Justice Served Read Online Free PDF Page B

better, and that’s the most important thing to me. Lying with you at night, holding you, waking up with you beside me. That’s everything.”
    Michael pressed against her, needing her solid strength. “Not quite everything.”
    Sloan’s pulse skyrocketed as Michael’s breath caressed her neck and the soft curves of Michael’s body melded to her own. The rush of arousal was entirely beyond her control, and she tried valiantly not to let her desire show. They had made love briefly several days before, despite Sloan’s protests. Michael had seemed to need the connection, and Sloan could refuse her nothing. But despite her body’s acute response to her lover’s nearness, sex was the last thing on Sloan’s mind. All she wanted was for Michael to be well. “No, definitely not everything, but those other things can wait.”
    “No choice.” Michael sighed, brushing her lips over Sloan’s. “Damn—I’m sorry. I need to lie down.” She mustered a smile. “Then I want you to tell me what you’ve been doing since last night.”
    Once they were settled in the bedroom, Michael curled against Sloan’s side with her head on her lover’s shoulder. While Sloan recounted the details of the meeting at Police Plaza, Michael listened without comment, her arm curved around Sloan’s waist.
    “So you agreed?” Michael asked when Sloan fell silent.
    “More or less,” Sloan said. “I agreed to submit a preliminary assessment of the status of their electronic retrieval and analysis capabilities, along with my recommendations for developing a state-of-the-art electronic surveillance unit. Probably once they see my bill, that will be the end of it.”
    Michael laughed gently. “Why did you agree? You don’t need the work, and I can’t imagine that they’ll be able to pay your going rate.”
    Sloan shrugged but said nothing. Her continued silence triggered every one of Michael’s alarms, but the persistent throbbing in her head made it hard for her to think clearly. She was aware only of a sense of unease, and her frustrating inability to process it made her headache even worse. She sighed.
    “I can’t figure this out on my own, love,” Michael said quietly. “Please tell me.”
    “Developing the ESU is a straightforward job. It’ll be a little frustrating due to the antiquated equipment and bureaucratic roadblocks that are sure to exist, but all in all, it might be fun.”
    “And?”
    Sloan pressed her lips to Michael’s temple and rubbed her hand in gentle circles over the center of Michael’s back. “And I’ll have access to every computer in the system.  Somewhere in there is the answer that we’ve all been looking for.”
    “You mean…” Michael began hesitantly. Frowning, she tried desperately to sort out the fragments of memory and shattered connections in her still-traumatized brain.  “…who killed Rebecca’s partner?”
    Sloan nodded.
    “And who...hurt me?”
    “Yes.”
    “And then what will you do?”
    Sloan knew the answer that Michael wanted. She knew the answer but hesitated, because she couldn’t lie to her. “I don’t know.”
    Michael raised her head, ignoring the surge of pain, to look into Sloan’s eyes. “You promised me you would tell Rebecca. I remember that. You promised.”
    “I did,” Sloan whispered. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into the soft fragrance of Michael’s hair. Her voice barely registered a whisper. “It’s just that…I want to hurt someone for hurting you.”
    “I know.” Michael stroked Sloan’s cheek, then threaded her fingers into Sloan’s hair. She raised her mouth to Sloan’s and kissed her gently. “I won’t ask you to keep your promise, because I know that you will.”
    Sloan let the comfort of Michael’s kiss soothe her troubled soul, wondering if she would be able to keep her lover’s trust.

Chapter Four

    Sloan jerked awake to the ringing of the bedside phone. Cursing silently, she tried to reach it without shifting