Page 25 of Fighting for Mallory

“Brokenhearted,” Justice answered. “What happened at the cabin, Morgan?”

“Martinelli and Mallory were attacked by another contingent of those men with the snake tattoos. It’s hard to say who set the shed on fire, but my guess is Martinelli and Mallory as they escaped in the ATV registered to you, Justice. Their attackers blew up the car they used when they left the Chino area. That’s how the cabin caught fire. So, my question is, who killed the men who attacked them? Was it Lieutenant Hutchinson? Forensics said the kill shots most likely came from a helicopter.”

Justice and Cameron shared a glance. “We don’t know. Hutch isn’t talking.”

“Do you know if he used your department’s helicopter?”

Justice’s eyes blazed with anger, only partly aimed at Judd. “I sent him to San Francisco to secure Mallory’s sister’s safety. So, yeah, it’s possible.”

“And you have no idea where they are now.”

“None.”

“Before Ms. Stoker and I race off to Toronto on what might turn out to be a goose chase, I’d like to see if the high-tech lab at your station can pick up something on all these dead men on my hands. I assume Lieutenant Hutchinson is back in Laguna Beach?”

“He is. I’m heading into the station to do a tour. With Luca AWOL, Tawny undercover, and Owen living in Massachusetts, I’m down three of my best people.” Justice turned to Cameron. “Take care of Bri and tell her I’m still crazy in love with her.”

Cameron winked. “Will do.”

Judd and Faith followed Justice to the Laguna Beach PD in his car. On the short ride, his eyes strayed to the bare length of Faith’s legs revealed by her denim skirt. He wondered if her skin was as soft and smooth as it looked. He stole glances at her classic profile with its delicate cheekbones, straight slim nose, and luscious lips. She reminded him of Jaclyn Smith when the actress had lightened her dark hair to a golden blonde shade.

When those kissable lips parted in a slight smile, Judd knew he’d been caught checking her out. Heat rushed into his face.

“You’re not so bad looking yourself,” Faith commented. “When you’re not scowling.”

He couldn’t disagree about the scowling. Years of an unhappy marriage had etched the perpetual scowl onto his face, even when he wasn’t. Judd couldn’t remember the last time his face relaxed into a smile. Faith, though, might be the woman to coax one out of him.

“I’m afraid I don’t have any other expressions to enhance my average looks.”

Her smile grew broader, blinding in its rare beauty. His stomach clenched, and his pulse raced.

“Wow. You do have a sense of humor, Mr. Morgan.”

“Please, call me Judd. No one has ever accused me of that. Having a sense of humor, I mean.”

Judd turned into the Laguna Beach PD and parked in the visitors’ area. Faith climbed from the passenger’s seat before he could do the chivalric thing and open the door for her. Inside the newly renovated station, Justice paused and stared at Sergeant Tawny Westfall’s desk.

Another officer sat there now who saluted Justice. “Chief. It’s been a quiet morning.”

Justice returned the salute. “Just what I like to hear.”

On their way to Lieutenant Hutchinson’s high-tech lab, Justice beckoned Officer Miguel Rivera to join them. When the four of them barged into the lab, Lieutenant Hutchinson glanced away from a gigantic computer screen where he’d been examining a crime scene photo of last night’s attack and hastily shut it down.

As Justice and Lieutenant Hutchinson stared at each other, the tension between them grew thick and dense, filling the air and expanding it like a balloon. Judd expected it to pop any second.

“Hutch, from the moment I took over as Chief of Police, I trusted you. We’ve always had each other’s backs through the worst situations. We’re best friends. But now,” Justice hardened his voice, “I’m demanding, as your commanding officer, that you be honest with me, or I will suspend you without pay. Did you kill the four men who attacked Luca and Mallory last night?”

Relief crossed Hutchinson’s face, as if Justice pulling rank on him gave him an excuse to stop keeping secrets. “Yes, sir. I didn’t have a choice. Luca and Mallory were in danger, outmanned and outgunned. Afterward, Luca told me that Neheb, the leader, said that Mallory had to die. He ordered his minions to kill Luca and take Mallory alive. For what purpose, God only knows. Mallory remembered that Neheb was the limo driver who replaced Andre Lapeno.”

“How did you know Martinelli and Mallory were in danger?” Judd asked.

“I’m not at liberty to divulge that.”

Justice didn’t force the issue, so he must have had an idea how Hutchinson knew. “Where did you take Luca and Mallory?”

“To the Reno Stead airport. From there I don’t know where they went.”

“But you know who met them,” Judd deduced.

---