Page 26 of Judgments of Fire and Desire

“Okay. I guess she didn’t know that you wouldn’t think it was your fault anyway.”

I gave him a one-sided smile. “Apparently not, because I don’t feel an ounce of guilt about what she did. It was her crimes that got her in the predicament she was in. I hate that she chose to end her life, and my condolences go out to her family, but I know this isn’t on me.”

Carl nodded and shook my hand. “Well, enjoy the rest of your day, sir. The detectives may want to take a look at that letter, if need be.”

“If the time comes that they do, I’ll have it.”

He nodded and left the room. I didn’t know how I would keep this letter private. She had to know that I wouldn’t be the first person to see it. I was more than sure several people read it before it got to me. Just my luck, the main person I needed to watch out for had read it already as well. I closed my eyes, searching within myself for the courage and determination I would need to begin my private investigation. I would need help though… someone on the inside.

My mind immediately went to Detective Johnson. She wasn’t that impressed with me, but she also seemed to want justice. I would need her to get the inside information that I needed. It would be obvious that I knew something if I was the one making all the moves. I could do the behind the scenes investigating, but Johnson would have to handle the other stuff.

I checked the time as Tyson walked back inside. It was nearly nine, and my first case was at ten. I’d already read over the case notes and files, so I was familiar with the details. Grabbing my phone, I told Tyson, “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. What did the DA want?”

“To give me a letter Darlene left, saying that this wasn’t my fault. She was basically accepting responsibility for everything that happened.”

“Oh, okay. Don’t forget, we have an hour.”

“I haven’t.”

I made the ten-minute walk to the police station. Thankfully, it was connected from the inside, because it was raining cats and dogs, and the temperature had dropped some. When I got inside the station, I looked toward her desk to see her head down likeshe was writing. As I made my way to her amid the greetings, she turned to me and frowned slightly.

“Judge. What are you doing here?”

“I need to speak with you privately.”

Her frown deepened. “Did I do something? I haven’t been investigating your threats because they assigned them to someone else. I was told that I was needed on the street, since crime has risen in the north end of Beaumont.”

That was interesting. Someone was dirty at the police department. For them to take her off my case, that told me she would have possibly gotten to the bottom of it and uncovered the corruption. My gut hadn’t steered me wrong.

“It’s not about that, Johnson. Can you meet me somewhere after your shift?”

“Umm… sure. I would have to let my husband know. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, of course. He can be in the vicinity, but he won’t be able to hear what I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay. I leave at six. Is it okay if we meet right after?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

She pulled a card from the holder on her desk and handed it to me. “If anything changes, just text me.”

“Is this your personal number or the phone the city issued?”

She took the card from me and wrote her personal cell number on the back. “I have to admit, this has me nervous.”

“I’m slightly nervous, too, but we’ll get to the bottom of everything. I’m sure about that.”

She nodded, and I turned to walk away as I noticed her captain watching me. He looked suspect. I wanted to go ask him why he passed my case over to people who weren’t producing results, but I held my tongue and got out of there, heading back to my chambers. Apparently, I was moving like I was on amission, because I was getting plenty of attention. I slowed my pace as my cell phone vibrated.

I pulled it from my pocket to see a message from Genesis. I’d been kind of distant with her since last week. When she dove on top of me, it drove my masculinity to heights unknown to me. What I looked like having my woman protect me from gunshots? That was crazy as hell to me. I didn’t care what her career was.

I opened her message to see,Hey. Can you call me when you have time?

I slowed my pace even more. She deserved an explanation. I called her as I walked, and she answered on the first ring.

“Hello?”

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