Page 5 of Fighting for Julia (Laguna Beach Cops #6)

“Those are important points,” Justice commented.

“The press will take an interest in Barbara’s decision to appoint you and your officers as her security team, and there might be some accusations of nepotism, considering that the President himself has fast tracked your Secret Service applications, especially ahead of other qualified candidates.

” Beecher’s eyes turned steely. “But no one is going to question your service record or your performance as Chief of Police. However, you and your officers have had a tumultuous four years, and I need to know everything. Don’t gloss over any of it. ”

Justice nodded. “It started when I lost my entire SEAL team…”

The interview lasted three hours. Beecher took copious notes as Justice relived how he, Brielle, and his team prevented Axel Anderson from executing his master plan for a social revolution; how they dealt with Axel Jr.’s goal to annihilate them; how Hutch stopped Axis and Axalia Anderson from wreaking more havoc; how Luca went on the run with Mallory when she was falsely accused of murdering her husband; and how Tawny exposed corruption in the Department of Corrections when she went undercover.

When Beecher asked about his adoption of Rosie, raw emotion swelled in Justice’s throat and tears burned in his eyes.

“I killed her brother to protect her. He murdered his entire family. When he came after Rosie, I didn’t have a choice. I had to put him down. Later, we believed he’d somehow been recruited by Axel Anderson.”

Justice breathed deeply to compose himself. “It took years of patience, prayer, and therapy for Rosie to undo the damage I’d caused when I took that shot. She’s a vital part of our family, and Brielle and I love her as much as we love Noelle and JJ.”

Satisfied with Justice’s explanation, Beecher ended the interview. “You and your officers have two weeks to get your affairs in order, Chief McQuaid. We hit the campaign trail March first.” He handed Justice a folder. “Our itinerary. If it changes, I’ll text you.”

Justice shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Beecher.”

Two days later

February

Laguna Beach, California

Tawny, Hutch, Luca, Miguel, and Owen assembled in Justice’s conference room at the Laguna Beach police station the morning after he’d returned from Washington, D.C.

Almost four years ago, Justice had faced them in this room for the first time, afraid of making a mistake and appearing like a bumbling fool because of the brain injury he’d suffered in Afghanistan.

Today, he didn’t feel fear. Love and pride swelled in him.

Overcome with such fierce emotions, it took a moment for Justice to speak.

“A strange fate I couldn’t have foreseen brought me to Laguna Beach, a man broken physically and emotionally.

I didn’t know what to expect, but you showed me the way.

Tawny, you condensed the policies and procedures for me into a comprehensible document when I couldn’t even read a map.

You have no idea how much that gesture meant to me.

“Hutch and Luca, you’ve been as strong as rocks in your loyalty to me as your Chief. I can’t express how much I appreciate you.” Justice turned toward Miguel. “River, your humility and dedication to mentor at-risk youth in our community inspires me every day to be a better man.

“And Owen,” here he grinned, “well, you were a mess when we first met. You were disrespectful, out of shape, a mediocre cop with a chip on your shoulder the size of Texas. But look at you now. Promoted to Captain of the Cambridge Police Department, a husband, and a father-to-be.”

Owen’s face grew red. “Aw, Chief, I wouldn’t have such a great life if it weren’t for you. You saw something in me I couldn’t see for myself. You gave me a second chance, and I owe you far more than I could ever repay.”

“I’ve asked a lot of you in the past, and now I’m asking if going on this next journey with me is really what you want.

Hutch, Luca, and Tawny, you’re newlyweds, and Owen and Luca, your wives are pregnant.

We’ll be away from our families for weeks while Madam Secretary is campaigning.

Not to mention shifts that may last twelve hours or more. ”

“That’s nothing new,” Hutch pointed out. “But, Chief, what about the department? It’ll be short on manpower, not to mention, you . Who’s going to step into your shoes?”

“I’m working on a solution for that with the mayor. We also have recruits from the police academy who are asking to work in Laguna Beach.”

“Because of you,” Tawny argued.

“I believe the department will be in good hands. Now, you haven’t answered my question. Are we all in? Yes or no?”

They gazed at each other. Their thoughts and emotions surged like electric currents among them.

They worked together. They socialized together.

They defended together. They stood together at their weddings.

They cried together, shed blood together, and faced death together.

They’d do this together, too. Protect Madam Secretary during her bid for the presidency.

A collective answer rose in the room. “Yes, Chief!”

Relief swept through Justice. It heartened him that the people he loved and trusted the most would be by his side.

Though he’d made their agreement to become Secret Service agents a condition of his acceptance, everyone knew Justice was too honorable to say no to Madam Secretary. He owed a debt to her.

While Miguel drove Owen to John Wayne Airport and the others returned to their jobs, Justice sat at his computer and pulled up the old case file on Axel Anderson, Jr. He zoomed in on a photo of him.

His gut clenched. Dangling around Axel Jr.’s neck was a sterling silver tag with his name engraved on it.

Was it an unusual coincidence? Or another possibility too horrific to consider?

An urgent desire to uncover the truth caused Justice’s heart rate to increase.

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he searched for the digital records of evidence collected at Axel Anderson’s underground compound in Oregon.

He clicked through the files until he landed on a rare photo of the Anderson family.

Justice enlarged the picture. Identical sterling silver nametags hung around the siblings’ necks.

His pulse raced. He pulled up one of the photographs snapped at Barbara’s press conference and zoomed in on Julia Washburn and Lola Anderson placed side by side.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God.” Unless his eyes deceived him, Julia and Lola bore similar facial features.

His breath came fast as he called the one person who could help unravel the truth—John “Tex” Keegan, a former Navy SEAL who’d helped Justice and his friends in the past.

“Tex, we have a problem.”

“For fuck’s sake, Justice. Already? It’s only been three months since your last crisis.”

“Very funny, Tex. Just wait. One day you might need protecting.”

Tex guffawed. “Protecting me? Tex? That’ll be the day.”

“In any case, this time it’s not about me. It affects Secretary of State Barbara Washburn.”

“So, you accepted a Secret Service position protecting her? What’s going on?”

Justice explained his suspicions.

Tex whistled. “You really stepped into some deep shit, Justice. I’ll dig around, see what I can uncover.”

“Keep it confidential, Tex.”

“No need to even ask. I’ll let you know when I find out anything.”

Justice noticed Tex never said “if.”