Free Justice Incarnate by Regan Black Page A

Brian that said more about his estimation of the chief's intelligence than an IQ test. "Yeah."
    "So we've got a serial killer or rapist on the hunt."
    "That's only the tip of the iceberg," Jaden grumbled. "There's more here."
    "More what?"
    "More to it," she snapped at Brian, tired of his consistent interruptions. She knew her enemy, knew his patterns and this had a different feel.
    To his credit, Brian let her think. Her last life was usually the easiest to recall, down to the smallest details about society. "Last time he dabbled in video. Cambodian girls I think."
    "What?" Micky asked.
    She ignored him. "Chinese girls were priceless, and largely unavailable. Their female population was already dying."
    "How do you know all this?"
    The memory faded and she met his quizzical gaze. "Experience."
    "You mean research."
    "I say what I mean, thank you," she snipped, not liking the reaction but helpless to stop it. "But research isn't a bad idea. I'll need access to old reports. Both police and news."
    Brian shrugged. "Good luck. I'm dead, remember?"
    "I've got news files here," Micky offered.
    "And with the right computer I can hack police files," she thought aloud. "Micky if you want your girls protected, I'm gonna need to set up shop. My place is gone."
    "And I'm dead."
    "Oh, get off it." She elbowed Brian again. "Being dead might be the most helpful thing for all of us. The Judge will be upset about taking you out. Unless he did it on purpose. Who told you to follow me? Or did you decide to answer the initial call on your own?"
    Brian scowled. "The Judge asked me to follow up and make sure you didn't try anything with the transport officer. Not unusual considering how the case went down."
    She quirked a brow, daring him to not make the obvious connection.
    "You undermined his authority," Brian defended.
    "Yeah? And what did you do?"
    Brian just stared so she resumed her preference of ignoring him. "Micky, can I check out the rooms of the missing girls?" He nodded. "And do you have a place with a computer we could call home for a day or two? We need to do some planning."
    "I've only got one free place."
    "With three missing girls?"
    "Most of them share."
    Jaden knew it wasn't true, but she held her tongue. It was likely Micky had wired a suite just for business visitors. In his position she'd want to keep the 'former' police chief under surveillance too.
    "We'll deal with it." Her look squashed any unnecessary commentary from Brian.
    Leaving Micky's office from the opposite door, they headed into the building Micky used for housing. He led them to a suite two levels up from where Jaden had met the survivor just days ago.
    "Nice digs," Brian said, stepping into a spacious room decked out with real furniture and a state of the art entertainment system.
    "Enjoy your stay," Micky deadpanned as he handed over a key card.
    Once they were alone, Jaden jumped into the real issue. "I know you're not buying into why I'm gunning for your boss–"
    "Friend. Boss would be unethical." He flopped onto the couch.
    "So you're an ethical guy."
    "I like to think so."
    Once upon a time, she'd thought so too. "Good. Fine. Whatever. Are you gonna listen and cooperate or not?"
    "Are those my only options?" He rubbed his knee absently.
    "Let's get this straight. I have one, sole purpose in this sorry existence: to take down a monster hurting innocent girls and unfortunate women. Will you help, in the name of upholding the oath you took a few years ago?"
    "My oath to protect and serve includes everyone, not just a select few."
    She expected to feel steam burst from her ears. Of all the callous, insensitive things he could say. "Answer the question and we can move forward."
    "I'll answer when you explain what old files have to do with this case."
    She sighed and took pity on his lack of memory-aided comprehension. "I'll be looking for trends within the missing girls. He has preferences."
    "He, meaning Albertson."
    She knelt on the floor and took over the