for a while. I have a state-of-the-art security system, and with my work schedule, I’m not home that much. You’ll have the place mostly to yourself.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll get new windows and locks and have a security system installed at our place. We’ll be fine.”

  “I hope you’re right. If you change your mind, the offer will stay open. Perhaps this will help with the expense of having your house secured.” She pulled an envelope from her purse and held it out. “I know that things are tight for you while you’re in college.”

  “Arianna, I can’t take that.” Eva’s gaze shot to Austin, her cheeks pink.

  “Don’t be silly. Of course you can. Besides, it’s not just from me. When your coworkers heard that Brady was in the hospital, they took up a collection to help.”

  “Tell them that I really appreciate it.” Eva took the envelope, but she didn’t look happy about it.

  “I’m sure that you’ll be able to tell them yourself. You’ll need a few days off, but I thought you could come in on Wednesday. That gives Brady five days to recover. I’m sure he’ll be back in school by then.”

  “I—”

  “You’ll call me if there’s a problem, but I’ll assume that there won’t be. I need to get back to the café.” She hurried out of the room.

  “Your boss, huh?” Austin watched as Eva tucked the envelope into her purse. She didn’t open it. He wondered if she planned to use the money or to return it.

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t seem thrilled to see her.”

  “I was just surprised.” More than surprised. Eva had actually been shocked, but she didn’t tell Austin that. She hadn’t expected him, either. Hadn’t really expected anyone but law enforcement and medical staff. She had friends at church, work and school, but she hadn’t called any of them.