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

heading into downtown, the truck veered right, out of the city. Ms. Andrus, where are you going?

During surveillance the past two days, Dice hadn’t seen Andrus with the truck. Surveillance had been brief, but Dice discovered nothing about Andrus having a boyfriend. She was separated from her husband and according to court documents Dice acquired, it would be a long and nasty process. That’s what happens when physical abuse is an issue.

Outside the city it was a challenge to keep distance while also keeping the truck in sight. Dice grinned, thinking about the mayor’s nephew and his suffering. For hours, his own heroin had been administered, then reversed. The highs and lows had him screaming, begging for the drugs to stop. Now he knew the pain his smuggling activities had subjected hundreds of addicts to. Eventually an overdose would be given. But not before he lived through hell, over and over.

The brake lights of the truck interrupted Dice’s thoughts. Damn. Daydreaming had gotten Dice too close. The only hope was to pull off the road. Damn. Damn.

Dice quickly pulled onto a farm lane, swung around in the farmyard, and slowly headed back to the road. There was no sign of the truck. Decision time. Head west on the highway or head back to the TV studio.

Out of town made no sense. Andrus might meet with someone with a new tip, or a boyfriend for some afternoon delight. No matter, she’d have to be back at the studio for her broadcasts. Shit. Dice swung onto the highway and headed back to the TV station.

Twenty minutes later, the truck drove up to the main doors of the TV station. Andrus jumped out, then leaned back into the truck.

Goodbye smooch? Last words? Then she shut the door and jogged to the main doors.

The truck pulled away, sliding on the ice. The driver expertly steered through the fishtail and drove past.

“Coulter.”

Sometimes all the planning in the world wasn’t enough. Other times, luck was all you needed.

Toscana spotted the old truck driving along the Shaganappi Golf Course. Deep snow covered the fairways and greens. As she got close, she noticed the license plate tag was expired by two years.

She swung in behind the truck and hit the lights.

The truck’s brake lights flashed once. The truck sped up, then slowed and pulled to the curb.

Toscana stopped behind the truck and exited her vehicle. With one hand on her gun, the other holding the long black tube at her left side, she approached the truck. The driver’s window was down, and the driver sat motionless with his hands on the steering wheel.

Toscana stood at the driver’s shoulder and leaned forward. “Good afternoon, Detective.”

Coulter’s head swung toward the window, eyes wide. “Toscana?”

“You look like shit. Talking again when you should have been listening?”

“Something like that.”

“The entire city is searching for you.”

“How did you find me?”

Toscana grinned. “Wild guess and a lot of luck. I knew your friends were being watched closely, yet you still evaded capture. Someone had to be helping you. Then I remembered a while ago some of my cops talked about you and the TV reporter, Sadie Andrus, and something about you two having breakfast. I took a chance and staked out the TV station.”

“What happens now?”

Toscana watched Brads eyes as they flicked from side to side. He was evaluating options just like she knew he would.

“We’re having a friendly chat while you wait for backup to arrive?””

Toscana saw Brad’s left-hand slide toward his gun.

“Nope. No backup.” Toscana jabbed the cattle prod into Brad’s chest.

There was pleasure on the verge of euphoria as she heard sparking and watched incredible pain rip through Coulter’s body as his muscles contracted and threatened to snap. His breath came in gasps, but he was unable to scream. His eyes widened as the pain increased, then he collapsed onto the steering wheel.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Steele and Zerr were parked off Eleventh Street, southwest by the Planetarium. Snow fell gently, and the wipers cleared the window every ten seconds. The clouds were low and gray. The weather matched their moods—dismal. No new leads. Archer still hadn’t included TSU in his rescue plans for Kearse’s nephew. They were in the dark.

“I hate sitting here doing sweet F-all.” Steele stared out the window and chewed a nail.

Zerr spit sunflower seeds out his window.

“It’s minus ten Fahrenheit and you have the window open.”

Zerr shrugged. “I can spit the shells on the floor if you’d like.”

“I’d prefer you not chew sunflower seeds.”

“They’re healthy for you.”

Steele glared. “You use more energy eating than any nutrition you get.”

Zerr spit out a wad of shells. “You’re whiny.”

Steele rolled his eyes. “Give me a handful.”

They cracked seeds and stared at the falling snow. Their pagers buzzed one after the other. They read the message, then their heads swung toward each other. “Call Sadie Andrus. ASAP or sooner.”

They jumped out of the Suburban and sprinted into the Planetarium. As they approached the reception desk, Steele said, “We need to use your phone. Police emergency.”

The receptionist placed the phone on the counter. Steele grabbed it and dialed. He heard ringing.

“Sadie Andrus.”

“It’s Steele.”

Zerr pushed his head next to Steele’s “It may be nothing, but Brad picked me up at the station.”

“What? Why?”

“No time for that now. When he dropped me off, a van followed him.”

“Where was he going?” Steele asked.

“I don’t know. But he headed toward downtown.”

“What’s he driving?”

“His old farm truck. Has he been arrested?”

“We’ve heard nothing on the radio,” Steele said. “No one has said they pulled Brad over or called for backup. They’d be crazy to arrest Brad alone.”

“Maybe it’s nothing,” Sadie said.

“No, go with your gut,” Steele replied. “We’re not far away. We’ll head in your direction, then double back. I’ll call you if we find anything.”

They raced back to the Suburban and swung onto Sixth Avenue, then onto Bow Trail. Zerr sped up the hill.

“You in a hurry?” Steele asked.

“Time is important,” Zerr replied.

“But we don’t know where we’re going.”

Zerr grinned. “But we’re making great