Page 66 of Home for Justice
Tyler blinked in surprise as she held the mug out to him. “You didn’t have to…”
She gave a small smirk, graceful and composed. “Didn’t say I had to. Just figured you’d need it.”
He accepted it with a quiet “thank you,” a little floored when he took a sip and realized it was fixed exactly the way he liked it—black with just a splash of cream. He hadn’t told her that.
Mary gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Most of the crew is already downstairs, waiting for you. How are Justice and her dad?”
The warmth of the coffee seeped into his hands, grounding him. “They’re okay. Shaken up, yeah, but safe. That’s what matters.”
“And how are you?” She wore the no-nonsense expression he’d come to recognize. Her shrewd eyes behind librarian glasses could cut through bullshit faster than most lie detectors.
“I’m good… like them, a bit shaken up, but good.”
Mary nodded again, her expression unreadable. Then, as quickly as she’d rolled in, she pivoted and disappeared behind her desk. “I’ll give her a call later to let her know I’m sending lunch to the garage. I figure she and her people will need a good break today.”
Tyler nodded, his chest clenching with the outpouring of care. “Thank you,” he said. “She’ll appreciate it.” He made his way through security and down into the heart of the compound. The moment the door swung open, the low murmur of voices greeted him, along with the familiar faces of Keepers he barely knew but already trusted.
He zeroed in on Sisco and Devlin, walking toward them with his hand outstretched. “Honest to God, I can’t remember if I thanked you both last night.”
Sisco shook his hand but then shrugged. “No thanks needed. We were glad we could answer the call. Anytime.”
Tyler nodded, grateful for their easy camaraderie. He didn’t have to explain what it meant. They already knew.
Logan appeared from the side hallway, all quiet authority, his gaze steady. “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah,” Tyler said. “Only the small barn was lost. All the animals made it.”
Across the room, Cory lifted his chin in acknowledgment from where he sat hunched over a tablet.
“Jack came out, too,” Tyler added. “I didn’t want him to do too much, but he showed up to work. Justice was right in the thick of it.” He paused. “They’re frustrated. Scared, too, though they’re both trying not to show it.”
He glanced around the room, gauging the tension on their faces. “We didn’t talk much last night about who might’ve done it. But I heard the fire captain suspected a gasoline accelerant. Said they’d know more after the scene cooled.”
Just then, a voice floated from the tech station near the wall. “I know Justice suspects her aunt and uncle were behind the vandalism at the garage,” Sadie said, peering at him over the top of her monitor. “I started a soft dig into their background, but didn’t want to go any deeper unless you say the word.”
Tyler hesitated, the weight of it all settling on his shoulders. Family drama. Property threats. Arson. He’d barely gotten his employee badge and was now thrust into an investigation. But he wasn’t just thinking like a Keeper anymore. He was thinking like a man who gave a damn about a woman and all the people she called family.
He took a long sip of coffee, then met Sadie’s eyes. “Dig. Discreetly. Let’s see what we’re really dealing with.” Tyler moved closer, dragging a chair over so he could sit beside Sadie. The low hum of computer equipment filled the background, but atthis moment, everything else seemed to fall away. “Is there a particular reason we shouldn’t do this?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
Sadie leaned back slightly, her fingers drumming on the desktop. Her expression was thoughtful, cautious in a way that caught his full attention.
“I didn’t know how much Justice had talked about her family,” she admitted, flicking a glance toward the array of monitors. “And I didn’t want to overstep. I can find out a lot of things, Tyler. More than most people are comfortable knowing that someone can find. But trust…” she lifted her hand, palm up, “is something we can’t afford to break around here. Not between us. And not between you and her.”
Her words settled heavily in his gut. It wasn’t just about the work anymore. It was about the people who had become part of his life. He gave a slow nod, letting the respect he felt for her settle into the space between them. “I appreciate that, more than you know. But Justice already filled me in on a lot. She told me about her grandfather’s will and how Jordy was given his cut early.”
Sadie’s mouth ticked up into a faint smile. “Good. Makes me feel a hell of a lot better. Last thing I want is to blindside you or make things awkward if she found out you knew something she hadn’t shared yet.”
“Like I said,” he repeated, meaning it, “I appreciate you having my back. Especially on something personal.”
Sadie shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “No thanks needed. You’re still learning, but one thing Logan drilled into us from day one—our mission is to protect the people who come to us. But we protect each other first. Always.”
There was no pomp to the words, no bravado. Just quiet conviction. It hit him hard, in a way he hadn’t expected.
Turning back to her screens, Sadie clicked a few keys, and a file opened. “Alright. Here’s what I dug up so far on Jordy and Debbie McClay.” Her tone shifted to professional. “Jordy is the oldest. From everything I can tell, the two brothers couldn’t be more different. Their father, Justice’s grandfather, started McClay’s Mechanics decades ago. Just a little two-bay garage at first. After a tour with the Army, Jack returned home and joined his father. They grew the business, expanded into farm equipment repair, and made a solid name for themselves in the county.”
Tyler leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he listened.
Sadie continued, clicking through a few more files. “Justice went the same route. Attended vocational school to earn her mechanic’s license and took college classes to earn a business degree, too. And she’s licensed to perform helicopter inspections. Jack’s wife worked part-time at the shop for a few years, then focused on volunteer work until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She passed away a few years ago.”
