Page 6 of Shadows of Justice

“You know I hate these things.” I force my arms down by my sides.

“Yeah, I hate them too,” he says, “but you’ve got more on your mind than this. What’s eating you?”

I’ll never admit it, but Carlos is too insightful for his own good. Must be the fifteen happy years with one woman that he can proudly boast about.

“I’m fine,” I grumble. “Just bored out of my mind.” I tip my head at the right side of the room. “Check it out. There’s Mayor Donahue and his son Robinson. I heard Davis stopped Robbie for his third DUI in four years last night, but of course, it’ll never stick, just like the other two didn’t. He looks very bushy-tailed today considering his wild night out.”

Carlos snickers, but shakes his head. “You’re trying to change the subject.”

“Okay, I’m actually starving. Let’s head out of here before we get a call and grab some grub, yeah?”

The truth is, I do have things other than the gala on my mind. Things like Leo Barone. I haven’t been able to get our interaction out of my head since it happened yesterday afternoon, and with every time the memory circles around again, I continue to feel lower than dirt. Sure, I saved Eliana’s life, but I let a wanted man go in the process. On purpose. What the fuck came over me? I’ve always prided myself on my strong moral compass, and I completely went against everything I believe in when I let Leo go.

Also, in the four years that Carlos has been my partner I’ve never lied to him, and now I feel like I’m doing it every other sentence. The whole thing has me fuming. I can feel my temper rising under my skin.

Carlos grunts in agreement at the notion of food, and we turn to sneak out the back. I hear him curse under his breath, and I groan.

That can only mean one thing.

“Chief,” Carlos says, nodding to the Chief of Police as he approaches us.

The old man greets us with a tight smile, crinkling skin around his eyes and time wearing on his face. He was handsome once. Now, the sight of him just makes my blood pressure spike. I know the sight of him is also adding insult to injury for Carlos, in the wake of his much-needed raise getting rejected by this very man for no reason other than “budget cuts.”

The budget, of course, could handle this ridiculous dog and pony show. I think I saw fucking escargot pass me by on a waiter’s tray, for crying out loud. I realize I’m grinding my teeth and force my jaw to relax, rolling my shoulder.

Carlos, being a good sport, shakes the chief’s outstretched hand and meets his eye. He even finds it in himself to flash the man a smile.

What a guy.

“Officer Fernandez,” the chief says to him, and then nods at me, his smile fading. “Officer Schaeffer.”

“Chief,” I say. “Beautiful evening. I can almost smell the money burning in everyone’s pockets.”

Carlos shoots me a look to behave and I raise my eyebrows, feigning innocence. The old man clears his throat.

“As long as we have no mishaps tonight, I don’t see why we won’t raise plenty of donations for the precinct, officer, I agree,” the chief says, his piercing brown eyes peering out at me from underneath his bushy white brows.

“For the precinct,” my tight little white ass.

“While we’ve got you, care to share some insight into what those donations will be put towards? Maybe, say, raises for the seasoned officers who complete an additional bachelor’s degree in their off times and have impeccable statistics in the field?”

“Viv.” I can hear the warning in Carlos’s tone, but I ignore him, feeling the rage build in my stomach as the chief’s eyes narrow.

“Or, is it perhaps, for greasing the palms of the judges so that the mayor’s son’s third DUI can be buried in the system?” I grab a program off of the side table next to me and pretend to read it. “I apologize, is Robbie’s name already mentioned here? I don’t want to waste your valuable time with silly, obvious questions.”

Carlos walks in front of me and discretely grabs my arm, pulling me towards the door.

“You got something you’d like to say, Schaeffer?” the chief asks me over Carlos’s shoulder, the skin on his wrinkly neck turning red. Not a good sign for me. But, fuck him. I don’t care. Carlos works his ass off and got shot at four times last year. He deserved that raise.

“No, sir, she absolutely doesn’t,” Carlos says, looking at me intensely. “We’re actually on call, and really should be getting out there. Thank you for the nice evening.”

I’m about to let my partner drag me out with a sneer on my face when someone calls my name.

“Vivvie Schaeffer, don’t you look great in blue!”

I turn, and I instantly feel my smile grow wide. “Justine Crúz,” I say, shrugging Carlos off to hug her.

Justine is radiant in shimmering yellow, her dress hugging her curves and bringing out the richness of her deep caramel skin. She’s just as up there in age as the chief, but you’d never know it. You could bounce a quarter off her ass.

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