Free Justice by Piper Davenport

her to the island. “Now, spill. I want details.”
    “Coffee,” Macey said.
    “I’ll get it,” Dallas offered, and grabbed her a mug.
    “ So ,” Payton pressed.
    “I don’t really know what to tell you,” Macey admitted as she sat on the stool next to Payton.
    “We had a come to Jesus meeting,” Dallas said. “We’ve wasted too much time trying to give each other space, so we’re gonna work on sorting our shit out together.”
    Macey rolled her eyes. “Sure, let’s go with that.”
    “Halle-frickin’-lujah,” Payton said. “Have you told my brother?”
    “Babe, it just happened,” Dallas said, in mock exasperation.
    Payton giggled. “Right.”
    Dallas set waffles in front of them and then pulled heated syrup from the microwave.
    “Thanks,” they said in unison.
    The doorbell rang and Payton grinned. “Speak of the devil,” she said as she jumped up to answer the door. “That’ll be Brock.”
    Macey sipped her coffee and smiled at Dallas. He smiled back and then poured batter onto the iron. Macey turned when she heard Brock’s voice, standing as he and Bailey walked inside.
    “Got room for a couple of free-loaders?” Brock asked.
    Bailey giggled and closed the distance between her and Macey to give her a hug. “Hi.”
    “Good morning,” Macey said.
    Brock and Bailey were newlyweds and it showed. They were rarely out of each other’s sight. Bailey was blonde with porcelain skin so fair, she should model. She was petite with curves, and next to Brock’s height and lean, muscular build, they were a stunning couple.
    “Tell them, tell them,” Payton said, clapping her hands.
    “Tell us what?” Brock asked as he smiled at Macey instead of hugging her. He headed to the kitchen to grab coffee and slap Dallas on the shoulder.
    “They’re back together,” Payton squealed.
    “Come again?” Brock said.
    “They’re gonna work their shit out together,” Payton repeated. “Isn’t that awesome?”
    Bailey nodded. “Ah, yeah. That’s awesome.”
    Macey glanced at Brock, noticed his careful perusal of her, and smiled.
    “You good, Mase?” he asked.
    “I’m good, Brockaby.”
    “Okay then,” he said, and handed Bailey a cup of coffee. “I want two waffles. Bailey, sweetheart, how many do you want? Four?”
    Bailey giggled. “One will be more than enough, thank you.”
    “We have berries in the freezer,” Macey said, and stood.
    “Sit your butt down, babe,” Dallas said. “Brock and I’ll take care of it.”
    “How’d I get roped into this?” Brock asked.
    “You showed up expecting to be fed.
    Brock laughed. “Fair enough.”
    “Let’s move to the table, huh?” Macey suggested, and slid from her stool at the island to their larger dining table.
    * * *
    In the kitchen, Dallas glanced at Brock. “What?”
    “Macey’s good?” Brock asked.
    “She’s perfect,” Dallas said. “I’m the dick who waited too long.”
    Brock shook his head. “You were trying to give her space.”
    Dallas grunted his response.
    Brock chuckled.
    “So, you’re here early,” Dallas said. “You got something?”
    “Yeah,” Brock said. “He’s back.”
    “Highland guy?”
    Brock nodded.
    “Damn it.” Dallas turned to look at Macey, smiled when she caught his eye, and then focused back on the waffles. “When?”
    “Two nights ago. Seattle.”
    “Wait.” Dallas frowned. “He disappeared after Vancouver… has he really not hit anywhere else in two years?”
    Brock rubbed his forehead. “Honestly, brother? I think the Vancouver hit two years ago was a copycat.”
    “Why do you think that?”
    “We got DNA.”
    “Shit,” Dallas said.
    “Yeah. The Highland guy leaves nothing.”
    “Except the hickey.”
    “Yeah, the hickey, but he cleans it off with bleach,” he whispered. “Sicko.”
    “Definitely.”
    “But no one knows that part of the crime. It’s sealed. Not even local cops are privy to it. Only the higher ups,” Brock said. “And this new rape has the hickey,