Page 42 of Urban Justice

Chapter 18

It washard for Sloane to stay still when her entire being wanted to jump into action. Past experience told her that sometimes a mission couldn’t be rushed, especially when they were closing in on their target. This was the same situation.

Lance had made sure all of Luke’s papers were brought to the upstairs apartment. Sloane had a place nearby, but she considered it less of a home than a utilitarian space when she needed to be away from Noctem, when everything became too overwhelming, or she was on the verge of sinking into drugs again. It gave her enough distance from her friends to get back on track before becoming the Vigilante when it was her turn.

She did suggest using her apartment as their base. It felt better to have Luke here, where she considered herself truly at home and more like the person she wanted to be.

After they’d returned from the command center, Luke had taken over the kitchen table and part of the island, spreading papers, notes, and maps everywhere. Hunched over his laptop, he pored over the information on the screen, as she paced. Until they had a target, she had little to do.

Melina had forbidden her to train, and Lance had reservations about Luke and wanted her to remain close. Sloane didn’t fault her boss and friend, and there was no way to convince him that her instincts were good enough to trust him with such a secret. Sam may have brought his girlfriend deeper into their fold but not into the sacred inner core straight away. It was no surprise that Lance needed more than her word for it.

“You’re distracting, you know that?” Luke still looked at the screen, scrolling his mouse, but there was a smile in his voice that was devoid of irritation, and it made her smile in return.

“Sorry, but I’m not good at being idle. I’m normally training, investigating, or out in the field.”

Luke rolled his shoulders before pushing off from the table and going to her. “What do you do when you’re not doing all those things?”

Her mind turned blank and shrugged. “After I left the police? Nothing. I’d just come out of rehab, and I was offered a job at Purgatory, the organization where I met Lance and Sam. I didn’t like being idle because I feared my addiction would return to haunt me. I accepted whatever work they gave me. When we are not acting as the Vigilante our downtime is longer, which makes it more difficult to manage. I told you about my consulting job. It fills most of my free time.”

Luke touched her elbow, and she naturally reached for him, her hand touching his forearm. “You have control over your addiction?”

“More or less. It goes in waves but it’s pretty much under control. Or as much as I can control it.”

Slowly, his hold brought her closer to him, and she gladly let him. “But before you fell, what did you do to empty your mind, to recharge?”

Sloane had to dig deep into her memories, and that brought a smile. “Hiking and camping. Some guys at the police station convinced me to accompany them on one of their weekend trips. I didn’t want to go originally, but I was hooked after our first trip. Maybe it’s the reason I liked doing that urbex with you, although it’s different from exploring outdoors. But that was before I fell, as you say, and got back up again. Once mostly steady again, I never stopped working.”

Her heart stuttered when he leaned over and kissed her brow. “You just resumed the life you knew. Did it ever occur to you that balance was the solution? Don’t tense up on me. I’m not giving you a lecture, just a friendly bit of advice.”

She had to admit he read her well. Even though she understood the logic behind his words, the idea seemed so far away it was strangely scary and uncomfortable. “I know. Thanks for the suggestion.”

With another kiss, he let her go and turned to his computer again, leaving her bereft. The man repeatedly threw her off guard. He attracted her on so many levels without being forceful. So many other people who had wanted her to stay had used force or threats. Even worse, it never worked.

“I think you can help with the next phase. I’ve been sorting parts of the tunnels that are most unlikely to be used, along with ones I know that have both a manhole and a potential exit or entrance into a building.”

“Potential?” How she disliked this word.

“It’s far from an exact science. Not yet. Maybe I’ll have a more complete map at some point. But it’s extensive work. Even when I’m old and decrepit, there’ll still be so much to discover.”

She loved how passion animated his face and body, and made his dark eyes bright as polished onyx. The more she learned of him, of what drove him, the more she wanted this mission to stretch indefinitely. “I’m sure more gray in your hair and beard will give you that sophisticated look I expected when I first met you.”

He winked and turned his attention to the screen. “I think we have a few options to explore right away. If you’re game for more exploration?”

Sloane felt the familiar anticipation of the forward momentum she thrived on and was about to start planning when the intercom system buzzed, and Devin’s voice came through the kitchen.

“Sloane, we need you down here. Now.”

From his succinct words, Sloane knew something was up and that the Vigilante was needed. When she went to the elevator, Luke came with her.

“Do you know what this is about?”

Sloane shook her head. “Something about the drug probably. It’s been our main focus for some time now. We’re always keeping an eye on what’s going on. We have extensive resources that keep us informed and feed us useful data on the situation.”

Down in the command center, Devin was talking with Lance. They both turned when the elevator doors opened.

“Sloane, suit up. We have information there might be a major Phantom transaction about to take place. We need your eyes on it. And if you come across some Phantom to bring back for analysis, that would be an amazing bonus.”

Luke frowned but kept quiet, following her to the dressing room. Quickly and efficiently, Sloane slid into her Vigilante suit as Luke watched.

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