Page 1 of Legends: Easton (Legends of Fire Creek #3)

“Due to the severity of the crime, bail is denied. The defendant remains in custody pending the outcome of a trial. Court is dismissed.”

Bailee Maxwell flinched when the judge’s gavel slammed down. Judge Angie Allen was an imposing woman in the flowy black robe. With her ramrod straight posture and unreadable countenance, she rose and exited through a door to the judge’s chambers.

The audience stood like well-timed Jack-in-the-Boxes, the cacophony of their voices deafening as they filed out the double doors of the courtroom.

The case of the veteran police detective accused of corruption and murder had garnered a lot of interest, resulting in a full courtroom for the bail hearing.

Bailee barely registered the noise as she watched the defendant, James “Jimmy” Pearce with the Louisville Police Department in Kentucky.

Even from this distance, his presence overwhelmed the space.

Confidence punctuated the way he carried himself, as if the judge’s ruling had zero effect on him.

He was angry — she was sure of it — but he hid it well behind his icy exterior.

Jimmy’s fellow officers rallied around him as the bailiff appeared to cuff the defendant’s hands behind his back. Bailee wanted to throw up at watching the men she once worked alongside give Jimmy pats on the back and words of encouragement, all while shooting her stares meant to bully her.

She had once been counted as part of them, but they’d turned against her so fast it’d snatched her breath.

Her mind still reeled from the hypocrisy.

They were officers of the law, detectives who sought to bring down the worst form of criminals, yet they supported the one man in their ranks who deceived them all.

The defense attorney, a snake of a man named Burton Soddy, spoke directly into Jimmy’s ear.

Jimmy’s head dipped in a slight nod, but his eyes never veered from her.

Bailee’s expression was hard, giving nothing away.

He’d taught her well in the two years they’d worked together.

Because of Jimmy, she knew how to keep cool when shit hit the fan, how to hide all the thoughts and emotions that could make her vulnerable.

But as well as she knew him, he knew her just as much. He knew her facade was just that. He probably suspected what tumultuous thoughts plagued her, and he reveled in them. Bailee felt like an eternity passed before Jimmy was escorted to an exit at the back of the courtroom.

She should have fallen into step with the crowd exiting, but she couldn’t. Not until she saw Jimmy being hauled away. Not until she was sure he was truly going to jail and not back out on the street.

Before he passed through the door, he turned slightly at his waist, casting his gaze over his shoulder.

Dark, penetrating eyes locked on her, and Bailee used every ounce of her willpower to keep from looking away.

She hardened her own stare, wondering how she ever respected the man.

All she felt for him now was hatred with a healthy amount of disgust thrown in.

The bailiff nudged him, but still he watched her. She could almost hear him plotting his revenge. He all but threatened her life when he realized she possessed enough evidence to take him down. She didn’t regret it, even though the arrest had imploded her life almost more than it had his.

“Get moving.” The bailiff’s tone broke no argument.

Jimmy did move — but not before he flashed her a sinister grin.

Bailee felt chilled to the bone. She smoothed her palms against the polyester blend material of her uniform slacks.

Her sweaty palms were the only sign of her unease, thanks to the years she spent working in a male-dominated police department.

To anyone watching her, she was composed, unbothered by facing down her colleagues, whose hatred of her was palpable in the stuffy courtroom.

Inside, she felt ready to jump out of her skin.

“Bailee.”

The voice at her ear startled her, and she hated her body for jumping in response.

She tilted her head to see the woman standing behind her.

Corinne Southerland placed a hand on Bailee’s shoulder to calm her, her eyes flitting up briefly to see what had Bailee’s attention before returning to meet her gaze.

“If you hope to escape the press, we need to sneak out now while they’re distracted by the state attorney.”

Bailee blinked when she realized the courtroom had cleared out with only the two of them, Bailee’s fellow officers, the bailiff, Jimmy, and his attorney remaining.

“Yeah, okay.” Bailee stood, tucking her service cap under her arm.

She hazarded a parting glance in Jimmy’s direction.

The bastard had the nerve to drop his lid in an audacious wink before allowing the bailiff to lead him out the back of the courtroom.

His buddies filed toward her, but she hastened to follow Corinne out the swinging doors, not wanting to deal with the pack of police officers and detectives who blamed her for Jimmy’s trouble.

“Look at her. Running like the little chicken shit she is.”

Bailee didn’t recognize the voice behind her, but she didn’t care. As she marched down the hallway behind Corinne, her thick-soled shoes squeaking against the polished hallway, she threw up a one-finger salute to the mocking men behind her.

She knew better than to engage, but the action felt good. She was tired of feeling like she was all alone on an isolated island, banished because she did the right thing. Let them be angry at her if they wanted.

Hell, she had moments when she was angry too.

Why did she have to be the one to take Jimmy down?

What hadn’t one of them realized what the senior police detective was up to?

Why had the Chief thought it was a good idea to partner her, the rookie detective, with Jimmy, the veteran with so many arrests under his belt that no one dared to question his actions?

Corinne opened a door and motioned for Bailee to step through it.

Once she did, she allowed her rage to surface.

Her pent-up frustration had her pacing the cramped interview room until she bumped the corner of the small conference table.

The curse that fell from her lips was vehement and did little to stop her anger from mounting.

Dropping her hat, she finally slammed her fists against the top of the table, barely registering the pain radiating up her arm.

“Feel better?”

Corinne leaned against the closed door, her arms folded over her chest. As an Assistant Director of Operations for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, she was a kindred spirit in how she’d had to overcome male bias to fight her way to a leadership role in the ATF.

Bailee had come to count on the no-nonsense woman as her anchor in the storm.

Corinne was a hater of bullshit and lover of hockey who had Bailee’s back through one of the darkest times of her life.

The two hadn’t been friends or colleagues for long, but right now, Bailee trusted her more than the Louisville PD officers she’d worked alongside for years.

Bailee scowled at Corinne’s sarcastic question. “No. I’d much rather punch Jimmy’s face.”

Corinne’s lips twisted wryly. “You punch him, and I’ll punch his sociopath of an attorney.”

Bailee wanted to laugh, but her irritation ran too high.

She turned to stare out the lone window in the room, trying to find comfort in the world moving on outside.

The sky was overcast, but it was a dry, humid Kentucky day.

Vehicles drove in and out of the courthouse parking lot.

People of all ages, dressed in all ways, moved about, carrying on their business.

She tried to pick out the ones coming for court or taking care of mundane tasks such as renewing their automobile tag or driver’s license. After a few minutes, she calmed enough to face Corinne.

“Thanks for getting me away from everything until I had a chance to cool off.”

Corinne pushed away from the door and moved closer to the table. She didn’t sit but braced her hands on the chair she stood behind. “You’re welcome, but that’s not the reason I brought you in here.”

Shit! That can’t be good. Bailee’s brows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing yet, but I’m worried about you.”

Bailee sighed. “Don’t. I’m fine. I just…” Her voice trailed off as she realized she didn’t know what she wanted or needed.

“You want it to be over,” Corinne finished for her. “I get it. But considering what your life has been like recently – hell, what it’s been like for the last year, you have every right to feel exactly how you’re feeling. That’s not what I’m talking about though.”

“Okay. So what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the pressure you’re under at the precinct, the veiled threats and taunts you’re getting from your co-workers, and then there’s the gang you took down.”

Bailee blinked, surprised by Corinne’s concerns. “The Blood Disciples? We dismantled the BDs, so I can’t see how they can be any kind of a threat.”

“The gang took a huge blow. The major players are behind bars, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have power. And you’re at the top of their revenge list.”

“What are you saying?” Bailee demanded. “Do you think they’re coming after me?”

Corinne shrugged. “There’s no evidence of that, but I can’t rule out the possibility. Bailee, there are a lot of people who would like nothing more than to see you pay for your role in all this. Let’s face it. Without you, this case falls apart.”

“I can take care of myself. You don’t have to worry about the case.”

Corinne glared at her. “That’s not what I’m worried about. Yes, the case is a big deal, but your safety is more so. Answer me this. What are you planning to do while we wait for the trial? Go back to work? You think there are any cops who would have your back or want to partner with you?”

Bailee crossed her arms over her chest. “No one’s going to do anything to me, not when it could come back on them.

Besides, I don’t need a partner. I can work cases by myself.

I have the Chief’s support. The rest of them can go to hell.

I’m not going to be benched over this. If you’re worried about me going back to the LPD, you could have me temporarily reassigned to the ATF.

I’m sure there’s plenty of follow-up on the Blood Disciples case that I can help with. ”

“I have a different idea. I think it would be best if you lay low. Take some time off. You’ve earned it, and it would give things a chance to cool down. I’ll keep you informed on any changes with the case, but there’s nothing that requires you to be in Louisville right now.”

Bailee shook her head. “I’m not running away. I’m not giving those guys at the precinct more ammunition to use against me. I can’t back down from their bullying.”

“That’s not what this is. I don’t consider it running away as much as a strategic move.”

Bailee quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t really think the whole out-of-sight, out-of-mind concept is going to work here, do you?”

“Not exactly,” Corinne admitted. “But I do think you could benefit from taking some time to reset. Look, I don’t intend to close you out of this case.

I hope you know me well enough now to know I wouldn’t do that.

I’ve been where you are, having to prove myself to the boys’ club when you’re just as good, if not better, than they are.

I’m only suggesting a break. Just for a bit.

When the time is right, you’ll come back and see this through. ”

Bailee turned back to look out the window. “Tell me the truth. How likely is it that someone will come after me?”

“The BDs have been running illegal drugs and guns for years now without any consequences. They managed to turn a veteran detective in the LPD to not only look the other way while they committed their crimes but also join their efforts. Your partner, a decorated police detective, panicked so much at the idea that you, his subordinate, would take him down, that he killed your confidential informant and then went undercover with you to thwart your investigation at every turn. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, there’s a whole precinct of officers and detectives who believe you set Jimmy up to take the fall for crimes you are guilty of.

So to answer your question, I think it is very likely that you are in trouble if you stay in Louisville. ”

Corinne’s words were sobering. Bailee wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she could see her friend’s point. The aftermath of her year-long undercover operation seeped into almost every part of her life, and the stress was taking its toll.

A job she once loved was now something she dreaded. When she wasn’t suffering from insomnia, she was plagued with vivid dreams that interrupted her rest. She didn’t need a psychiatrist to know she had symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

“If you want, I can book a vacation for you. We can keep the destination under wraps and make sure there’s not a paper trail. No one will know where to find you but me.”

Bailee faced Corinne with a scowl. “That’s overkill, don’t you think?”

Corinne shrugged. “Probably, but I’m running out of ideas to persuade you to agree.”

Bailee couldn’t hold back the smirk twisting her lips slightly.

“Save it. I’ll clear it with the Chief and go out of town for a few days.

I need to check in with my family, so they can see for themselves I’m okay.

They were understanding when I was undercover, but they aren’t used to that much time passing between visits. It’ll be good to see them.”

Corinne smiled. “Sounds like a great plan. And I already cleared it with Chief Tucker. He wasn’t going to suggest it, but I think he’s relieved. I hope he uses this as an opportunity to get his house in order.”

Bailee sighed. “I don’t know if he can. It’s so messed up.”

“It’s not your fault or your problem. It’s his.”

Bailee nodded. “I know. It doesn’t make me feel any better though.”

“Let me take you home. You can rest and then hit the road tomorrow.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I drove myself here this morning, remember? I’ll be fine, and now that I’ve decided to go, I don’t think I’ll wait until tomorrow. I hadn’t let myself think about how much I’ve missed my family. Time with them may be just what I need.”

“Good. I promise to keep in touch, but if you need anything while you’re gone, you only have to reach out. Just be safe.”

“Always.” Bailee smiled, already looking forward to leaving Louisville in her rear view for a while.