Goddess of Justice by Dwayne Clayden (mobi ebook reader TXT) 📕

Sturgeon held up his hands. “I have no clue where he is, and I haven’t spoken to him.”

Jackson sat back, nodded and chewed on the toothpick. “He’d figure out a way to contact his friends, though.”

Sturgeon shrugged. “I suppose so. But Griffin and his IA buddies have everyone under surveillance.”

Jackson snorted. “Griffin is a great cop, but the other two?”

“They’re wasting their time if they think Brad’s friends will lead them to him. One of two things will happen. He solves the murders, or he turns himself in. But if he doesn’t want to be found, they won’t find him.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Brad shivered as he sat on the ground against the boulder and listened to the Bow River flow past. The sun had set hours ago. He’d driven east and parked the truck. He’d hiked through a playground and into the east end of Bowness Park, better known as the 7 Bees.

This was where he and Lobo had come on daily runs for four years so Lobo could swim and fetch rocks. Later, it was the place he brought Maggie—then it was their spot. He felt the chill of the wind and shivered. Minus twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill close to minus thirty-five. Why didn’t they just say minus thirty-five? He wrapped his arms around his chest. Military winter gear—bullshit.

There wasn’t a day he didn’t miss Maggie. After she died, he and Lobo had spent hours here every day. Sometimes late into the night. He didn’t want to leave. But it became a place of sorrow—of depression. Then he was worried that one day he would come here and go to Maggie. He couldn’t do that to Lobo, but …

His friends were around, but he’d never felt so alone. He didn’t believe in bad luck, but there was something, some aura around him that got people hurt. He should be able to protect them, but he couldn’t, didn’t. He’d been wrong to bring Sadie into this. He’d rectify that.

He leaned back closer to the rock and brought his knees to his chest, then circled his knees with his arms. He was in as tight of a ball as he could be. Small, a mere speck in the universe.

His head lifted. Someone was crashing down the path through the trees. Shit. Shit. Somehow, they’d found him. But damn, they were making a lot of noise. Brad rolled and faced the noise, drew his pistol and pointed around the left side. If they were coming from the west, then there had to be approaching coming from the east. What a stupid spot to be. He had no escape.

The crashing grew closer, then he heard the panting. The dark shape came over the top of the boulder and pounced on him.

Brad was knocked to the ground with Lobo planting slobbery kisses over his face.

“Lobo, enough. Out.”

Lobo had no intentions of stopping. He kept his paws on Brad’s shoulder, the slobbering getting worse. Two dark figures stood over them.

“Should we call Lobo off?” Steele asked.

“He’s trying to lick off those wisps of a beard,” Zerr said.

“Give them another minute,” Steele said.

Finally, Brad rolled out from under Lobo and stood. “Lobo scared the shit out of me.” Lobo raced around his legs.

“How is that possible?” Steele asked. “He was making more noise than an elephant.”

Brad dusted the snow off his clothes. “I thought Griffin and IA had found me.”

“You set up a meeting through that reporter and then you’re surprised we’re here?” Steele asked.

“He’s tired.” Zerr grinned.

Steele cocked his head. “From what?”

“Last night.”

“Don’t fuckin’ go there,” Brad hissed.

“Me thinks he doth protest too much,” Zerr said.

Steele smirked at Zerr. “Annie said Sadie had a special glow about her.”

“Are you two comedians finished?” Brad glared at his friends. “Nothing happened.”

“Great idea. Plead the fifth,” Zerr said.

“That’s just in the US, numbnuts.” Steele cocked his head. “Hey Charlie, you know what my question is?”

“What would that be, Sam?”

“If our dear friend Brad spent the night at Sadie’s, then why the heck didn’t something happen?”

“I believe he has lost his super power over women,” Zerr said.

Brad smacked Zerr on his back. “If you two idiots are about done, whether my sex life is on or off is not the issue. I’m framed for murder. I have to clear my name. Are you two going to help me or audition for Saturday Night Live?”

“Hadn’t thought of that,” Steele said.

Brad glared. “Bring me up to date. What happened today?”

“Where to start,” Zerr said. “Sturgeon matched ballistics to your gun.”

“Yeah, I heard that. It’s bullshit.”

“The chief ordered Archer to bring Internal Affairs onto the case,” Steele said.

“Ain’t that fuckin’ lovely,” Brad said.

“It gets better,” Steele said.

“Or worse,” Zerr muttered.

Brad glanced from one to the other.

Steele frowned. “Griffin went to Archer’s office and asked to be the lead on your case.”

“Seriously?”

“Kid you not.” Zerr stamped his feet and rubbed his arms. “He’ll be working with Detectives Genereau and Harker from IA.”

“Oh, shit. They hate me.”

“They might have reason to,” Zerr said.

“As I recall, you called them fucking idiots and stormed out of their interview,” Steele said. “Archer had to intervene to save your ass.”

Brad frowned. “I don’t remember it that way.”

“They already hauled us, Briscoe, and Annie in for the third-degree interviews.”

“Sorry about that,” Brad said.

“Are you kidding?” Zerr said. “Most fun I’ve had in a long time. They forgot that in the military I trained on evading and enduring interrogation. I spun them in so many circles they’ll be dizzy for a week.”

“Annie said she messed with them as well,” Steele said. “Sturgeon has his two best techs going over the evidence to see if there’s any way it’s false or tampered with. Your picture is in every cruiser, shown at every briefing, in every newspaper, and on TV. You’re a regular celebrity.”

“Shit. I guess I should have expected that.”

“Jeez, it’s cold by the river.” Zerr shivered and rubbed his right leg. “You couldn’t think of