Justice in the Shadows

by Radclyffe

  “How are things looking?” Catherine asked of Torveau. She smiled at Sandy. “Sandy’s a very close friend of Dell’s. You’ve met, I see.”

  “Uh-huh. Just now,” Torveau replied. “The arteriogram shows the knife nicked a branch of the femoral artery in the thigh, which is why she lost so much blood so fast. It’s stopped now, but the conservative approach is for me to take a look at the vessel and repair the laceration.”

  Sandy looked rapidly from Catherine to Torveau. “But you can fix it?”

  “Oh, you bet.” Torveau smiled. “Piece of cake.”

  “And she’ll be okay?”

  “Should be. There’s very little muscle damage, because it was an in-and-out stab wound. Missed the nerve by an inch.”

  “All the way okay?” Sandy persisted.

  Dr. Torveau tilted her head and studied Sandy seriously. The young blond still had one hand on the patient’s head and the other curled around the patient’s. Tough and scared to death. “I can’t tell you she won’t have a problem, but I don’t anticipate any. A week or so of limited activity and then she should be fine. Sore, but fine. Okay?”

  Sandy nodded. “So...you gonna fix it now?”

  Torveau laughed. “Right now. As soon as she gives consent. You want me to call you when I’m done?”

  “I want to wait.” Sandy glanced at Catherine, wondering if Frye would have a fit, worrying about Mitchell’s job. Worrying about Mitch’s cover.

  Catherine watched the uncertainty cloud Sandy’s face. “Ali, why don’t you page me when you’re out of the OR. I’ll take Sandy to the cafeteria for some breakfast.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Torveau met Sandy’s uneasy eyes. “I’ll look after her.”

  It was so hard to let go of Dell’s hand, but finally Sandy did. “Okay. Sure.” She started to walk toward Catherine, then stopped and turned to the surgeon. “Thanks.”

  “You don’t have to thank me,” Torveau said softly.

  Once outside in the bustling corridor, Catherine halted. “You need to talk to the gynecologist. I think your friend Trudy is already finished.”

  Sandy sighed. “The guy never got off. I told Bluto that already.”

  “Detective Watts?” Catherine bit back a grin.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well,” Catherine couldn’t help the smile, “I’m very happy to hear that you’re all right. How about you just talk to Dr. Valeria so she can make out an official report? I have some clothes for you to change into, as well. Old ones of mine—I expect you’ll swim in them, but they’ll be warm.”

  “How’d you know...” Sandy stopped. “Frye.”

  “She called me before you arrived, yes.” And every half-hour since.

  “Okay, fine. I’ll talk to this doctor.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sandy regarded the elegant woman in the heather-green suit, the same warm color as her eyes, and suddenly wanted to lean her head on Catherine’s shoulder. Instead, she straightened her own. “So where do I go?”

  “Would you like company?”

  “Yeah,” Sandy said slowly. “Yeah, I would.”

  *

  A little after nine a.m., Rebecca found her lover and her confidential informant tucked away in the corner of the hospital cafeteria. Catherine looked beautiful, and just seeing her eased the ball of tension she’d been carrying in her chest. Sandy looked worn out, but unexpectedly cute in Catherine’s University Med sweatshirt and baggy jeans. For the first time since Rebecca had known her, she looked like any ordinary teenager.

  Until she looked up and Rebecca saw her eyes. A lifetime of hurt flickered in them for an instant and then was quickly hidden.

  “Hi,” Rebecca said as she slid into the free seat.

  “Hi.” Sandy watched Catherine out of the corner of her eye.

  “Hello, Detective,” Catherine said in a tone that was almost a caress. She quickly took in her lover’s rumpled shirt, which was uncharacteristically untucked. Of more concern were the deep shadows beneath her eyes and the faint tremor in the hand that held the paper coffee cup. “Have you had breakfast?”

  Rebecca lifted a shoulder. “Not yet. How’s Mitchell?”

  “We’re still waiting. It’s been a little over an hour, so I expect we’ll hear any time now.”

  “I have to get back to the station soon.”

  “Right away?” Catherine couldn’t hide her concern. Less than two weeks before, she’d been the one waiting in the ER while Rebecca underwent emergency treatment. She very much did not want to experience that again.

  “Sloan’s still at the warehouse, and Jason’s back at the office coordinating the data,” Rebecca went on, sipping her coffee. “Between what they got from the computers on site and the IDs we’ve been collecting the last few weeks, we’re going to have a list of names by midday. I need to arrange warrants and put together a couple of strike teams to hit these guys all at once.”

  “Today?”

  “Mmm.” Rebecca sighed tiredly and leaned back in her chair. “Have to. If we wait, they’re going to get wind of the bust, and they’ll all rabbit.”

  Catherine turned to Sandy. “Would you excuse us for just a few minutes?”

  “Sure,” Sandy replied, getting to her feet with a grin. Frye’s gonna get her ass chewed. Wow.

  When Sandy was out of earshot, Catherine leaned forward and put her hand on Rebecca’s arm. “You’re in no shape to lead a strike team. You’ve been up all night, and you just went back to full du—”

  “You’re right.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Rebecca linked her fingers with Catherine’s. “I said, you’re right. I’m not going to.”

  “Oh. Well.”

  “But I still need to organize it. I need to get Watts to walk the warrants through, and I need to brief the teams, and I need to be in the surveillance van timing the arrests.” She sighed again. “And I need to brief with Captain Henry—an hour ago, but I’ve been putting that off.”

  “You won’t be...going through any doors today?”

  Rebecca shook her head.

  “I won’t ask about last night.” Because I already know. Sandy was inside, one of your own. Of course you went through first.

  “Okay.” Rebecca ran her thumb over the top of Catherine’s warm hand. “Thanks.”

  “Where’s your jacket?”

  “I had to throw it away.” Rebecca looked around for Sandy. “Mitchell’s blood was all over it. She saved a cop’s life tonight, Catherine.”

  Catherine smiled fondly. “She’s just your kind of cop, isn’t she, my love?”

  “Yeah.” Rebecca grinned. “Yeah, she is.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Mitchell swam up through dark heavy waters, struggling against the unseen hand that threatened to pull her ever deeper. Her chest ached, hungry for air, and distantly, pain broke over her like angry surf. Gasping, she opened her eyes.

  “Take it easy,” Rebecca said gently, resting her palm lightly against Mitchell’s shoulder. “You’re okay. You’re in the recovery room.”

  “Sergeant,” Mitchell said hoarsely, struggling to focus. “Where’s...Sandy?”

  “Waiting outside with Catherine. I had to pull some strings to get in here.” Rebecca smiled, pleased to see that Mitchell’s eyes were clearing rapidly. “You’ll be able to see her in a bit.”

  “What’s happening...with the case?”

  Rebecca grinned. “In about two hours, we’re going to kick some major ass.”

  Mitchell groaned.

  “Are you hurting? You need me to get the nurse?”

  “No. I can’t believe...I’m going to miss this.” She tried to raise her head but was still too weak.

  “Unfortunately, your ass-kicking leg is temporarily out of commission, Officer.” Rebecca squeezed Mitchell’s shoulder.

  “Is it bad?”

  “Nah. The surgeon said you’d be back on your feet in no time.”

  “Back on the team?”


  “I don’t know that there will be a team after today,” Rebecca said quietly. “But I’ll see that you get credit for your part in the operation.”

  “I don’t care...about that.”

  “I do.” Rebecca straightened. “Anybody you need me to call? Family?”

  “No.”

  “I’ve got to go. I’ll be back later.”

  “Sergeant?”

  Rebecca raised an eyebrow.

  “Kick some butt for me.”

  The corner of Rebecca’s mouth lifted into a feral grin. “You can count on it.”

  *

  When Mitchell next awoke, the pain was bearable, and her overwhelming sensation was one of hunger. She started to sit up and found that she couldn’t. When, undaunted, she tried again, a small hand gently pressed her down.

  “You’re supposed to lie still.”

  “Like I’ve got a choice.” Mitchell turned her head on the pillow and smiled at Sandy. “Hi, honey.”

  “Hi, baby.”

  “Am I supposed to starve to death, too?”

  Sandy grinned. “They didn’t mention that part.” It was so good to hear Mitchell’s voice that she felt tears threaten again. That was crazy. She waited until she was sure her voice was steady. “You okay?”

  Mitchell gave the question some thought. She felt weak, and her leg felt like she’d been kicked by a horse. But the pain was tolerable. “Yeah, I think so. You?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You look cute.”

  “Huh?” Sandy glanced down at the too-big sweatshirt and the shapeless jeans and then snorted. “Oh yeah, terrific. Did something happen to your head, too?”

  “My head’s just fine.” She reached out and caught Sandy’s hand. “What time is it?”

  “Afternoon sometime.”

  “You ought to go home. You look beat.”

  “You’re kind of bossy for someone who’s flat on her back.”

  Mitchell grinned faintly. “I kind of thought you liked me that way.”

  “I like you every way.” Sandy leaned over and kissed Mitchell gently on the mouth. She straightened quickly at the sound of a discreet cough behind her. She turned, her expression defensive.

  “Sorry,” Dr. Torveau said. “Should’ve knocked.”

  “S’okay.”

  The surgeon walked to the opposite side of the bed and nodded to Mitchell. “How are you feeling?”

  “Not bad. How am I?”

  “You’re good. You’ve got a partial laceration of a pretty big artery in your leg, but it’s repaired. No permanent damage.”

  Briefly, Mitchell closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were bright and focused. “When can I go home?”

  Torveau sighed. “Taking care of cops is so much fun.” After a moment’s consideration, she continued, “You’ll need some instruction with crutch walking, and that can’t happen until tomorrow. If the wound looks okay then, you should be good to go.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You won’t be walking on that leg for a week,” Torveau cautioned, “so you’re going to need some help at home.”

  “I’ll be fi—”

  “I’ll help,” Sandy said with finality.

  “Good enough. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Once the surgeon had gone, Mitchell asked, “Can you help me sit up?”

  Sandy carefully worked the bed controls and positioned pillows until Mitchell was upright. “Okay?”

  “Perfect.” Her leg was throbbing, but Mitchell managed a grin. “Maybe you should get one of those hot little nurse’s outfits—you know, the ones with the tight, short, see-through white dresses?”

  Sandy regarded Mitchell thoughtfully. “Blow me, rookie.”

  “Okay.” Mitchell caught Sandy’s hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed her knuckles gently. “You’re the boss.”

  The worry and fear of the past hours slipped away like mist on the sunrise. Leaning down, Sandy kissed Mitchell again. When she drew her mouth away, she whispered, “You know, you’re pretty smart for a cop.”

  *

  Sloan looked up at the sound of the elevator’s soft whir, perplexed because she hadn’t buzzed anyone in. Looking over her shoulder, she gasped in surprise, then jumped to her feet. “Michael!”

  Dressed in a white silk T-shirt and loose cotton slacks, Michael smiled and walked slowly into the office. “I realized that if I was ever going to see you, I would have to track you down.”

  “Jesus,” Sloan cried anxiously, grabbing an office chair and wheeling it in Michael’s direction. “Sit. You shouldn’t be down here.”

  “Hi, Jason,” Michael called as she settled into the plush leather. From across the room, he raised his hand and waved a greeting while she eyed her lover critically. “You didn’t come home last night, and I didn’t see you for breakfast, and you didn’t call all day.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Five in the afternoon.” Michael’s tone was aggrieved.

  “Oh.” Sloan grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”

  Laughing, Michael relented. “Don’t apologize. I just missed you. How are things going?”

  “I’ll know better as soon as we hear from Rebecca. We got her the names of half a dozen Internet porn distributors and ten times that many customers. The operation is going down now and is likely to take a few hours. Depending on how the sweep plays out, it could be big.”

  “I’m proud of you,” Michael said softly.

  Sloan pulled another chair near, sat, and took both of Michael’s hands in hers. “It wasn’t just me. It was the whole team.”

  “Yes, but you’re the only one I’m in love with.” Michael streaked her fingers through Sloan’s hair. “Will you promise to come to bed later?”

  “It’ll be late, probably.” Sloan caught Michael’s hand and kissed the palm.

  “I don’t have any plans.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “As if I’m going to get bedsores if I sleep any longer.” Michael laughed. “Better. The headache comes and goes, but at least once in a while, it does go.”

  “Thank God,” Sloan whispered.

  “Are things almost wrapped up here, then?”

  Sloan looked away.

  “Sloan?”

  “Last night, while everyone else was out chasing around the city and breaking down doors, I was back here breaking down a few doors of my own.” She met Michael’s eyes solemnly, wishing there were some things she didn’t have to remind her about. “We know that someone downtown leaked the details of the task force operation. When they tried to stop me, they hurt you instead.”

  “I know. But you know that wasn’t your fault.” Michael saw the resistance and the guilt in her lover’s eyes. “Darling, look at me.”

  Reluctantly, Sloan complied.

  “I need you to tell me that you will let that go.”

  “I’m close to finding out who.” A muscle jumped along the edge of Sloan’s jaw. “I’ve narrowed it down to two people. When I get the name...I’ll give it to Rebecca.”

  “I believe you. I do.” Michael rested her hand against Sloan’s cheek. “Now tell me that you’ll stop blaming yourself for what happened to me.”

  “I can’t.” Sloan’s voice was agonized.

  Michael sighed, slid her fingers to the back of Sloan’s neck, and pulled her close. With her mouth a breath away from Sloan’s, she murmured, “There are countless reasons why I love you. But I fell in love with you for the way you love me.” She kissed her, a slow, lingering, possessive kiss. “Just try, for me.”

  Sloan rested her forehead against Michael’s, nodding slowly. “Anything. Always.”

  *

  At a little after nine p.m., Watts walked into Sloan’s office carrying a magnum of champagne. Rebecca followed, a tired smile on her face.

  “Well?” Jason asked, rising rapidly to his feet.

  “Sixty-four arrests,” Watts bellowed. “Including five who have been under surveillance
by the OC division for the last six months because of suspected ties to Zamora.”

  Sloan handed around plastic cups. “Outstanding.”

  “You’ll be able to hear all about it on the ten o’clock news,” Watts continued exuberantly as he poured champagne. “Sarge?”

  Rebecca shook her head, then glanced at Sloan. “Any coffee?”

  “In the back. I’ll get it.”

  “Why don’t we all head back there, and we’ll see where things are,” Rebecca suggested.

  The group trooped back to the conference room and settled around the table.

  “The Sarge looks really good on camera. The brass are practically creaming over her.” Watts refilled his cup happily. “And rumor has it—”

  Rebecca coughed. “Okay, Watts, okay.”

  He grinned at her.

  “Everyone did fine,” she said, looking at each of them in turn. “We did what the joint task force should have done—we broke the back of the Internet porn ring.”

  It was a victory, and it felt good. She knew, though, that such triumphs were short-lived, and the beast would rise again. That’s what police work was—a series of battles in a war that was never won. She had learned to take satisfaction in each small success, but there were days when she wearied. She squared her shoulders. “But we’re not done yet. We’ve got days of interrogation in front of us. Those porn distributors are all hard-core professionals, and they’re not about to roll easily, if at all. Plus, we still don’t have a handle on where the girls are coming from.”

  “What do you mean?” Jason asked.

  “This operation was too big and too well organized to rely on casual street pick-ups like last night. I think we’ll find that our man Victor was just doing a little business on the side, which is why he hustled Sandy and Trudy over there so fast. I’m willing to bet there are still girls out there being exploited by the guys who set up this deal, if not for other videos, then for good old-fashioned cash money.”