That’s what normal mothers would do.
Maybe normal wasn’t possible in my world any longer.
A hawk.
That’s what I felt like. Even as Bella had munched on cheese, my eyes never left her. She’d entertained Tim, who’d stood by the kitchen door where he could see outside. Every so often, he’d checked the security cameras, ensuring we were completely alone.
“You’re good at what you do,” I told him after sliding her plate into the dishwasher. I’d put her down for a nap, which gave me time to breathe and to calm my nerves. When I turned around, I had a direct view of the living room and the little mop of hair on my daughter.
Tim shrugged. “I enjoy being a cop.”
“How do you know Hudson? Judge Armstrong?” I had no idea what Tim had been told, but I doubted Hudson wanted to shout out to the world that we’d become romantically involved.
Although I wasn’t honestly certain what to call the relationship the handsome man and I were engaging in. I could admit everything was complicated.
“I met him years ago when he was an attorney and I was a rookie. I botched an arrest, although that wasn’t discovered until the case had reached trial. I didn’t need my commander to chew me a new one. Judge Armstrong did it for me.” He half laughed.
“What did he do?”
“After berating me for a full thirty minutes, he forced me to look at pictures of victims where the system had failed because of quote ‘shit like what I’d done.’” He grinned, shaking his head as if the memory was a good one.
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. My commanding officer let me off with a slap on the wrist after hearing what Judge Armstrong had done. I’ll tell you this. I never made the mistake again. He’s one hell of a man and the best judge in this city. Fair. Honest. Yet don’t cross him or come into his courtroom more than once. Especially if he gave you any break in your sentence whatsoever.”
“That tough, huh?”
His eyes clouded over. “You have to be these days. Criminals are constantly getting away with shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t curse in front of you.”
“I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m some innocent girl. I’ve been around the block more than once.”
He laughed and took a sip of his bottled water. “The law has changed and people like the judge are rare. There are somany loopholes. So many criminals getting off because of slick attorneys.”
“Including Hudson?”
“Oh, God. No. As a prosecutor he was as down and dirty as they come in the right way. He didn’t mind getting in the trenches, more so than the detectives did. You know, getting his hands dirty in searching for evidence. He solved many a murder case through grit and determination. That’s why I know how hard Mr. Jones’ release hit him.”
“Do you think Judge Armstrong would ever cross the line to ensure a criminal is apprehended?”
Tim was suddenly uncomfortable, shifting back and forth where he stood leaning against the counter.
“I won’t tell a soul what you and I talked about.”
“I don’t like speaking out of turn about anyone, but I will tell you that right now, it’s like we need a crusader in the system.”
“How so?”
“Someone willing to take the extra step in ensuring these criminals don’t have more rights than victims. Just the other day I took a call. I’d been to the house a few times for domestic abuse. I convinced her to get a restraining order. I’d heard from her attorney she was getting her life back on track.”
“What happened?” The story was eerily similar to mine.
He shook his head and the same look of sadness shifted his focus. The same look I’d seen in Hudson’s eyes a dozen times. “A week or so later, I took another call from her address. When I got to the house she was…”
“Dead.”
“Yes. Her husband was standing over her with a knife. Even worse, their two-year-old daughter was in the highchair. She’d seen the whole thing. Trust me, Ms. Sciascia, we’ve all seen things that would make you sick inside. And we can’t do anything about it. Like I said, if there was someone who could move past that line you mentioned, I’d be all for it. But please don’t tell the judge I said so.”
“Not a word.” I thought about what Hudson had said to me and the anger I’d seen when he’d talked about the Undertaker. I’d witnessed his fisted hands and clenched jaw to the point he’d been grinding his teeth.
