Invasion of Justice (Shadows of Justice) (10 page)

After a full circuit of the main floor, weaving in and out of the people doing their jobs, he discovered a spiral staircase. Frustrated voices drifted down to him. The Judge's office was too tempting to ignore and Gideon wound his way up. With a flash of badge and his most intimidating vocabulary, he soon had the office–and the search–to himself.

The reporter's voice gushed from the flat panel screen inset into the custom, brushed steel cabinetry, confirming the rumors that had been trickling in to Dr. Kristoff during the past few hours. His research was officially declared suspect by an unnamed scientist.

Ha. Not unnamed for long.

With a few keystrokes of his palmtop, he sent a coded message to begin the search for this so-called scientist. Then he programmed his cell card to send a numeric page ordering all but his most trusted lieutenant into hiding.

A mere week ago, everything was moving according to plan. Today Judge Albertson, one of his key suppliers, was dead as a direct result of his perverse, pedophile habits.

Kristoff sighed. He well knew that only change was inevitable.

A siren wailed outside, announcing the arrival of the authorities, and he resigned himself to the unavoidable challenges ahead. It would be distasteful, but without any actual victims, or further word from the unnamed scientist, the case would be dropped and he would recover. Even if they demanded his resignation from the coveted position as the Midwest Region I Health Chairman, no mere mortal could remove him from his real seat of power.

Petra opened her eyes to a dim room. A hospital room, if the smell and quiet equipment was any indication. She felt prickly hot and chilled alternately and her skin ached. She sensed someone in the room, but couldn't see anyone clearly.

"Where am I?"

"Chicago General," answered a woman beside her bed. "Want to tell me who you are?"

Petra turned toward the voice, saw her sister, and gasped. "Are you okay? I thought he–it–killed you."

"Apparently so do a lot of other people. I'm tougher than that. From the looks of things, so are you."

"You're Jaden. My sister," Petra blurted. "You're the reason I survived."

"I'm Jaden Michaels, but the rest is up for debate."

Petra squirmed, ignoring the pain spiking her skin, so she could sit up. Looking into Jaden's tough, green gaze, she felt an instant connection and the truth of what most would consider impossible. "We are sisters. Born to different families this time, but to the soul, we're sisters," she insisted. "That thing in the warehouse killed me before, am I right?"

Jaden blinked, once then again. The struggle to believe, to accept played across her face. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak, but Petra's patience snapped. She latched onto Jaden's hand and let the memories rush over her.

She didn't bother to sort out the details; she just let the scenes unfold in a peculiar route through a timeline Petra understood merely on instinct.

"Oh, you've broken the cycle," Petra said with a sigh. It felt like the biggest understatement of the modern era.

"And you've nearly broken my hand." Jaden withdrew.

"You're tougher than that," Petra echoed and watched those green eyes light up. She fiddled with the hospital sheet. "I recently experienced those last days of my earlier life. Re-experienced is a better word. I thought I was dreaming at first.

"I believed you'd come for me. I told him so then." Petra risked another glance at Jaden. "I just thought you'd like to know I believed in you. Then and now." She wanted to push, to somehow make Jaden understand how much this reunion meant to her. It should've upset her, this additional proof that she was unlike the rest of the world, but it filled her with a silly happiness instead.

Jaden reached out this time, stroking the hair off her forehead. Her hand was cool and gentle, and nothing else came through the touch but caring. "He hurt you to get to me. To prove I couldn't stop him."

"You stopped him."

Jaden's mouth tipped into a smile. "Temporarily then. This time forever." She sighed and hitched a hip onto the edge of Petra's bed. "I don't get what you did. Or what's brought us together. Any ideas?"

Petra felt a spurt of hope that the tenuous connection could grow into something close to a family bond. "You don't feel like a part of this world, do you? You live and work on the fringes,
right? People don't understand what's important to you, because they can't see life through your experiences, right?"

Jaden shrugged. "Close enough. You've got to admit, most people don't run the circuit as often as I have. Maybe not even you."

Petra agreed. If she'd lived other lives, she'd completely forgotten all but the worst moment of one. "I knew when I found you we'd have that in common." She savored the connection, the pure ease of it. "But I may not make sense, even to you."

"Try me."

"All my life, this one anyway, I've been able to sense the darker side of things. I can sense an evil intent, but I've never saved anyone. I can help catch the criminals, but I can't spare the victims."

"Who can?"

"You've saved countless people just today."

"Okay. You've got a point. But what about the stunt you pulled?"

Petra shivered. "I didn't know I could do that. Plant memories, that is. I can read people's memories if I'm touching them, it's better, more clear, if I'm prepared. I can draw off pain or ease symptoms, but I can't truly heal. Until today, I've never attempted anything so big. I think your strength fed my gifts and made it possible."

"So the flip side is you think your empathic gifts helped me know what to do?"

It didn't take an empath to sense the edge in Jaden. Petra shook her head. "Not at all. You've always known what to do. When the time was right, you took action." Jaden frowned but Petra continued. "No it wasn't always the wrong action. You did what no one else had the courage to do."

"You're telepathic too," Jaden accused.

"Not really. Your face gave you away." She smiled. "I feel close to you, linked to you, like I do my brother."

Petra relaxed under Jaden's study. They definitely shared something, but who could blame her for being skeptical.

"How did you do it?" Jaden asked. "Modify the memories?"

Petra looked at the red, raw skin of her arms and closed her eyes. "I'm not sure. Honestly, I can't explain it. It needed done and I guess I worked from the shock of his...transformation. From there I just sort of blended in what people would've expected to see."

"Brian says there's no body."

"Brian?"

"My, um..." Jaden searched for a definition.

"Your partner?"
Petra offered.

Jaden nodded. "Close enough. He told me no body was recovered. Did you see what happened to that bastard?"

"He dissolved." She hated to think about that moment, the sulfur smell hanging in the air and the angry shrieking in her head. "He's over. Not available to this world any more."

"Ever?"

"His failure wasn't well received."

"What?" Jaden asked, incredulous.

Petra paused as a willowy, blonde nurse walked in to check on her and chatter about shock, burns, doctor's orders, and visitors. Petra appreciated how the nurse diligently avoided touching her. She didn't think she had enough strength left to block anyone else.

"The doctor will be around in about an hour. You should rest until then," she said with a pointed glance at Jaden.

"We'll talk more soon," Jaden promised on her way out.

Petra nodded, relieved to put further discussions and explanations on hold.

"All right, young lady," the nurse began. "My name's Mira. I'll be poking around the room, getting ready for the doctor. Just relax and try to sleep through it."

Tired as she was, Petra read the nurse's aura. When the genuine clarity matched the words, Petra let her eyes drift close. Mira's quiet movements became a pleasant background and lulled her into a shallow sleep.

She dreamed, at the far reach of awareness, of a warm light bathing her aching body. She heard voices murmur assurances and encouragement and she felt gratitude bloom in her heart.

She dreamed of thick green grass beneath her and a vivid blue sky above. A gentle breeze brushed tenderly over her skin,
wisping away the pain. The soft scent of flowers surrounded her with hope and energy.

The voices grew and then faded, and at last a restful silence enveloped her.

Petra opened her eyes and inhaled deeply. She felt restored and refreshed. Better than she'd felt in longer than she could recall. She looked down at her arms, noticing the healthy pink glow. The redness and pain were gone, along with the chills.

She called softly to Mira, then Jaden. But she was alone.
Surprisingly, for the first time in forever, being alone felt wonderful.

Chapter Seven

I think that there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge. –Sherlock Holmes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

From his vantage point at the end of the hall, Gideon watched Jaden exit Petra's room. The nurse had been clear he wouldn't get in there anytime soon. The forced separation didn't upset him. Petra freaked him out more than a little and she was welcome to her space. Pushing away from the wall he'd been holding up, he approached Jaden.

"Ms. Michaels?"

She turned. "Yes?"

Her eyes sparked the moment she remembered him, but another man walked up and she smothered her recognition. Gideon appreciated her discretion, though it wasn't necessary.

"I was sorry to hear about your school. You did good work there. You'll be missed."

She raised a brow and the green eyes glowed with subtle humor. "Compliments are always welcome," she said. Turning to the man beside her she introduced them. "Gideon Callahan, Brian Thomas."

"As in Police Chief Thomas?"
Gideon asked, extending his hand.

"The same," Brian answered with a nod.
"At least for now." He cocked an insider's grin at Jaden.

Gideon shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and did his best to look casual. "So they finally got smart and signed you on at the academy?"

Her smile and Brian's nod told him 'yes'. The slight shift in her stance, told him 'no'. Gideon was sure she knew she was telegraphing the body language so he was left with an impression he couldn't trust.

A blond doctor Gideon didn't recognize walked into Petra's room, breaking his concentration. Exhausted, he abandoned years of training and mental programming and just gave in. "Well, I'm glad you survived that fight at the mill," he said, hearing how lame it sounded. "Take care." He backed away.

Jaden stopped him. "What did you need, Callahan?"

"Will you reopen the school?"

"We're not sure," Brian answered.

Gideon caught the cool look on Jaden's face. If they were an item, Brian should know better than to dictate to Jaden. Oh, well, not his problem.

"I've been teaching some classes for a private interest since the school blew. Do you need a refresher course?"

Gideon snorted and held up his hands, in a gesture for mercy. "No thanks. But the woman in that room could use some pointers." He jerked his chin toward Petra's door.

Brian and Jaden had an entire conversation in a single instant of eye contact. Gideon tried to ignore the easy intimacy between them. Their connection made him uncomfortable and not just because Jaden kicked his ass regularly during training.

"How do you know her?" Jaden asked with her typical candor.

Gideon was impressed. Thirty-six hours after a surreal battle, the woman remained on top of her game. Jaden probably figured out who'd really bankrolled his initial training. Knowing her, it wouldn't take a full ten minutes of Internet hacking to find out who employed him now. Especially with the police chief in her pocket.

"Look, Petra's in town on the CRIA payroll, but she's in too deep. She doesn't know how to protect herself. The CRIA case is clashing with some very big names, bigger interests. They won't go down without a major fight.

"I'm assigned to watch her and report her movements. Recent events have given me cause to delay my reports. I need anything you can tell me about the Judge's activities or connections."

Brian looked around and lowered his voice. "You can't blow smoke like that and expect me to light the fire."

"My intel's solid," Gideon said, eyes on Jaden. "I wouldn't risk asking otherwise."

She laughed then, giving him hope.
"Fine. We'll compare notes. Nothing could surprise me at this point."

The doctor emerged from Petra's room, followed by the nurse. When the hall was clear, Jaden led them back into Petra's room.

To Gideon's astonishment, Brian fiddled with the electronic chart near Petra's door, then applied something Gideon supposed was designed to keep out intruders. Across the room, Jaden attached what appeared to be a small silver button to the glass window, and climbing onto a chair, she attached another to the ceiling.

Either the police were finally a step ahead in the techno-gadget game, or Jaden still had the best creative connections. Gideon would put his money on Jaden.

They gathered in a corner, to avoid talking over the sleeping Petra. He watched Jaden perch on the edge of a wire mesh chair while Brian stood behind her, effectively dividing the teams.

"As a man, he was the Honorable Stuart Albertson," Jaden began. "In truth he was a demonic entity posing as a man, bent on lustful destruction of the feminine population."

"Uh-huh." Gideon was in no mood for fairy tales, not even dark ones.

"It takes an open mind to accept the whole story, which is bigger than the brief summation she just gave you," Brian added.

Gideon kept his cool. "Jaden knows my mind."

"To the extent of your work, yes."
She turned to Brian. "He's been on black ops for years. Several that would've scared me. Plus, he's been subject to experiments I don't want to know about."

"Including juicing?" Brian asked.

Gideon nodded. It was always the first question and easiest to answer. "I'm side-effect free. I'm not subject to juicing now because I earned my way into a different MOS." Effectively preempting the next question, he moved on. He couldn't dwell on the topic. It bothered him how many soldiers liked, even craved the effects of juice. "Do you know of any connection between the Judge and Leo Kristoff?"

"The regional Health Chairman?"

"Yeah. He's looking to go national and I don't trust his motives or methods. You?" He looked from Jaden to Brian. They knew something. He hoped it was something he needed.

Brian spoke first. "I know
Kristoff purposely skewed the data on the safety of juicing. A more accurate report and charges against him were filed just before the battle at the mill."

Jaden continued, "We believe the Judge supplied him with human test subjects. We know they started with indigents who wouldn't be missed if things went wrong."

Confirmation, even indirect as this, made a difference. "How far back does this partnership go?"

Jaden laced her fingers and Brian squeezed her shoulders.

"At least two cycles," Petra offered from the bed.

Three heads swiveled her way. Gideon noticed her color was back and her voice strong. He stared, mesmerized and inexplicably pleased by her quick recovery.

"You mean two generations?" Gideon asked, remembering his place and the purpose of the meeting.

Jaden stood. "What did you see?"

"Nothing clearly." Petra's gaze settled on Jaden. "It's just a hunch." Her fingers absently pleated the sheet by her hip. "It stands to reason that if you and I were sisters before, then demons could have the same recycling connection."

"Most likely with full recall," Brian muttered.

Jaden nodded. "Most likely."

"What the hell are you talking about? Petra doesn't have any sisters." At least he hoped
Kristoff hadn't gone that far.

"You've been juiced. You're possibly still subject to suggestion of outside control. Why should we trust you?" Brian asked, diverting Gideon's attention.

"Ask her sometime," Gideon growled, nodding at Jaden, before focusing on the woman in the bed. "What's this about sisters, Petra?"

"Reincarnation, Gideon," she said easily. "Jaden and I were born to the same family in a past life I recently remembered. Back then, I died at the hands of the demon
who possessed Judge Albertson in this life."

"Okay."

"Don't worry, Sis," Jaden soothed. "Doubting Thomas over here came around. Gideon will, too."

"Doesn't matter," she said. "Whatever deal
Kristoff made with the Judge, it extended to eliminating you. The thug who chased us away from your demolished school was employed by Kristoff." She paused, closing her eyes. "I just didn't believe it could be the same Kristoff. Why would a man sworn to protect and promote the health of the population do such horrendous things?"

"Power.
Greed. Money. Pick one," Gideon grumbled.

"Well, Mr. Sunshine," Petra said. "I'd pick greed."

"Why?" Jaden asked.

"My cynical associate doesn't put much stock in my feelings, but that's what it is.
A feeling. A residual sensation from the thug Gideon knocked out before I could get anything more useful."

"Greed's a common enough motivation," Brian said thoughtfully.

"But he's worked his way into an uncommon position," Gideon argued.

"That makes our point," said Petra. "His position entitles him to perks. Those perks can become status and security to some people. His need for more status and more security has grown to unquenchable proportions."

Jaden stood and began to pace. "A God-complex from his infertility work grown out of control maybe?"

"A need for attention, acclaim?"
Petra wondered aloud. "That could certainly leave the door cracked for the devil to come in and strike a deal."

"Devil, my ass," Gideon scoffed. "
Kristoff's his own devil. He led the field in fertility research. His discoveries in the lab eventually led to juicing and the benefits that little cocktail could bring to combat soldiers. It wasn't about family, it was about money. Grants, awards, Nobel prizes. He made Chairman because of happy parents waving signs during the election and victory-addicted generals greasing the wheels behind the scenes."

When silence followed Gideon looked around, meeting the wide gazes of the others. "What?"

"A little too informed for your average Special Ops Joe," Brian observed dryly.

"So what?
I can't have a brain because I'm military?"

"I didn't say that."

"Shut up and sit down, Callahan," Jaden ordered. "There's no point in a pissing match."

"Too bad.
He enjoys them," Petra said.

Gideon tossed her an irritated glance,
then turned back to Brian. "I chose special ops because I believed in the effort. The Marines pulled me from my own research, to use my degrees in chemistry, bio-technology, and physics on counter-terrorist projects."

"Good to know," Brian said. "You like things quantified, measurable, and proven in a double-blind study."

"It helps."

"Closed mind," Brian said to Jaden.

Gideon realized too late he'd been baited when Jaden stood between Brian and himself, arms raised to keep them apart. "Sorry. Long day." He backed off.

Jaden moved to stand next to Petra, keeping a cautious eye on the men. "Why did CRIA bring you to Gary, Petra?"

"Agent Kincaid brought me to Chicago as a follow up on some open kidnapping cases. In Gary, he thought he had a lead on a serial killer we've been tracking. Whatever clues he had, the man we're after wasn't there."

"Kincaid linked this killer to the Judge?" Brian asked.

"You'd have to ask him. I just come in, read the scene, and tell him what I get."

"What did you get from the mill?"

Petra looked into Jaden's eyes. "Nasty, pervasive evil. A perversion of affection. Possessive obsession. But not the serial killer."

"She nailed Albertson," Brian said.

Gideon groaned. "I'd like to nail Kristoff. Preferably with a life sentence of injections. To do that I'll need clear evidence of criminal activity." He decided to plant a small lie and see where it got him. "The mill office is clean. At least as far as Kristoff goes. I downloaded the hard drive, but haven't been through it yet."