Page 85 of Heat of Justice

“What did Kim say, Ellie?” she prompted.

???

The nightmares had stopped. As the quality of her sleep slowly improved, Kim rationalized that the dreams must have been linked to the recent changes in her life, as she told Cody. Also, this was her first time dating a cop. Her first time falling in love with a woman who carried a weapon on her hip as comfortably as others might a tube of lipstick in their handbag, a police detective who might be called to put her life on the line at any time in order to protect others. Kim trusted that Cody knew what she was doing and that she could handle herself out there on the streets. At the same time, she was acutely aware of the risks involved in her career. No doubt her unconscious mind had a tough time settling with this. When it finally did, and her extra-sensory sense calmed down, she relaxed.Alright, then.It would be fine. Kim had two other reasons to feel good at the start of the weekend. She had spent her Friday morning at a local school, talking to kids about available careers in the field of law and justice. Good stuff. She was also looking forward to a newposition with the District Attorney’s office. Tom Lewis, the DA for Lewiston, said he was impressed by her previous results as a defense lawyer, and excited to have her join his team on the prosecution side. It occurred to Kim that she was not just ready but hungry for this kind of work. She headed home, keen to tell Cody that she had decided to take the job; her partner was all for it. On the way, she booked a table at their favorite restaurant. Cody had just closed her latest case, so she could do with a treat as well. The vision occurred as Kim walked into their apartment. The sensation was unlike any other: a sudden feeling of floating, and also like a portion of her brain was detaching, sliding off. She only had a milli-second to realize what was happening before she felt herself go. Then it was pretty much like being yanked backward into a vortex at tremendous speed.Cody. Heat. Danger.A series of vivid images and sensations assaulted her mind.Fire. Flames.Trapped.Other details imprinted on her consciousness.Ocean Street. 17.The vision must have lasted all of three seconds, but it sure packed a punch. By the time she regained her senses, Kim was on the floor, on her knees, sucking in air. With trembling hands, she immediately grabbed her phone and dialed #1 for Cody.

“Pick up… Pick up. Come on!”

She already knew her lover might not answer. As her fear was confirmed, her heart threatened to punch a hole through her chest. Kim ordered herself to keep it together. She called Cody’s partner.

“Hello?”

As Ellie came on, Kim told her quick and precise.

“Subway station 17 on Ocean Street. Something is going to happen there. No, no, I don’t know what! Just that Cody’s there, and… Something bad, okay? I saw flames. I have to go. Please, Ellie, get help!”

chapter 27

The pregnant woman on the subway shot her a fearful look as Cody boarded the train. Catching the direction of her gaze, Cody moved the side of her shirt back over her weapon and discreetly flashed her badge.

“It’s okay. I’m a cop.”

“Oh, sorry.” The woman grinned, then added in a whisper, “I’m not used to armed police.”

“Ah.” Cody moved aside to allow a cyclist with his bike to squeeze by, then asked the expected question. “Where are you from?”

“England. I’m getting married here next week.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks!”

The woman went on babbling happily about how her fiancé would have been okay to make the move to England if she had wanted him to, but she was much happier doing it the other way around. Guns aside, obviously, being in Lewiston was the better option; mainly, she declared, because the so-called ‘Great’ British weather sucked far and wide.

“I just spoke to my mum back home in Yorkshire. She said it’s sixteen deg—oops, pardon me! I mean sixty Fahrenheit, and bucketing down. But here?” She beamed. “I’m on my way to the beach to meet my equally hot guy!”

“Good for you.” Cody nodded distractedly.

She observed another man: this one wearing black pants, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a suit jacket casually slung over his shoulder, board the train at the next stop. She noticed his tie, loose around the collar of his open shirt, the large leather briefcase he carried, and the newspaper folded under his arm. Blond hair, crew cut, and wire-rimmed glasses. The train was packed with office workers clocking off early on this lovely Friday afternoon, and he looked like any of them. Or at least at first glance. Because then, Cody noticed a small tattoo visible behind his ear. It looked like a swastika and drew her attention. She knew that the symbol was both holy and auspicious in the Hindu culture. She had learned this a few years back in New York while working a case involving the murder of a Hari Krishna follower. But this blond guy did not strike her as a Krishna devotee, especially when she caught the furious glare he shot at a young kid who stood in his way. Granted, it was just a look, but something buzzed for Cody in that instant. Her cop sense told her to stay alert. Leaving behind her new British acquaintance, as the woman began to share the pros and cons of various baby names she and her fiancé were considering, Cody started to follow the man. No easy task. The train was full to capacity, smelling like a hard-earned Friday. She did her best to keep up, as her target moved through a mass of bodies, headed toward the other end of the carriage. Cody briefly lost sight of him when they arrived at the next station. The doors opened. People got off. There was an influx of new passengers. Cody was stuck behind a woman a head shorter than she was but three times as large. She had a bad feeling, and a shiver ran down her spine when she heard someone shout:

“Hey! Hey, man! You forgot your briefcase!”

???

The station was just across and a bit further down the street from her apartment building, so Kim ran to it. She sprinted across the entrance lobby, elbowed a couple of people who were not moving fast enough, and forced her way through a turnstile. This set off an alarm. Never mind; she ignored it and kept going. Or would have, if someone had not grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her back.Goddammit!Furious at not being able to twist free of that iron grip, ready to strike in retaliation, Kim spun around and found herself staring right into the steady eyes of Quinn Wesley.

“Let go,” she hissed.

“No,” came the firm answer. “Talk to me first.”

“For God’s sake!” Kim glanced aside as her lover’s partner suddenly materialized next to her. “I told you all I could, there is no time for discussion! I know it sounds insane, but you have to trust me! Something is going to happen—”

A loud voice on the Tannoy made her stop and listen.

‘ATTENTION PLEASE, ALL SUBWAY TRAVELERS. DUE TO A REPORTED EMERGENCY, THIS STATION IS BEING EVACUATED. PLEASE LEAVE THE STATION IMMEDIATELY. ATTENTION PLEASE…’

The announcement was followed by the sound of several sirens in the distance. Still breathless but no longer so wary, Kim looked at Quinn, who fiercely returned her gaze.

“Fire trucks are getting here,” she confirmed. “I’ve ordered the entire section between platforms 16 and 18 to be shut down. Just in case.”

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