v "Oh man," Mitch.e.l.l breathed, stopping in midmotion, her eyes huge.

"What?" Sandy said defensively.

"You look..." Mitch.e.l.l swallowed, at a loss for words.

"Your mouth is open, Dell. You look dumb." Sandy ushed, pleased. The navy Dolce & Gabbana pants had wide legs and a at * 170 *

Justice Served front and sat low on her hips. An elegant silver pinstripe accented the tailored suit, and she wore the one-b.u.t.ton, tted jacket closed over just her silk bra, revealing the barest suggestion of cleavage. The Manolo Blahnik heels gave her several inches in height, and she liked the new perspective. Michael had said it was a s.e.xy, low-key, professional look, acceptable for daytime. From the expression on Mitch.e.l.l's face, she'd been right about the s.e.xy part. When Mitch.e.l.l took a step toward her, Sandy held out one arm, palm up. "Do not come near me. You'll mess me up."

"Honey, that out t screams 'mess me up.'" Mitch.e.l.l took another step. "Come on. Let me touch. Just one nger."

"Where?"

Mitch.e.l.l reached out, her index nger extended. She dipped it into the hollow at the base of Sandy's neck, then slowly snaked down her chest to the vee where the jacket closed. Then she curled the tip under the edge of the lapel and along the top of Sandy's bra. In a husky voice, she whispered, "Just here."

Sandy slapped at Mitch.e.l.l's hand and backed away. "Cut it out.

You're making me h.o.r.n.y. I can't be h.o.r.n.y in this out t."

Mitch.e.l.l laughed. "Why not?"

"Because I think I'm just supposed to stand around pretending I'm too cool to get hot." She ngered Mitch.e.l.l's uniform jacket. "Anyhow, look at you. I'm not making out with you in that getup."

"Why not?" Mitch.e.l.l asked again, glancing down at her dress blues. Her shoes gleamed, the creases in her pants were so sharp-edged the material barely moved when she walked, and her uniform jacket t her form without an errant fold. "You don't like it?"

"Baby," Sandy crooned, walking her ngers up the inside of Mitch.e.l.l's thigh. She cupped her for a eeting second, high between her legs, making her gasp, and then moved quickly out of reach. "I want you to f.u.c.k me blind."

"Oh man," Mitch.e.l.l moaned, hurrying out of the room after her girlfriend. "I'm not gonna live through this."

* 171 *

* 172 *

Justice Served

CHAPTER TWENTY.

You gonna be okay?" Mitch.e.l.l asked quietly as she and Sandy exited the elevator on the second oor of Police Plaza.

"Sure," Sandy said, her voice tight with bravado. The wide corridor was bustling with of cers, some in uniform and others in street clothes, all looking harried and of cious. Sandy's stomach curdled as she thought about the few times she had been inside a police station.

None were pleasant memories. "Great. No problem."

Mitch.e.l.l caught Sandy's hand and tugged her close to the wall, out of the stream of traf c. "Look, you don't have-"

"Jesus, rookie," Sandy snapped, s.n.a.t.c.hing her hand away. "Are you crazy? Look where we are. Do you want everyone to know?"

"I don't care who knows." Mitch.e.l.l grabbed Sandy's hand back.

"If you're not comfortable here, you don't need to st-"

"h.e.l.lo," a warm voice interrupted. "Quite a gathering, it seems."

Sandy looked from Dell to the newcomer. "Hi. Yeah, it's a big deal, huh?"

Catherine smiled. "Yes, it is. I'm looking forward to it. h.e.l.lo, Dellon. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks," Mitch.e.l.l said, coloring. She looked past Catherine. "Is the lieutenant here already?"

"Yes. She stopped downstairs to talk to Watts about something.

She should be right up."

"Good."

The relief in Mitch.e.l.l's voice was evident, and Sandy realized at that moment that her girlfriend was every bit as nervous as she was.

Moving closer, she gave Mitch.e.l.l's hip a tiny b.u.mp with hers. "You're gonna be ne. You look so hot."

Mitch.e.l.l grinned. "I don't think anyone's going to care about that."

* 173 *

RADCLY fFE "I do."

"Sandy," Catherine asked, "would you mind sitting with me? I'd appreciate the company."

"Sure. Okay." Sandy smiled shyly. "I'd like that."

"Wonderful." Then, as if hearing her name, which would have been impossible in the midst of so much activity, Catherine turned toward the elevators. The doors slid open, and Rebecca stepped through with Watts close behind. "Let me just say goodbye to her, and then you and I can go in and nd seats."

"She's cool," Sandy murmured as she glanced furtively up and down the hall. When no one seemed to be looking, she stretched up and quickly kissed Mitch.e.l.l. "That's for luck."

Without glancing around, Mitch.e.l.l leaned down and kissed Sandy back. "That's for love." Then she turned and walked down the hall toward Watts, who waited by the auditorium door.

Sandy watched her go, shaking her head, the kiss still tingling on her lips. In a voice too low for anyone else to hear, she whispered, "Blockhead."

"Hiya, Sandy," Rebecca said.

"Hey, Frye," Sandy replied, still watching her girlfriend. When she nally turned to look at Rebecca, she gave a small murmur of appreciation. "Huh. Nice look."

"I don't think that was the intention. It's good to see you. Good for Mitch.e.l.l too."

Then she too walked away, leaving Sandy staring after her. "What is it with them today?"

"They're nervous," Catherine commented upon hearing the question as she rejoined Sandy. "They're much more comfortable doing than being the focus of attention."

"So that makes them get all sappy-being nervous?"

Catherine smiled. "I think it makes them a little bit vulnerable. I don't know about you, but I'm rather fond of sappy now and then."

Sandy laughed. "It's supposed to be a big secret, but Dell gets like that pretty much all the time."

"How wonderful for her that she can do that with you."

"You think?" Sandy asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She didn't like to think too much about why Dell seemed to love her, fearing how much it would hurt if she stopped.

* 174 *

Justice Served "I do." Catherine reached for Sandy's hand. "Shall we go in? I want to get seats up front so I can see everything."

"Okay, sure..." Sandy's voice trailed off. "Uh-you should go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."

Catherine followed Sandy's gaze questioningly. Then she gave a small start, amazed to see a woman approaching who looked exactly like Mitch.e.l.l except for the fact that she wore a different uniform.

"Well."

"You got that right," Sandy said, acid etching her tones. She took a step in the newcomer's direction. "And there's no f.u.c.king way she's going in that room with Dell today."

Before Catherine could even comment, Sandy was down the hall and in Erica's path.

"You shouldn't be here," Sandy a.s.serted.

Erica regarded her in confusion. "What? Who...?" She hesitated.

"Oh. Sandy, isn't it? I didn't recognize you."

Sandy snorted. "No, I'm sure you only saw what you expected to see. Whatever. Dell doesn't need you here today."

"I hardly think that's up to you to decide."

"You know what? It is." Even in heels, Sandy was inches shorter than Erica, but her eyes never wavered from the ice blue of the taller woman's. "You walked out on her once when she needed you to stand up for her. She doesn't need you now."

"You don't know anything about that."

Sandy's vision wavered as anger swept through her. She could still feel Dell's tears scalding her breast and the way that Dell, always so strong, had trembled in her arms. She heard the broken words uttered through a throat choked with grief.

Robin was a captain and a general's daughter. She was career Army, and I couldn't let her lose everything. So when she denied that we were lovers and said that I'd gone off on the guy for no reason, I didn't argue. They were willing to let me leave quietly, even gave me the honorable discharge, as long as I didn't make waves. They didn't want to know about us, and she wasn't willing to give up her future for me.

"Yes, I do know," Sandy grated. It was all she could do to keep her hands at her sides, because she wanted to smack the superior smirk off Erica Mitch.e.l.l's face. "I know you let her be treated like a criminal when all she did was defend her lover." Sandy spat out the words.

* 175 *

RADCLY fFE "Her lover who didn't have the guts to stand up for her. And you didn't either."

"Dellon knew the rules."

To Sandy's astonishment, she heard pain in Erica's voice. But no amount of hurt would make up for the suffering she had witnessed in Dell. "Love isn't about rules. Love is just something that happens to you, and you don't have a choice. You take it, you hold on to it, or you lose everything that matters."

Erica stared at Sandy. "That's how you feel about her?"

"Yes." There was de ance and pride in Sandy's voice. She tilted her chin as if offering it for Erica's punch, a warrior ready to take a blow in the name of honor.

"I thought..." Erica shook her head. "I don't know what I thought."

Catherine stepped up to Sandy's side. "Is anything wrong?"

"No," Sandy said levelly. "She was just leaving."

"You must be Dellon's sister," Catherine said, extending her hand.

"I'm Catherine Rawlings. My partner and Dellon work together."

"Ma'am," Erica said, shaking Catherine's hand. She looked uncertainly from Sandy to Catherine, obviously trying to discern their relationship. "I don't want to keep you from the ceremony."

"No, I don't want to be late," Catherine agreed. "My partner is being promoted as well." She rested a hand lightly on Sandy's shoulder.

"Are you coming in?"

"I..." Erica shrugged. "I don't know."

Sandy looked up at Catherine. "I don't want anything to spoil this for Dell."

"I know. Neither do I. But you'll be there, and that's the most important thing." She gave Sandy's shoulder a squeeze. "But I think she might like it if her sister were there too."

"What if it throws her...seeing her?"

"It might, for a second or two." Catherine smiled. "But you know...she's got good re exes."

Sandy laughed, then cast Erica a considering glance. "You be careful with her. You don't get another chance."

"Understood," Erica said quietly.

"Well, then," Catherine said quietly, including both Sandy and Erica in her gaze. "Why don't we go in?"

* 176 *

Justice Served v Mitch.e.l.l shouldered her way through the throng congregated in front of the stage. She kept losing sight of Sandy as people cut across her line of vision. Finally, she edged her way up to her girlfriend. "Hey, how're you doing?"

Sandy broke off her conversation with Catherine and smiled up at Mitch.e.l.l. "Okay. I didn't know you were going to get a medal too."

"And well deserved," Catherine added. "Congratulations, Dellon.