Free Silent Justice by John C. Dalglish Page A

questions.
    “What is it?”
    “A baby,” she teased.
    “Very funny, what sex is it?”
    “It’s too soon to know, Jason.”
    “When are you due?”
    “You mean when are we due?”
    Jason’s smile grew even wider , if that was possible.
    “Okay, when are we due?”
    “April seventh.”
    Jason’s cell phone started ringing , but Sandy tried not to get upset. Being on-call was part of being a detective, and being a detective meant not working the street in a patrol car.
    She and Jason were expecting now , and his not being on the street was even more important to her. Jason gave her a pained look.
    “It’s work.”
    “I figured. It’s okay, answer it.”
    He picked up the phone.
    “This is Strong.”
    Sandy got up and cleared the table, including the salad scattered all over the floor. When she returned from the kitchen, Jason was standing.
    “Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Call Detective Layne for me, please.”
    He hung up the phone and looked at his wife. Sandy smiled as Jason moved across the room to the where she was standing. He wrapped his arms around her again, gentler this time.
    Sandy held on tight, smelling his hair, feeling the strength in his arms, and sensing the joy in his soul. They were going to be parents, and she could tell they were both ready.
    He whispered into her ear.
    “I’ve got to go. There’s been another arrow attack.”
    “It’s okay ,” she said, but held on a little longer.
    Finally, she let Jason pull himself free. He looked into her eyes before kissing her on the forehead.
    “I’ll be home as soon as I can get away. I love you.”
    With that, he was gone. She stayed leaning against the kitchen door for a long while. Eventually, she found herself rubbing her stomach again.
    She smiled. That’s twice.
     
    *******
     
    Jason and Vanessa arrived at Bobby and Lisa White’s home at the same time and they both had to park down the block. The driveway, and area in front of the house, had a combination of emergency vehicles clogging the small street. They walked up toward the house together, and Jason decided now was not the time to deliver his happy news.
    With darkness comes a surreal atmosphere of a crime scene at night. Swirling bright lights, flashing back and forth, reflect off everything shiny within a half-mile.
    People stand in their doorways , or in small groups on their lawns, wearing various costumes from pajamas to suit coats. They talk and point at the frightening circus that has come to their neighborhood.
    The two detectives flashed their badges , and ducked under the crime tape at the end of the driveway. Vanessa had stayed outside to look at the car, and study the area around where Bobby White was shot.
    Jason went in the house to talk to Lisa , finding her in the living room surrounded by her family. Jason nodded to the family members before turning his attention to Lisa.
    The long -time officer was shaking and Jason could understand why. Crime on the street was something you prepared for at the start of each shift, but when it strikes your home, it’s not the same. There is no preparation for that.
    “Lisa?”
    She looked up, noticing him for the first time.
    “I’m Detective Jason Strong, I don’t know if you remember me, we’ve run across each other at a couple crime scenes.”
    She was sitting in an armchair, leaning forward and wiping at her eyes with a tattered napkin.
    “Sure detective, I know who you are.”
    The living room wasn’t large and the family filled every chair, space against the wall, and spot on the floor. Jason crouched in in front of Lisa.
    “How’s your husband?”
    “They took him to SAG. They said he’s going to be okay. The arrow caught him in the side, but didn’t hit anything major. I’m going to go to the hospital in a few minutes.”
    Jason touched her hand.
    “That’s great news, Lisa. Can you tell me what happened?”
    She dabbed at her eyes again , and gestured to the family around her.
    “We were