Lone Star Justice (2 page)

Maddie opened the screen and knocked on the door, hard enough to bruise her knuckles. She waited, and waited. No one answered. She knocked again, then a third time. Feeling like a too-stupid-to-live character in a B movie, she tried the doorknob--and breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered it was locked.

So that was that. Anne wasn't home. All she could do was wait until she called again.

As Maddie rounded the front of her vehicle, she glanced toward the backyard. A flash of white in the trees drew her closer. She really didn't want to go back there. But what if Anne was in trouble? She couldn't just walk away and leave her friend.

At least call for backup
. Oh, great. She definitely needed to lay off the cop shows. Her imagination had always been her downfall. Maybe she should have been a novelist instead of a judge. She wasn't planning to chase any bad guys down the street. All she needed to do was make sure the back yard was empty, that the flash of white was nothing more than a grocery bag caught on a branch, and then she'd head straight home and call everyone she knew who might know where Anne had gone. If that didn't bring any results, she'd call the police and turn in a missing persons report.

Shining the light into the trees, she saw what looked like a dress hung out to dry.

That made no sense. Anne wouldn't hang her dress in the trees. Maddie wished she'd called the cops before coming back here alone, but what would she tell them anyway? She had to deal with them every day, and she didn't want them to think she was weak or scared. But right now she'd give almost anything to have one of them at her side.

She took a deep breath and opened the gate, stepping into the dimly lit yard. She used the flashlight to make sure no one was hiding nearby, then moved closer to the trees.

What she saw stopped her in her tracks. Then she lost her lunch all over her brand new Gucci sandals.

***

It was almost eight by the time Maddie pulled into her driveway. After a couple of hours talking to the police, the medical examiner, and the reporters, she was mentally wrung out and worried about her daughter. And she'd forgotten the pizza she'd promised to bring home for dinner.

She let herself in the front door, relieved Brandy had locked it as instructed. It took her a minute to realize Domino, their overweight Calico cat, hadn't met her at the door demanding his supper. "Brandy? Where are you?"

"In the kitchen." Brandy stuck her head through the doorway. "You're really late. I got hungry and fixed myself a sandwich."

Maddie dropped her briefcase on the bar and walked around it to give her daughter a bone-crushing hug. Tears burned the backs of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I forgot the pizza."

Brandy stepped back and looked at her. "What's wrong? You look awful."

"It's been an awful day. But it's over and I'm home." She brushed a lock of hair back from her daughter's face. "Where's Domino?"

Brandy's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since I got home from school." She walked to the back door and opened it, calling his name. "That's weird. He's always home before dark."

"I'm sure he's just out roaming the neighborhood. He'll come home when he gets hungry."

"I hope so." Brandy spread peanut butter and jelly on two pieces of bread, topped them with two more slices, and slid the plate down the granite bar into her mother's hands. "I lost my backpack at school today."

Maddie sighed at the thought of having to shop for a new one. It had taken Brandy hours to pick out just the right one the first time. "Are you sure you didn't leave it on the bus?"

Brandy poured a glass of milk and set it beside Maddie's plate. "Nope. It disappeared during gym class. It was there when we went inside to shower, and gone when I came out. Somebody stole it."

"Was there anything important in it? Any money?"

"Nah. Just my math book and homework. I borrowed Julie's book and redid the homework before class. It'll cost me ten dollars for a new book, though." Brandy walked to the back door and called for Domino again. "Darned cat."

Maddie wondered if she should tell her daughter about Anne, but decided to wait until after she'd eaten. Just thinking about it made her stomach roll. "Remind me to give you the money in the morning. But check lost and found first. Maybe someone picked yours up by mistake."

The phone rang just as Maddie took a big bite of her sandwich. Since her mouth was glued together with peanut butter, she motioned for her daughter to answer it. Brandy listened to the caller for a moment, then slowly lowered the receiver. " It's the police. What's going on, Mom?"

***

Detective John Thacker with the Montgomery PD scribbled notes as Maddie went over the evening's events a second time. "Can't you just read the report the officers wrote? Everything's in there."

"Judge Cooper, I know this is difficult. But those officers are investigating the DA's murder. I'm investigating the threat made against you. We need to take this seriously. That note was very specific and mentioned you by name. Now, tell me about the phone message you received. Did the DA mention any names? Give you any kind of information you haven't shared with me?"

"No. I've told you everything I know. Honestly, if I knew anything else I'd tell you. I want this guy caught as much as you do. Probably more."

"Okay," he said, closing the notebook. "But if you remember anything, anything at all, call me." He handed her a business card and she tucked it into her pocket.

"Of course. And would you please let me know if they find out anything more about Anne's murder? She was my best friend, my daughter's godmother." Her voice cracked and she blinked back the tears. Judge Maddie Cooper never showed weakness. She couldn't afford to in her male-dominated field.

The detective nodded. "Would you like me to assign a protection detail to watch your house?"

"No, we'll be fine. I have an alarm system and all outside doors have keyed bolts. No one could get inside without alerting the alarm company." For once, she wished she didn't have to put on a brave front. She'd feel much better with a squad car in front of her house. But then word would get around that she was afraid, and every loony tune she'd ever sentenced would make her life a living hell.

As soon as the detective left, her next door neighbor knocked on the door. She was tempted to ignore him, but Matt Olsen had always been kind to her. He was a little strange, but sweet. She pasted a smile on her face and opened the door, intending to stall him on the porch and not let him in. But Matt never had been very good at taking a hint.

"I saw the police car. Is something wrong? Is Brandy okay?" Matt pushed past her and entered the house.

Maddie sighed and closed the door. "Everything's fine, Matt. Just a little trouble over some work stuff."

"That's not what I heard on my police scanner," he said, making himself comfortable on the couch.

Oh God, she'd never get rid of him now. She needed to go check on Brandy, who had been awfully quiet these last few minutes, holed up in her room. "You have a scanner? Why?"

Matt shrugged. "I like knowing what's happening. I'm kind of a news junkie.

"Well, as you can see, I'm perfectly okay. I lost my best friend today and I'm tired and really need to go to bed. So can we talk about this some other time?" She felt like she'd kicked a puppy when his face fell into a pout. But honestly, the man was at least thirty. Most of the time he acted like a sixteen year old.

He stood up and walked to the door without saying a word.

"Matt, I…"

"It's okay. I'll keep and eye out to make sure no one sneaks around here. Call me if you hear anything." And with that he was gone and Maddie felt worse than ever.

She was exhausted by the time she climbed into bed. Brandy had cried over the news about Anne until she literally had no tears left to shed. Anne had been her daughter's babysitter and a frequent visitor at their house. She'd gone to law school with Maddie's encouragement and had spent many hours studying along side Brandy, stopping her own studies to help Brandy with a difficult math problem or science question.

Maddie had held Brandy until she finally stopped shaking. It had taken three trips around the house, checking doors and windows to be sure they were locked and the alarm set before either of them felt secure enough to sleep.

She laid down to rest for a moment before she took a shower. The picture of Anne's body, swinging from the tree branch, blood covering the front of her white suit with a note pinned to the lapel, was burned into her brain so that she saw it as soon as she closed her eyes. Tears stained her pillow as she grieved for her friend. Though she hated to admit it, even to herself, she was also a bit scared. If Max Lucas had gone after Anne, then he might decide to follow through on his threats and come after her too.

***

As soon as her mother was occupied with the police, Brandy logged into the chat room where she knew Sam would be waiting for her. It was the only secret she kept from her mom, but Sam meant too much to her to risk having her computer privileges pulled. And her mother would definitely ground her if she found out.

With a glance toward her bedroom door to make sure it was locked, she began to type.

BRANDYWINE: Sam? You here?

BOONDOGGIE: Of course. I've been waiting for you. How was your day?

BRANDYWINE: Fine until tonight. Then it got awful.

BOONDOGGIE: What happened?

BRANDYWINE: Mom's best friend was murdered. I'm scared, Sam.

BOONDOGGIE: Why are you scared? Your mom wasn't hurt, was she?

BRANDYWINE: No. But I'm still scared.

BOONDOGGIE: That's natural, I guess. How is your mom taking it?

BRANDYWINE: She's really upset. She tried not to let it show, but I could tell she'd been crying. They've been friends ever since Mom moved to Oklahoma.

BOONDOGGIE: That was when you were a little kid, right? Where did she come from?

BRANDYWINE: You asked me that before. Texas, remember? Why do you want to know that, anyway?

BOONDOGGIE: Oh, yeah. I forgot. And no reason. I just want to know all about you. We're friends, remember?

BRANDYWINE: Yeah, I'm sorry. Guess this whole thing has freaked me out. I'd better go before Mom catches me. She'd ground me for life. Thanks for talking to me, Sam. Maybe I can sleep now.

BOONDOGGIE: Anytime. Give the dragon a kiss for me.

BRANDYWINE: Why do you always call her that? She's only a dragon sometimes. Anyway, gotta run. Same time, same place tomorrow?

BOONDOGGIE: I'll be here. Let me know what they find out about the murder. I get a kick out of keeping up with gruesome details. Ha ha. Just kidding. Night Brandy.

BRANDYWINE: You worry me sometimes, Sam. Good night
.

***

The next morning, Brandy's scream yanked Maddie, still fully clothed, from her fitful sleep. Her daughter yelled again. "Mom, please Mom!"

The terror in her daughter's voice sent her heart into overdrive and her body full-tilt off the bed. Not knowing what she would find, Maddie grabbed the baseball bat that leaned against her bedroom wall and ran into the living room.

Brandy stood in front of the fireplace, pointing at the portrait above the mantel. The portrait that had once been of the two of them. Now only Maddie's face remained--with a knife stuck in the middle of her forehead. Brandy's image had been completely removed.

The front door stood open and Brandy gestured wildly toward the porch, her eyes wide with fear.

Maddie marched to the door, took one look outside, and slammed it closed, locking it behind her. First she had to calm Brandy down, then she'd take a closer look. She pulled her daughter into her arms and held her tightly, rocking back and forth in an attempt to comfort and calm her.

"Someone was here, Mom. In the house while we were asleep. How did he get in? Why did he do this?" Brandy gulped in air, her body trembling. When she'd calmed enough to speak, she whispered against Maddie's chest. "I'm scared, Mom."

"I know, honey. So am I." Maddie nearly jumped out of her skin when something brushed against her leg. Domino. "How did he get in the house?"

"I don't know. He woke me up scratching on my bedroom door."

He must have come in with the intruder. It was unnerving to think someone had been inside while they slept and Maddie hadn't heard a thing. And why didn't the alarm go off? She was absolutely positive she'd set it before going to bed.

Matt's shout sent her already hammering heart into overdrive.

"Maddie? Brandy? Are you okay?" Matt pounded on the door. "My God, Maddie, open the door."

She peeled Brandy's fingers from her shirt and led her to the couch. "Sit here while I let Matt in. You're okay, understand? You're safe." When Brandy nodded, she went to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.

The sight that greeted her sent bile racing up her throat and she felt her vision blur and fade. If not for Matt's hand on her arm, she would have fallen when her knees buckled.