Page 58 of Heat of Justice

“Ping me your location, Clay; I’ll be right with you.” She hung up and started to throw on clothes. At the same time, she shared the information with Kim. “Sounds like Winters may be hiding at a motel. Hopefully, we’ll have him nice and tight in custody before he can think of trying to elude us again. Where is my other boot?”

“Here, babe.”

Cody flashed a quick grin as she handed it to her, and her heart swelled at the term.Babe.Nice. She could get used to it. She laced up the boots, hooked on her belt, and reached for her badge and weapon.

“I’ll call you with an update as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be at work and waiting.”

“No problem.”

Cody stopped when she reached the door, suddenly feeling a little shy as she turned to face her. “So, uh… Are you free for dinner tonight?”

Kim’s smile lit up her entire face.

“For you,” she grinned, “absolutely.”

“Cool.” Cody wanted to linger and mentally cursed the fact that she could not. “I have to go.”

“You got backup?”

“Yes. All safe.”

Kim nodded, stared at her for a split second, then grabbed her face and kissed her. Just as hot and passionate as before, except that now the kiss also held an added level of intimacy and a thrilling touch of possessiveness. She ended it with a tiny bite, just hard enough to cause a spark on Cody’s lower lip.

“Come back to me in one piece, Detective.”

“You give me one hell of an incentive.”

“Good,” Kim said with a flash of her sultry eyes.

chapter 19

Cody tucked the kiss and tender sparkle in a corner of her mind as she ran back to her vehicle. Go-Time now, and she could not afford to be distracted. Deep down, she knew her life had taken another sharp and unexpected turn, only for the better; this time, it was not another tragedy. She thought of the first woman she’d ever loved, gripped the wheel hard in both hands and let out a deep exhale. She felt her presence inside her heart, connected to her on that level.

“Emma…”I will always love you.

A single thought pierced through her emotion, prompting Cody to smile and chuckle.Better steady up and get your head in the game, Detective.It was what Emma would tell her. And Kim, as well.

“Gotcha,” she murmured.

Re-focusing, she placed her phone on the dashboard, input Officer Clay’s nav instructions in her GPS, and shot off the curb. The streets were still quiet before the inevitable rush hour, and she made good time. Fifteen minutes later, she was approaching the location when Clay called her again.

“He’s on the move. Walking toward a dark-green Chevy.”

Shit!Catching sight of the motel on the other side of the road, Cody flicked her grille lights on and swiftly cut across three lanes of traffic. She entered the parking area from the exit lane,and her pulse picked up nicely when she spotted the green truck in the distance. Winters was sliding behind the wheel.

“Get in front of him, Clay,” she ordered. “Now.”

“Copy,” he answered.

He couldn’t have been very far, indeed. Only a second later, the police cruiser came screeching around the corner, headed straight for the Chevy. Winters reacted quickly and tried to back out of the way. This was counting without her. Cody surged behind the truck and boxed him in. She came out flying, weapon in hand.

“Winters!” she shouted. “Stop!”

It was him, definitely. But the man barely shot her a glance before he took off running behind a line of parked cars on his way back toward the motel. Cody fell in behind him. He was a big man, but he could move... Consciousness of guilt no doubt gave him wings, but she was equally motivated, leaner, and faster. She caught up with him before he could rush inside the lobby and perhaps grab himself a human shield. She had to assume he was armed and already knew what he was capable of. Cody did not dare to fire her weapon so close to the entrance doors and with people inside. Instead, she lunged. Landed hard on the guy’s back, sending them both crashing to the concrete floor. Thankfully, Winters cushioned her own fall. Cody had a moment to feel satisfaction when she heard all the air whoosh out of his lungs. Before he could move, she pulled a revolver from the back of his jeans and slid it out of reach. In retaliation, he managed to catch the corner of her eye with a hard elbow. Lucky hit, on the frontal bone, and extremely painful. It made her see a bunch of stars. Undeterred, Cody punched him just as enthusiastically in the back of the head. She did her best to keep him from turning over, but it was like doing rodeo on a slippery eel.

“Cuffs!” she yelled.

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