Justice in the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

otherwise.”
    “I don’t have any cop friends.” Sandy pushed open the door, turned her back, and headed for the bar.
    Rebecca watched the thin young blond walk away, knowing that she was putting the girl in danger by employing her as an informant. But the streets would be no kinder to Sandy if she was forced to stay alive by selling her body. At least this way, she might have a chance. A devil’s bargain, perhaps, but one Rebecca would have to live with.

CHAPTER SIX
    Sloan walked quickly through the silent hospital halls, the events and conversations of the last few hours almost forgotten. When she reached the door of Michael’s room in the ICU and looked in, she saw only the empty bed with the pristine white sheets neatly made. Her stomach turned over, and her head grew light. Michael!
    “I’m so sorry,” a nurse said as she quickly approached.
    Sloan closed her eyes, the roaring in her head making it difficult to make out the words. oh god, oh god…what am I going to do?
    “I tried to call you—”
    Numbly, Sloan stared at the small, dark-haired woman with the kind eyes.
    “…upstairs a half-hour of ago.”
    “What?” Sloan couldn’t seem to catch hold of the words that were floating past her. “What did you say?”
    “We needed the bed, and she’s doing so much better she was transferred to a regular room. Room 519.”
    “Thank you.” Sloan’s voice, hoarse with fatigue, cracked.
    Sloan couldn’t tolerate the wait for the elevator, but shouldered through the fire door and into the stairwell, taking the stairs from the second floor to the fifth at a run. In Michael’s room, the lights had been turned down low. From the darkness came a soft sound, the answer to her prayers.
    “Sloan?”
    “Hey,” Sloan whispered as she approached the bed, her vision blurred with tears. She grasped the hand that Michael lifted, clinging to the warmth. Then she leaned over and brushed her lips across Michael’s forehead. “How do you feel?”
    “Weak. I’m a little confused. I can’t remember what happened.” Michael’s eyes traveled over Sloan’s face. “There was an accident, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re not hurt, are you?”
    “No, baby,” Sloan said, her voice choked. “I’m not hurt. You don’t have to worry about anything. You just need to work on getting well.”
    “You looked tired.” Michael’s eyelids drooped and she forced them open. Smiling tremulously, she said, “In fact, you look terrible. Go home.”
    Sloan laughed gently and pulled a chair close with one hand. “Just close your eyes and get some sleep.”
    “Yes,” Michael murmured. Then she twitched suddenly and her eyes flew open. “It was a car, wasn’t it? A car hit me.”
    There edge of fear in Michael’s voice brought a rush of fury like none Sloan had ever known. “You rest now, baby. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
    She stroked Michael’s cheek as she slipped into sleep. Tonight she would stay, but in the morning, she would seek retribution.
    ———
    It was just after midnight when Rebecca let herself into the garden apartment in West Philadelphia. She found Catherine in the bedroom, propped up in bed, nude, with a book. “You’re still awake.”
    “Hi.” Catherine placed the book face down on the covers by her side. “You’re early.”
    “Am I?” Rebecca raised an eyebrow as she stripped off her jacket followed by her shoulder holster. She walked to the far side of the bed and placed her weapon in the top drawer of the bedside table, then leaned across the bed and kissed Catherine. “I’m going to take a quick shower. I’ll just be a sec.”
    “Hurry back.”
    The slight hint of invitation in Catherine’s voice was enough to make Rebecca’s blood surge. Within minutes she walked back into the bedroom, naked, toweling off as she approached the bed. She stopped abruptly when she observed the intense expression on Catherine’s face and lowered the towel. “I get excited just watching