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

block from the coffee shop. Genereau—a squat man, bald, with a wispy mustache and a nasal voice—was in the driver’s seat. His partner, Harker, was riding shotgun. Harker was thin and gangly with wild red hair that clashed with his rust-colored suit. He sported a narrow mustache and a face of freckles.

“There’s the reporter chick heading into the coffee shop,” Genereau said. “On TV, you only see her upper body and face, but dang, I like what I see. Too bad she’s wearing that huge parka.” He vigorously chewed his gum, making smacking sounds.

“Do you mind?” Harker keyed his portable radio and updated command. “Units in place.”

Genereau’s eyes didn’t leave the door to the coffee shop. “It’s what I do on stakeouts.”

“I don’t give a shit, you’re annoying me.”

“Keeps me alert.” Genereau snapped the gum louder.

“Go for a walk around the block. If you snap that gum one more time, I’m gonna grab you by your tie and drag you out of the car.”

“Man, you’re cranky. Maybe you need coffee. Head across the street. The chicks don’t know you.”

Harker snorted. “And the white shirt, tie, cheap suit and comfortable shoes don’t shout out cop.”

Genereau rolled down the window, then spit the gum onto the road. “There. Happy?”

Harker increased the heat. “Shut the frickin’ window. I’m cold enough. I’ll be ecstatic when you step out of the car, put your size twelves into the gum, and carry it to the next crime scene.”

Genereau rolled up the window and swung to his partner. “What is wrong with you today?”

Harker shrugged. “This doesn’t feel right.”

“Staking out the chicks?”

“Stop saying chicks.” Harker clapped his gloved hands together. “It’s not the stakeout. It’s the total mess with Coulter.”

Genereau grinned. “I’m gonna take great pleasure slapping the cuffs on that asshole. Maybe he’ll resist and we can rough him up. Fuckin’ dirty cop.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Oh, great.” Genereau rolled his eyes. “Another Coulter hero worshiper.”

“You know I’m not a Coulter fan. And I’d love to catch his hand in the cookie jar. But he’s too smart. There’s no way he’d leave all the evidence leading back to him. If he were doing the killing, we’d never know.”

Genereau shrugged. “Since his fiancée got wasted, he’s not the same guy. Who knows what demons he’s fighting? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he sent some shitheads to purgatory. It still ain’t right about him being a cop.”

Harker keyed the radio again. “You guys got anything out back?”

“All quiet here.”

Harker keyed the mic. “Any unit see the suspect on the street?”

No reply.

“The meeting has started,” Harker said. “Be alert. Let’s see if Coulter shows.”

“Do you think Coulter will show up?” Genereau asked.

“You’re the one who thinks he’s stupid, so why not,” Harker said.

Genereau shrugged. “Sure. Maybe not that stupid.”

They watched the front of the coffee shop. It did excellent business, people coming and going all the time. Genereau wondered if they’d give the cops free coffee like 7-Eleven. Probably not. Too many upscale hippy freaks.

The radio squawked. “We’ve got something in the alley. A tall guy dressed in black entered the back door. He appears shady.”

“What the hell does shady look like?” Harker asked.

“Head down, shoulders hunched. For sure he didn’t want anyone to see his face.”

“You think it’s Coulter?”

“Right size, right build.”

“Roger that,” Harker said. “Detectives and TSU, move in.”

Genereau and Harker jumped out of the car and sprinted across the street. “I guess we won’t be getting free coffee here anytime soon.”

Annie figured two could play the game, so she arrived at the coffee shop twenty minutes early, ordered her coffee and took the seat in the back booth facing the door. Just before two, Sadie entered the coffee shop, stopped inside the store, and removed her sunglasses. She surveyed the tables. A thin grin appeared as she spotted Annie.

Sadie tossed her parka and hat onto the bench and slid into the booth across from Annie. “I see Brad has taught us the same thing.” She set her gloves on the table.

Annie smirked. “Last time I arrived too late. I wasn’t making that mistake again.” Annie slid a cup across the table. “Got you an espresso.”

“Thank you.” Sadie sipped. “How’s Brad?”

Annie surveyed the room. “His friends met him last night and dropped off supplies, cash, food, and clothes. Didn’t he stay with you last night?”

Sadie shook her head and stared at her cup. “Not with me.”

Annie sipped her coffee.

Sadie set her cup down and glared. “You don’t trust me.”

“Just being cautious.”

“What is it I have to do?” Sadie slumped in her seat. “I’ve never betrayed his trust. I could have turned him in a dozen other times. One call to 911 and I would have the scoop of the decade. I didn’t.”

Annie shrugged. “It’s nothing personal.”

“The hell it isn’t.” Sadie glared at Annie. “You know where he met Steele and Zerr last night?”

“I have an idea.”

“But you won’t tell me.”

“It’s better that way.”

Sadie sat back and crossed her arms. “Fine. Tell me about your interrogation yesterday.”

“They made a show of it. Two police cruisers and four cops came to my apartment and escorted me downtown.”

Sadie’s eyes were wide. “That’s intimidating.”

“That’s what they think.” Annie grinned. “I’ve handled worse.”

Sadie sipped her espresso and nodded. “How’d you deal with them?”

Annie laughed. “I may seem like a teen, but I’m a hardened bitch. Detective Harker got nothing from me but grief. When he got angry, I asked for a lawyer. He said I wasn’t being charged with anything. I said I still wanted my lawyer. He said fine. Who? I said Brad.”

Sadie laughed.

“He said he’d be glad to call Brad and have him come in. I said, terrific point. I’ll call Jenni Blighe.”

“The crown prosecutor?” Sadie laughed. “Hilarious.”

“That ended the interview.”

“I’m not sure I’d be this calm about it.” Sadie sipped her espresso. “Hey, why didn’t they interview me?”

“You want to be interrogated?” Annie asked.

“No, it’s just—”

“That’s wonderful.” Annie leaned across the table. “It means they aren’t making any connection between you and Brad. We might be able