Неизвестный - 5. Justice Served

Catherine had never seen Rebecca in her dress uniform before.

The formal jacket and striped trousers, the gleaming buttons, the badge perfectly placed just above the spot the bullet had struck. She was beautiful. Catherine had mixed feelings about Rebecca’s profession, especially having almost lost her to it. But in that moment, the only thing she felt was pride. “I’m sorry you had to question Sloan that way, but I’m glad it was you and no one else. I’m sure you’ll straighten this out for her.” She kissed her softly. “You look very handsome. I’m very proud of you.”

“Thank you.” Rebecca reached for Catherine’s hand. “I need you by my side, you know. I…count on it.”

“And I need you.” Catherine took Rebecca’s other hand and met her eyes. “Please won’t you marry me?”

Rebecca took a deep breath and then the corner of her mouth lifted into a grin. “I don’t want a big wedding.”

“Absolutely not.” Catherine laughed, her voice ringing with joy.

“Just a few friends, and William, of course.”

Rebecca made a choking sound. “Watts? No fucking way.”

“Well, we have plenty of time to discuss that.” Catherine kissed her again, a long, contented kiss that promised more. Then she linked her arm through Rebecca’s. “Now let’s go celebrate your promotion, Lieutenant.”

v

“Oh man,” Mitchell breathed, stopping in midmotion, her eyes huge.

“What?” Sandy said defensively.

“You look…” Mitchell swallowed, at a loss for words.

“Your mouth is open, Dell. You look dumb.” Sandy ß ushed, pleased. The navy Dolce & Gabbana pants had wide legs and a ß at

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front and sat low on her hips. An elegant silver pinstripe accented the tailored suit, and she wore the one-button, Þ tted jacket closed over just her silk bra, revealing the barest suggestion of cleavage. The Manolo Blahnik heels gave her several inches in height, and she liked the new perspective. Michael had said it was a sexy, low-key, professional look, acceptable for daytime. From the expression on Mitchell’s face, she’d been right about the sexy part. When Mitchell took a step toward her, Sandy held out one arm, palm up. “Do not come near me. You’ll mess me up.”

“Honey, that outÞ t screams ‘mess me up.’” Mitchell took another step. “Come on. Let me touch. Just one Þ nger.”

“Where?”

Mitchell reached out, her index Þ nger extended. She dipped it into the hollow at the base of Sandy’s neck, then slowly snaked down her chest to the vee where the jacket closed. Then she curled the tip under the edge of the lapel and along the top of Sandy’s bra. In a husky voice, she whispered, “Just here.”

Sandy slapped at Mitchell’s hand and backed away. “Cut it out.

You’re making me horny. I can’t be horny in this outÞ t.”

Mitchell laughed. “Why not?”

“Because I think I’m just supposed to stand around pretending I’m too cool to get hot.” She Þ ngered Mitchell’s uniform jacket. “Anyhow, look at you. I’m not making out with you in that getup.”

“Why not?” Mitchell asked again, glancing down at her dress blues. Her shoes gleamed, the creases in her pants were so sharp-edged the material barely moved when she walked, and her uniform jacket Þ t her form without an errant fold. “You don’t like it?”

“Baby,” Sandy crooned, walking her Þ ngers up the inside of Mitchell’s thigh. She cupped her for a ß eeting second, high between her legs, making her gasp, and then moved quickly out of reach. “I want you to fuck me blind.”

“Oh man,” Mitchell moaned, hurrying out of the room after her girlfriend. “I’m not gonna live through this.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY

You gonna be okay?” Mitchell asked quietly as she and Sandy exited the elevator on the second ß oor of Police Plaza.

“Sure,” Sandy said, her voice tight with bravado. The wide corridor was bustling with ofÞ cers, some in uniform and others in street clothes, all looking harried and ofÞ cious. Sandy’s stomach curdled as she thought about the few times she had been inside a police station.

None were pleasant memories. “Great. No problem.”

Mitchell caught Sandy’s hand and tugged her close to the wall, out of the stream of trafÞ c. “Look, you don’t have—”

“Jesus, rookie,” Sandy snapped, snatching her hand away. “Are you crazy? Look where we are. Do you want everyone to know?”

“I don’t care who knows.” Mitchell grabbed Sandy’s hand back.

“If you’re not comfortable here, you don’t need to st—”

“Hello,” a warm voice interrupted. “Quite a gathering, it seems.”

Sandy looked from Dell to the newcomer. “Hi. Yeah, it’s a big deal, huh?”

Catherine smiled. “Yes, it is. I’m looking forward to it. Hello, Dellon. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Mitchell said, coloring. She looked past Catherine. “Is the lieutenant here already?”

“Yes. She stopped downstairs to talk to Watts about something.

She should be right up.”

“Good.”

The relief in Mitchell’s voice was evident, and Sandy realized at that moment that her girlfriend was every bit as nervous as she was.

Moving closer, she gave Mitchell’s hip a tiny bump with hers. “You’re gonna be Þ ne. You look so hot.”

Mitchell grinned. “I don’t think anyone’s going to care about that.”

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RADCLY fFE

“I do.”

“Sandy,” Catherine asked, “would you mind sitting with me? I’d appreciate the company.”

“Sure. Okay.” Sandy smiled shyly. “I’d like that.”

“Wonderful.” Then, as if hearing her name, which would have been impossible in the midst of so much activity, Catherine turned toward the elevators. The doors slid open, and Rebecca stepped through with Watts close behind. “Let me just say goodbye to her, and then you and I can go in and Þ nd seats.”

“She’s cool,” Sandy murmured as she glanced furtively up and down the hall. When no one seemed to be looking, she stretched up and quickly kissed Mitchell. “That’s for luck.”

Without glancing around, Mitchell leaned down and kissed Sandy back. “That’s for love.” Then she turned and walked down the hall toward Watts, who waited by the auditorium door.

Sandy watched her go, shaking her head, the kiss still tingling on her lips. In a voice too low for anyone else to hear, she whispered,

“Blockhead.”

“Hiya, Sandy,” Rebecca said.

“Hey, Frye,” Sandy replied, still watching her girlfriend. When she Þ nally turned to look at Rebecca, she gave a small murmur of appreciation. “Huh. Nice look.”

“I don’t think that was the intention. It’s good to see you. Good for Mitchell too.”

Then she too walked away, leaving Sandy staring after her. “What is it with them today?”

“They’re nervous,” Catherine commented upon hearing the question as she rejoined Sandy. “They’re much more comfortable doing than being the focus of attention.”

“So that makes them get all sappy—being nervous?”

Catherine smiled. “I think it makes them a little bit vulnerable. I don’t know about you, but I’m rather fond of sappy now and then.”

Sandy laughed. “It’s supposed to be a big secret, but Dell gets like that pretty much all the time.”

“How wonderful for her that she can do that with you.”

“You think?” Sandy asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She didn’t like to think too much about why Dell seemed to love her, fearing how much it would hurt if she stopped.

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Justice Served