“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 reß 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

Mitchell 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 Mitchell. “Okay. I didn’t know you were going to get a medal too.”

“And well deserved,” Catherine added. “Congratulations, Dellon.

Now, I’m going to Þ nd Rebecca and try to steal her away for lunch somewhere.”

After a quick look around, Sandy brushed her Þ ngers over the medallion pinned above Mitchell’s left breast. “It’s nice.”

Fleetingly, Mitchell caught Sandy’s hand and squeezed. “Thanks.

I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

The closeness of the crowd made it easy for Mitchell to ease her thigh against Sandy’s hip, and as she did, she steeled herself to greet the other woman present. After another few seconds’ hesitation, she met her sister’s eyes. “How did you know about this?”

“Your colleagues are very talkative. When I called the station earlier this week looking for information about you, I heard most of the story.” Erica extended her hand. “Congratulations, Detective.”

Mitchell swallowed and blinked against sudden tears. She forced the words through a sandpaper throat as she took her sister’s hand.

“Thanks.”

Erica held Mitchell’s hand in the silence that settled between them. Sandy wrapped an arm around Mitchell’s waist and squeezed, murmuring, “You okay, baby?”

“Yeah,” Mitchell replied softly, letting go of Erica’s hand. She smiled at Sandy. “I’m okay. I’m great.”

“I should go say something to Frye,” Sandy said with obvious reluctance, her eyes ß icking to Erica.

“Go ahead. Everything’s Þ ne,” Mitchell urged, sounding more like herself. “Then how about we grab some takeout for lunch and go home.”

• 177 •

RADCLY fFE

“Okay, if you’re sure.” Sandy looked once more from Erica to Mitchell, then ventured into the crowd.

“So,” Mitchell said. “What are you doing here?”

“You were being honored for bravery and promoted. It’s a big deal.”

“Yeah, and nothing I’ve done in the last year and a half has mattered to you, so why should this?” Mitchell tried to curb the bitterness in her voice, but failed. “Why did you come here at all this week?”

“Because I have to work at not thinking about you every day, and when I found out you were injured and in the hospital, I couldn’t stop worrying. I just…had to come.” Erica’s shoulders sagged slightly and she inched closer, her eyes dark with pain. “I miss you. Damn it, Dell.

I miss you.”

“Nothing’s changed…” Mitchell caught herself and grinned ruefully. “Actually, everything’s changed. I know who I am. I like who I am. I love Sandy. What are you going to do with all of that, Erica?”

“I don’t know.” Her sister shook her head. “Sandy is…she’s Þ erce, the way she…loves you.”

Mitchell’s eyes sparkled. “Yeah. She’s pretty amazing.”

Erica studied her, her expression puzzled. “And you’re happy?

She makes you happy?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

Erica’s gaze swept the room where small groups, composed mostly of men, continued to mill about, talking and laughing. The rumble of many voices drowned out neighboring conversations. Nevertheless, she lowered her voice. “That’s not a problem, here?”

“Sometimes it can be,” Mitchell acknowledged. “But I don’t care.

I can handle it.”

“You always thought you could handle everything,” Erica said with a mixture of affection and irritation.

“That’s because I can.”

Erica laughed, sounding very much like Mitchell. “You are so full of shit, Dell.”

“Yeah. Like you’re not.” Mitchell reached out and Þ ngered the row of ribbons on her sister’s chest. “Looks like you’ve been busy racking up the points. You must be looking at a promotion yourself soon.”

Erica blushed. “Maybe, I don’t know.”

• 178 •

Justice Served

“They’re fast-tracking you, aren’t they? The posting in DC?

Grooming you for a command post somewhere soon.”

“Probably,” Erica admitted.

Mitchell was surprised to realize that she felt no animosity, no jealousy. With a start, she realized that she no longer wanted the life her sister was headed for. The life she had thought she wanted. Some of the anger she had nourished to shield herself from pain eased. “That’s cool. That’s good.”

“I have to get back to the base,” Erica said. “I wish we could talk.”

“About what?”

“About…Robin. What happened.”

Mitchell shook her head. “There’s no point. It’s over. We all made our choices back then. And we’re all living with them now.” She looked away, scanning the crowd, smiling as she spied Sandy heading their way. “Sometimes the choices we’re forced to make take us to the place we wanted to be all along.” She met her sister’s eyes. “I’m happy, Erica.”

“You ready to go?” Sandy asked as she reached Mitchell’s side.

“Yep.”

Sandy turned her attention to Erica. “If you’re anything like Dell, and I guess you probably are, you’re insane for pizza. We can order extra.”

“Thanks,” Erica said sincerely. “I need to catch a train.” She held out her hand to Sandy. “It was very nice meeting you.”

Sandy appeared thoughtful as she took Erica’s hand. “It would probably be good if you came back for another visit.”

“Thank you.” Erica looked from Sandy into her sister’s eyes. “I’d like that very much.”

Mitchell and Sandy were silent as they watched Erica walk away.

Then Sandy said, “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

“Have I mentioned that I really like it when you take care of me?”

Sandy stood on tiptoe and spoke quietly, close to Mitchell’s ear.

“Yeah, but you’re usually talking about sex when you do.”

Mitchell laughed. “Well, then too.”

“So what do you say we pick up some pizza, and I can take care of you some more.”

• 179 •

RADCLY fFE

“Oh yeah—love in the afternoon,” Mitchell said, grasping Sandy’s hand. “I think I just got lucky.”

“Yeah, yeah, rookie. Don’t get used to it.”

“Too late.” Tugging Sandy through the crowd, Mitchell Þ nally knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be.

• 180 •

Justice Served

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

This is such a nice treat, having you all to myself in the middle of the afternoon,” Catherine said, leaning her head against Rebecca’s shoulder.

Rebecca, in sweats and a T-shirt, her feet propped on the coffee table next to the empty deli containers, sighed. “I could get spoiled, that’s for sure.” She kissed Catherine lightly. “But I have to go back to work. Flanagan said she’d have something for me today on the shooting.”

“I know, and I need to go in to the ofÞ ce and take care of billing before Joyce loses patience with me entirely.” Catherine too had changed into a favorite pair of slacks and a pullover, and now she drew her legs onto the sofa to curl closer against Rebecca’s side. “I really enjoyed the ceremony. I noticed you trying to slip away from the photo-op at the end.”

“The department never passes up an opportunity for publicity,”

Rebecca said wryly. “Hardly my style.”

“But you are newsworthy, darling.” When Rebecca stiffened, Catherine laughed and hugged her. “This is the second time in less than a year that you’ve received a departmental commendation, you were just promoted, and you’re without question the sexiest police ofÞ cer in the city.”

Rebecca tilted her head back to look into her lover’s face. “About that last part…”

“We have to work,” Catherine murmured, captured by the light dancing in Rebecca’s eyes. Her body ß ushed hot, then she shivered.

“But there’s something about you in that uniform that’s had me on edge since this morning.”

“The uniform, huh?” Rebecca guided Catherine’s hand beneath

• 181 •

RADCLY fFE

her T-shirt, then pressed Catherine’s palm to her stomach. “Will this outÞ t do?”

“Darling,” Catherine whispered, sliding her hand up to cup Rebecca’s breast. “You in absolutely anything does it for me.”

Laughing, Rebecca pulled Catherine down on top of her. Work would always be there.