Page 3 of Heat of Justice

Yeah, it was bad... But losing her head over the situation would only make it worse.Just get yourself home,she told herself.To Lia.

chapter 2

“It may not be for me to comment, seeing as I feature so heavily in this production, but damn, Lia, it’s good!”

Lia Kennedy chuckled in satisfaction as Sam Wakefield, the lead helicopter pilot for the medevac team at Lewiston General, shared her enthusiastic opinion on the final episode of her new docu-series.

“You are indeed one of the main characters in this film,” she approved. “Which is why I am so happy to hear you say you like it, Sam.”

“It’s more than like,” the former Marine corrected with a serious nod. “I think you’ve done an excellent job, Lia. If I weren’t already flying the chopper for the crew, your film would make me want to. Or join the team as a doctor or a nurse. It’s bound to inspire a lot of kids to join the profession.”

They sat in Lia’s home studio, a converted bedroom in the apartment she shared with her wife, recording an interview to serve as additional promo material. As a reporter for a regular news network, in what she referred to as her previous life, Lia used to operate in dangerous conflict zones around the world. When she had accepted the role of public relations officer for Lewiston P.D., it was without any particular ambition. Three years out of her career, spent caring for her ailing father, had left her exhausted, single, and pretty disillusioned. For Lia at the time, the Lewiston assignment was just meant to be a freshstart and sorely needed at that. She had been both surprised and delighted when she started to ride with the officers on their daily rounds of duty to discover that it was every bit as fascinating and exciting as reporting from the frontlines of the Middle East. Also, from time to time, just as dangerous. The resulting high-octane, feature-length documentary that she produced at the end of her first year with the police won a bunch of prestigious awards upon release and a special prize from the Sundance Film Festival. Even so, the real jackpot, as Lia never tired to say, was not her new career as an independent filmmaker but meeting Quinn Wesley, the heroic cop who would become her wife. Just as she thought of her, and noticed how late it was getting to be, she heard the front door open and shut.

“Lia?” Quinn called.

“Yes, in the office, darling!”

Quinn walked in, dressed in her usual uniform. A pair of tight blue jeans, Nike running shoes, and a white t-shirt under a thin layer of Kevlar bulletproof vest. She carried a police-issue Glock 19 in a holster on her right hip and a not-so-standard combat knife only Lia knew about in a hidden sheath strapped around her left ankle.My cop,Lia thought with a little shiver of appreciation. Even approaching their third year of marriage, the sight of her wife coming home at the end of the day never failed to make Lia go nicely still and attentive on the inside. With her surfer-blond hair, chiseled physique, and clear blue eyes, Quinn routinely attracted plenty of looks, from men and women alike. Lia loved the fact that she had eyes only for her.

“Hi, babe,” she greeted her.

“Hey...” As always, Quinn focused on her with the intensity of a heat-seeking missile, but she checked herself when her gaze fell on the other woman in the room.

“Quinn, this is Sam Wakefield,” Lia offered.

Oddly enough, tonight, lacing an arm around her waist felt like embracing a block of granite. At intimate times, Quinn was both lithe and supple, and she moved like liquid heat. Generally, she carried herself with the grace and assurance of a woman at ease in her own skin, one who had been tried and tested in battle, and come out of it scarred but victorious. At the same time, that gorgeous body never lied. Lia suspected something was not totally okay, even if no one else would ever guess it from the flash of Quinn’s smile.

“Sam.” She held out her hand with an engaging nod. “Very nice to meet you at last. I’ve heard good things about you.”

“You as well, Lieutenant,” the chopper pilot answered with a grin. “And I hear we’ve got another mutual friend in the next town.”

“Oh, yeah?” Quinn prompted.

“Yes. Tom, a.k.a. The Hulk.”

“Right. He’s a great guy and a talented chef.”

“You bet. His food is to die for.”

The man in question, also a former Marine, now owned a restaurant in Carson City. Lia had great memories of the place, as it had been Quinn’s choice of venue for their first official date. This all being said, she then watched her struggle a bit with the small talk. Sam must have felt it too.

“It’s getting late. I should leave you to it,” she suggested politely.

“No, no, finish what you’re doing,” Quinn countered. “I’m going for a run.”

As she left the room, Lia moved to follow.

“Just a minute, Sam, okay? I’ll be right back.”

“Sure, take your time,” the woman answered easily.

Lia caught up with Quinn as she was locking her weapon in the safe in their bedroom.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Quinn…”

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