Chapter 13

"Someone spotted Joey with a woman about five minutes ago not far from here," Marie said as she snapped her phone shut.

"A woman? What the fuck?" Brian asked. "You think it's another hooker she may have pissed off?"

Marie shook her head. "According to the tipster, the woman in question was well dressed." She then went into more detail about the description.

Brian nearly slammed on the brakes. "Jesus Christ! That Lieutenant Bowers' wife! What the hell is she doing with Joey? The kid never mentioned knowing her."

"I don't know, K, but from what was described, it didn't look like a social thing."

"Oh God." Brian began to speed up as if the hounds of hell were after him.

"K, watch the road, you nearly sideswiped that car."

"Sorry, but Jesus, we have a witness in trouble here, a witness that all but makes this whole case, I may add. Believe me, if anything happens to that kid, not only will I never forgive myself for not getting there in time, but there's also going to be hell to pay Downtown for not keeping a closer eye on her in the first place."

Meanwhile:

"Who are you? Why are doing this to me?" Joey asked, trying to hide her fear as she squirmed in her binds.

"It isn't enough my husband would take whores like you on the side," Anita Bowers sneered, "but now one is about to make us lose everything. I won't let that happen."

"I'll go back and say I saw the wrong person. Just let me go. I won't even tell nobody you brought me here."

"Damn right. Say your prayers now, you little bitch, because you're not doing anything but dying." She pressed the knife to Joey's throat. "Or maybe perhaps you can be cut up to the point where your little 'career' is over because even the most cracked out john won't want you."

"No. I mean it. I won't say nothing. I'll tell them I lied! Please, lady? Let me go."

"And here I thought you were a tough little scrapper. Now look at you, sniveling like a child."

"That's because she is a child," a male voice behind her said.

Anita turned around. "I should have known you were behind this too."

"Step away from the girl, Anita," Brian said sternly, pointing his service weapon toward her without taking his eyes off of her. "Drop the knife."

"And what? Have Dan go down for killing Stephens because she was plotting to hang those five murders on him?"

"It's over," he replied. "Even if you did kill Joey, there's still plenty of evidence against Dan to convict him. You'd have to kill a hell of a lot more people and destroy that too, and I doubt you'd be able to do that."

"Let me guess, this is some kind of revenge of yours because Dan had you sent to The Tombs."

Brian shook his head. "That doesn't matter now. Now drop the knife and step away from the girl."

Joey remained bound, her eyes pleading help me.

"Of course," Anita said. "But let me do one thing first."

She then yanked the hair of the young hooker, sending Joey's head back and about to slit her throat before a loud blast echoed in the building. Anita Bowers fell dead to the floor as Joey began to shake and cry.

Brian lowered his weapon and sighed. "Untie her, Davenport," he said softly.

Marie nodded wordlessly, going to aid the young girl.

Joey leaped up and ran to him. "Is she really dead?"

"Yeah, sweetheart," Brian said gently, embracing the girl. "You're safe now. It's over."

More officers arrived as he addressed Marie again. "Think you can call Max and let her know we found Joey and a couple of officers will bring her back as soon as she's checked out?"

"Of course," she replied, going for her phone. "I think our work is done here."

Several hours later:

"Aside from a few lacerations and bruises, she's going to be fine," Marie said, breaking his thoughts.

"Huh?" Brian snapped to attention.

"The little girl you've been thinking about the last three hours," Marie smiled.

"How did you know I was thinking about Joey?"

"Who else would you be thinking about?"

"Yeah, good point, being the poor kid came close to having her throat slit. My God, D, imagine if we'd gotten there just a few minutes too late."

"But we didn't," Marie pointed out. "And I also need to warn you that you'll be all over the six o'clock news."

"What? Oh God, now I'll be a loose cannon that shot my old boss' wife in cold blood. I guess I'll be settling into The Tombs until I retire."

"Not quite," Marie said, holding up the newspaper's evening edition. "You're being hailed as a hero. And I know some little lady at Maxine's shelter right now that thinks you're even more of one."

"Wow, who'd thought when I was sent here I'd be admired by a fifteen year old hooker?"

Marie couldn't help but smile. "You really care for that little girl, don't you?"

"More than you know, D. To be honest, the likes of me and Max are all she has."

"I have to agree," Marie nodded. "And after today, I think you drove that point home."