Free Justice Incarnate by Regan Black Page B

task of massaging his knee. "Whether you believe it or not."
    Brian threw up his hands. "What started your obsessive vendetta against Albertson?"
    With practiced control, Jaden answered only the question asked. "He raped me. Then he marked me so he'd be sure not to use me again." She watched Brian's eyes widen in shock. Then soften as he considered her. She could handle anything. Anything but pity from him.
    She stood up and began to investigate their temporary quarters. Within moments she found wiring for a miniscule video camera. Expecting Micky to be the cutting-edge wireless type, she kept looking.
    "How old were you?"
    She didn't bother pretending to misunderstand his question. "Thirteen." She scanned the corners where walls met ceiling. Nothing.
    "You want me to pull your report and reopen the case?"
    "You won't find a report." But she had found the wireless video tap. She stuck out her tongue and disabled it with an efficiency Cleveland would appreciate.
    "Your parents didn't file any of this? They didn't take you to the hospital for treatment?"
    The search over, she turned her full attention back to Brian. "Sure they did. A week after the fact when I made it home."
    "You were kidnapped?"
    His incredulous expression made her want to kick out his knee all over again. "My story's only important if you can prove it. There are no records. Except maybe my suicide attempt. I don't think he erased that one."
    "I can't picture you as a suicide."
    "Weak moment." She shrugged. "Good thing for both of us I didn't or he'd win this round."
    "This round?"
    "Oh, forget it." She'd get into that later. If she decided he was worth the effort. She settled into the chair near the couch. "Let's just agree I hate him and you adore him. How about you explain that to me."
    "I don't adore him." Brian scowled and came to his feet. "He's a respected member of the law enforcement community."
    She snorted. "He's the devil's own assistant."
    "An opinion I'd expect from any victim."
    "I haven't been a victim in–" She opted not to do the math. "I told you why I'm in the market to kill him. You tell me why I shouldn't."
    "He's my father?"
    "That's not even funny." But his somber face made her wonder if she'd severely miscalculated this life's challenges.
    "Okay, not really. But he's a father figure. When my own father was doing time in Leavenworth prison, he stepped in. I guess he just stayed 'in' after that. Then my dad died and..." He began pacing.
    "How?"
    Brian stopped moving and blinked at her.
    "How did your dad die?" she clarified.
    "Transport vehicles were automated back then. It malfunctioned."
    "His release was unexpected?"
    "Three, no, four months early."
    "And you managed to make chief with that big old skeleton in your closet because of a friend like the Judge."
    "Hold on!" His hands fisted. "I earned my position."
    "I'm sure you think so." Jaden took over the pacing.
    If Albertson had the foresight to imbed himself in Brian's life then maybe Cleveland was right. Maybe the key was turning Brian to her side of the battle. Her fingers went to her neck, slid over her heart and paused at her midsection. All points of deadly impact in the past. But how to make him see the truth and get him on board with her version of the Judge?
    "To be fair, I'm sure you did. And I'm just as sure he's using you. It's his method. He saw an opening, saw a need and filled it to his benefit."
    "But he hasn't asked for anything."
    "No?"
    Brian's hands sought his jacket pockets before he recalled it was long gone. "Once in a blue moon he asks me to write a leniency recommendation. But–"
    "But he watched out for you once and you've chalked it up to his benevolence."
    Brian gave a somber nod.
    "What about the evidence?"
    "When?"
    "You dug into it, right?"
    "Well, yeah," he confessed.
    "And?" Jaden prompted when he said no more.
    "And I saw a pattern. Not one I can connect directly to Albertson, though."
    "Of course not." It wouldn't be that easy. "What did you