Page 25 of Heat of Justice (Duty #3)

As Cody flicked on the lights, Kim could see that she was fine. She noticed her concern, evident in the way she watched her. Cody’s expressive blue eyes never left her face as she took a couple of deep breaths. Grateful for her quiet presence, touched by her reaction, Kim pressed a trembling hand to her cheek.

“Sorry to wake you up like this, babe,” she murmured.

“Not a problem,” Cody assured. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay now. Thanks.”

“I guess discussing murder and mutilated bodies at dinner wasn’t such a good idea, huh?”

“No, it’s not that,” Kim started, only to stop abruptly . Ah, damn… She could not quite suppress another shiver, even as she insisted. “I’m fine.”

“You weren’t fine a few seconds ago.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“Ah, come on, Kim.” The sweet look on Cody’s face turned more inquisitive and sharp. Cop-like, which, of course, was not surprising. “Thanks for trying to reassure me, but I’d rather you were straight with me. This looked like more than just a dream; you really struggled to get out of it. Did you have a vision?”

“No, no…” God, please, let it not be!

“But you still look worried. What’s going on?”

Kim had to make a split-second decision: head or heart? The impulse to withdraw from this conversation, to lie, or to pull back into her shell was there alright and pretty strong. But this was Cody asking. Love won. She would not lie.

“I’ve been having a few nightmares,” she admitted.

“A few?”

“Yes. Not like this, but yeah.”

“About me?”

“No, I… Why would you say that?” Kim stared, astounded and alarmed. “Cody, I love you.”

“I know that, but—Hold on.” Cody kept her close when she started to slide off the bed. “Are you aware that you said my name a few times before waking up?”

“What?” Kim stilled.

“In the dream. You were talking about fire. You said ‘Don’t go there’. And my name. You looked terrified and kept asking me if I was okay. That’s why I’m wondering if I was in the dream.”

“I don’t remember. What else did I say?”

“That’s it. There was a fire?”

“I… I don’t know. Give me a minute.”

“Of course.”

Kim closed her eyes and emptied her mind to try to bring it back. Deep down, she felt it was important. But all she sensed was a vague feeling of unease, fast disappearing.

“It’s gone now.” She sighed. “What time is it?”

“Almost five A.M.”

“I need coffee. Cold shower and a brew.”

“You’re on your own with the cold shower, but I’ll get coffee started,” Cody offered.

“Thanks.”

Kim did not let herself debate or hesitate. Though she hated cold showers with a vengeance, she forced herself to stand under the jet of freezing water for a full minute. Enduring. Re-focusing. She kept her breathing under control as the cold penetrated deep into her bones and jolted her back into her body. Forcing her to be present. Here, now, physically. Not lost in her imagination, a dream, or spirit. Once done with that, she dressed quickly and joined her partner in the kitchen. The scent of good, rich coffee and fresh toast was in the air. She inhaled. Let it out nice and slow. Okay… Okay, fine.

“Feeling better?” Cody prompted.

She stood next to the window in running shorts and a black Lewiston P.D. sweatshirt. Her blue eyes shone brightly in her slender face, and her tousled blond hair was illuminated by a ray of early-morning sunshine. She looked strong and grounded. Also, just like an angel again, Kim reflected.

“I’m good.” She walked to her, took her face in both hands and kissed her. Slow and firm, anchoring herself a bit more into solid reality. “Even better now.”

“Good to hear.” Cody lingered, studying her face. “So. Tell me about the nightmares?”

“Ah. Yeah, sure.” Kim picked up her cup of coffee. Leaning a hip against the kitchen counter, she considered. “There’s not really much to tell, to be honest. It’s all very vague. Just feelings. Emotions. Layers and impressions. Not actual events I could describe.”

“How long has it been going on?”

“A week and a bit.”

“Mm.” The frown on Cody’s face said she should have told her earlier.

“It’s nothing,” Kim assured her again. “Usually, I just wake myself up, realize a dream has been going on, turn over, and go right back to sleep.”

“Usually. But today, you woke up screaming.”

“Yes... Sorry about that.” Without thinking, Kim raised a single shoulder, both in reluctance and a touch of involuntary dismissal as well.

She stared into her steaming coffee. Wondered. Could this be a prelude to another vision? About Cody? My God. I hope not! Looking up, she noticed the corner of Cody’s mouth twitch as if she were trying to suppress a smile.

“What?” she prompted.

“Nothing,” came the teasing, if slightly defiant, answer.

Okay. I probably deserve that . Though Cody was smiling, Kim was not so sure herself. She was not amused, and her heart also tightened at the notion of what her lover may be thinking. Kim knew for sure that she would hate it if the roles were reversed

“Look, Cody, I’m not holding back on you, okay?” she told her intently. “Please, believe me.”

“I believe you. No question.”

“Okay. Then… What? You’re looking at me funny.”

“Am I? “Well. I don’t think you realize the effect you have on me,” Cody answered with a soft chuckle. Again, she looked a little sheepish as she went on. “Sometimes, I look at you in the middle of a conversation, and it just makes me want to smile. Even with a serious topic, like right now, I take one look at you, and boom…” Her eyes flashed with emotion. “I am in love with you, Kim. Helplessly, you might say. So I get a little lost in the feeling sometimes.”

Kim bit on her lip. Okay. Wow. She had not unexpected this. The admission was so beautifully honest and loaded with gorgeous vulnerability. For a moment, it left her totally speechless, and her mind blank. Then she stepped forward and pulled her lover into a tight embrace.

“I love your soul. Cody… I don’t deserve you.”

“Now that’s bullshit.” Cody answered fiercely and held her just the same. “Listen, Kim; you need to stop apologizing about this stuff as if I’m not supposed to be involved. I want to be! Don’t you get it?”

“Okay…” Kim chuckled, deeply touched. “Okay. Yes.”

“I don’t care if you wake me up in the middle of the night. Don’t care if it’s because of a dream, a vision, some craving for McDonalds, or whatever. I’m here for you. If you’re not okay, I want to know.”

“Well, I’m okay, I just—"

“Babe.” Cody shifted to meet her eyes. Hers held a definite warning. “Stop.”

Her barriers well and truly demolished, Kim gave a small sigh. Then, as Cody enfolded her even more tightly, she stopped fighting and allowed herself to rest in her arms. Love, support, and total acceptance. This is what she was being offered here. It had to be the greatest gift… And in return, she would give her full honesty.

“The last few weeks have been intense,” she admitted. “You know, with… The case.”

“Yes.” Cody nodded, understanding perfectly that she did not want to say Cassie Winters’ name out loud. “It’s been rough on you.”

“In contrast, the rest was amazing. Falling in love with you, moving in together, meeting your friends… It was— IS amazing. I am thankful for every minute with you, Cody.”

“But,” her lover said gently, patiently.

“It’s a lot,” Kim admitted. “And my sense is… activated, you could say.”

“You’re feeling overwhelmed.”

“I guess a tiny bit, yes.”

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” Cody was quick to apologize and put on a brave face, but Kim still caught it; that look in her eyes betrayed her true feelings: wounded, crushed. She hated to be the cause of it.

“Cody—"

“We went too fast, didn’t we?” Her lover interrupted before she could explain. “It’s okay, we’ll slow it down. Do you want me to move out of here for a bit and—”

“No!” Startled and alarmed, Kim grabbed her by the shoulders. “That’s really not what I want. Unless…” She studied her face and hesitated. “Do you?”

“Hell, no.” Cody was firm on that. “Absolutely not. I just told you, didn’t I? I want to be involved. But I’ll go at whatever pace is good for you.”

“This is fine, then. I want you in my life, baby.” Kim was no less firm as she said this, though she spoke in a gentle voice she felt was required. “I want you with me, Cody. All the time. I’m just being honest because you asked me to, and that’s the way I want our relationship to be. Open, clear, true.”

“Me too,” Cody murmured. “Yes. In all the ways.”

“Right. I was not able to control my ability with… Cassie.” Kim exhaled. “It took me over completely. So, of course, I don’t want that to happen again.”

“Of course not.”

“I guess I’m a little nervous at being able to sense so much, all of a sudden.”

“I understand.”

“I think the fear is playing out in my dreams. You are so precious to me... I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Nothing will.” Cody frowned, once again looking a bit confused. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t even know. Don’t worry.” Kim wrapped her arms back around her neck. Damn! She hated this kind of drama, especially when she was the source of it. Time to get a grip, and change the subject. “I meant to tell you something else.”

“Mm,” Cody grunted and tightened her hold. “What?”

“It’s about last night.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I really enjoyed being in charge. Telling you what to do… having you on your knees in the shower…” Kim smiled at the happy, muffled chuckle that this provoked. Much better. She could almost feel her lover blushing. “How about you, darling?” she prompted.

“Don’t do this.”

“What?”

“This!” Cody laughed. “Rev me up just before I go on duty and can’t do anything about it. It’s not fair.”

She was, indeed, blushing. Kim nodded, relaxing.

“Do I really have this much power?” she teased.

“You know you do, so be careful with me.”

“Alright, Detective. You have to go?”

“Sadly, yes. And you too. Text me when you arrive at the office, okay?”

“I will.”

Kim watched her pick up her badge and secure her weapon on her hip. Cody paused at the door to flash her one last smile. “I love you, Kim.”

“Likewise. Look after yourself out there, okay?”

“Sure thing.” Cody’s eyes sparkled. “Hey, by the way…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t tell anyone, but I love you in charge as well.”

Delighted, Kim laughed.

◆◆◆

Two weeks later, Quinn observed her detectives grill the man they brought in for interrogation in the case of the stolen body parts killings. Sadly, they were not able to prevent a third victim from losing their life… but recovered CCTV video of the area where the body was found yielded a number of useful clues as to where the actual murder may have taken place. They found the scene, more pointers. Then, painstaking investigative work, determination, and a good dose of talent eventually led Miller and Ellie to their target. The killer proved not to be active in the illegal organ trade, after all, just a man who acted alone for his own sick pleasure. He was forty-three years old, lean and wiry, the kind who might prove deceptively strong and nasty in a fight. A former funeral home worker, sacked in recent months after it came to light that he was taking pictures of his deceased ‘ patients ’ to sell on the internet, he fixed everyone with feral eyes in his fully tattooed face.

“Stare all you want, buddy,” Miller let him know. “It won’t change a damn thing.”

He snarled at her and rattled the chain that kept him tethered to the table.

“Yeah, you’re cooked,” Ellie added dispassionately.

Quinn nodded in approval from behind the one-way glass mirror. Yep. A search of the man’s apartment had not revealed anything incriminating, but a storage unit he rented under a false name certainly yielded plenty of interest in the case. Ellie reported finding a collection of expensive Japanese knives and scalpels; some of them still bloody. Inside a chest freezer, David Dark, as appropriately was his name, kept animal parts, a couple of dismembered squirrels, and, crucially, the eyes of his latest human victim. DNA recovered on the body was identified as his. Miller called it a slam dunk for the prosecution. Quinn agreed. At this point, a full confession was not even required to ensure future conviction for this guy. Still, it would be good practice for Ellie, who rose to the challenge in style. Quinn appreciated the way she was able to get under the suspect’s skin and provoke him to reveal things that would invalidate an insanity defense claim.

“Excellent work, Detectives,” Quinn told them both after the interview. “And nicely done, Ellie.”

“Not such a rookie now, am I?” the young cop grinned.

“Not until you said that,” her partner chuckled ironically.

Quinn was in a good mood as she headed to her office, but she came to an abrupt halt when she discovered an unexpected visitor waiting for her there. Ah, man… Now what?