Shattered Justice (36 page)

She hugged him. “It’s time for me to leave, Danny. God made that clear to me when I woke up.”

His arms closed around her. “But—”

“It’ll be okay.” She stepped back. “
You’ll
be okay. You don’t need me here. You’ve got God.”

He couldn’t exactly argue, so he helped her load up her car, gave Kodi a final scratch behind the ears, then stood there waving until her van was out of sight. Then with a heavy sigh, he made his way back inside.

I sure hope You know what You’re doing, Lord
.

Just a few hours later, here he was, about to lay himself on the line for Jayce when he wasn’t at all sure he wanted to. But something else worried him even more.

Shelby. He was about to see her again. And his defenses were all but obliterated.

It was hard enough to resist her when he was numb. Now?

He snorted.
Just run up the white flag, boy. One look from those baby blues, and you’ll crumble like yesterday’s Ritz crackers
.

By the time he reached the justice building, he had to force himself to release his death grip on the steering wheel. He rubbed at his aching fingers, then opened the car door.

Time to pay the piper.

Shelby stood, waiting, on the outside steps. He spotted her first and stepped back behind the low-hanging branches of a tall evergreen. Feeling incredibly foolish, like a junior higher spying on a girl he likes, Dan peered through the tree’s branches.

He couldn’t quite make out her expression, but her stance was tense. Was she nervous? Angry? Dan squared his shoulders. Only one way to find out.

With sure steps he started walking. Shelby saw him within seconds, and she kept her gaze on him as he approached. He
climbed the steps until he stood just below her. Words rushed to his lips, but he couldn’t get them out. Not with those baby blues looking down at him.

He didn’t meet her eyes. Couldn’t. Was too afraid of what he’d see there.
Say something!
he begged her, but she stayed silent. Serve him right if she never spoke to him again outside of work obligations. Desperation started to crawl across his nerves, and he gave serious consideration to racing back down the steps. But just as he was about to rabbit, she reached out and put a hand on his arm.

“Thank you for coming, Dan. This means a lot to me. And to Jayce.”

Dan met her eyes and felt as though someone had smashed a two-by-four into his temples. He expected anger. Frostiness. Condemnation. But what he found was compassion. Tenderness.

And something more.

Something he wasn’t the least bit ready to face. And though his heart screamed at him to apologize, to open himself up to her and share what he’d been feeling, he just inclined his head. “Jayce meant a lot to Shannon.”

Shelby’s hesitation told him just what she thought of that brilliant comment. But it was the best he could do. Shoot, with the emotional battle taking place inside him, he was lucky he could form words.

“Judge Richards is waiting for us in chambers.”

The judge was a lean, serious-featured man in his late fifties. When Dan and Shelby entered his chambers, he indicated two chairs in front of his desk and, when they sat, got right to business.

“So, Deputy, am I to understand you will accept responsibility for this minor? This—” he shuffled through some papers on his desk.

“Jayce Dalton,” Shelby supplied.

The judge’s nod was abrupt. “Precisely. Jayce Dalton.”

Dan gripped the arms of his chair. “Yes, Your Honor.”

“You’re aware of the trouble the boy has been in?”

“I am.”

“Your Honor, as I explained yesterday, Deputy Justice and the minor in question have a relationship through Master’s Touch.”

The judge’s lips thinned. “Apparently not too successful a relationship, considering what the boy’s been up to.”

Dan grimaced. Wasn’t this guy supposed to be a friend of Shelby’s? Then why be such a hard case?

Shelby cast a look at Dan, and he got the sense she wanted him to say something. But what was he supposed to say? “Yeah, you’re right, the kid’s trouble. But my daughter saw something more in him, and God told me I was supposed to do this, so I’m willing to try.”

Yeah. That’d help.

With a small frown, Shelby scooched to the edge of her chair. “The minor had been doing better, Your Honor. He was doing well in school, applying himself. You can see from his record that it had been some time since he was in any kind of trouble.”

The judge scrutinized the papers in front of him again. “So what happened?”

Shelby started to answer, but the judge held up a hand. His gaze pierced Dan. “I’d like the good deputy to answer this one, Miss Wilson.”

A dozen replies flitted through Dan’s mind. But he discarded them, opting instead for the truth. “I bailed.”

The judge blinked. “Excuse me?”

Dan looked away for a moment, then met the judge’s hard gaze again. “Your Honor, you may or may not know about my children. My son and daughter. That they both were murdered several months ago.”

The judge considered that. “Yes, I do recall reading about that.”

“Well, after the funeral, I wasn’t in any shape to help Jayce.
Or anyone, for that matter. So I walked away. From him. From everyone.”

The judge sat back in his chair, tenting his fingers so that they met just at the tips. “I see. And this was how long ago?”

“In early October.”

“And why, Deputy Justice, should I believe you’re in any better shape now, half a year later, to help this minor? Or, as you so eloquently put it, anyone else?”

Dan leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “I don’t know.”

There was that pinched look again. Clearly not the answer he’d been looking for.

“I wish I could say something convincing here, Your Honor, but I can’t. This isn’t easy for me. I lost my children. That’s a pain I don’t think will ever go away. But I promise you I’m ready for this. And I’m determined to do whatever it takes to help Jayce.”

As Dan spoke, the truth of his words penetrated deep into his own heart. He
was
ready for this. He wanted to do it. He hadn’t realized how much until this very moment. Sitting back in his chair, he felt himself relax. This was right. More than that, it was what God was calling him to.

“Jayce Dalton is a good kid, Your Honor, deep inside. My daughter saw that in him, and she helped me see it, too. Yeah, I messed up. I don’t deny it. My only excuse is I was in shock. I said and did a lot of things I wish I hadn’t.”

He could feel Shelby’s gaze shift to him at that confession, but he didn’t look at her. He had to stay focused. “All I can do is promise you it won’t happen again. I’ve been in this business a long time. I know what it will take to help Jayce. And I’ll be there for him. I’ll keep an eye on him and work with him as hard as it takes to get him through this. This kid deserves a chance. I’d appreciate your giving him—and me—that chance.”

Silence filled the room in the wake of Dan’s outburst. The
longer it stretched, the more peaceful Dan grew. Since a situation like this would usually have him all but crawling the walls, that peace was evidence enough that everything would work out.

The judge sat there, staring at his desk, seemingly deep in thought. Shelby shifted in her chair, as though she was going to rise, and Dan put a hand on her arm, staying her. He shot one glance her way, telling her to wait. Be patient. She studied him a moment, then acknowledged with a small nod and settled back in her chair.

After a few more minutes of silence, the judge picked up his pen and signed the papers in front of him. His sharp gaze nailed Dan. “Okay, Deputy, you’ve got your chance.” He held the papers out to Shelby. “These are my orders to place the minor, Jayce Dalton, in the custody of Deputy Dan Justice. However, I’ve made the stipulation, Miss Wilson, that you will oversee this custody arrangement.”

Shelby hesitated, and Dan’s heart plummeted. Was being around him such a burden now that she’d jeopardize Jayce’s future? “But Your Honor, my work—”

“Your supervision, Miss Wilson, or no dice.”

Dan held his breath, until Shelby gave a curt nod.

“Agreed.” She took the papers from the judge. “Can we take the minor with us now?”

“The papers releasing him into your custody forthwith are with the others I just gave you.”

Dan stood and held out his hand. As the judge took it, Dan held his gaze. “Thank you, sir. You won’t be sorry.”

Judge Richards studied him, clearly not convinced. “See that I’m not, Deputy.”

Jayce sat on his bed in the detention cell, staring at the wall.

Exactly where you should be. Locked up. Just like your old man
. He turned his face to the wall. He’d given up trying to
silence the voice. Nothing he did worked. All he could do was not let it get to him.

Yeah. Right.

How could you get caught? How stupid can you be? Marlin can’t be pleased
.

Hang Marlin.

Yeah, big talk when he can’t get to you. But your grandmother … he can still get to her, now can’t he? And you can’t exactly protect her in here, can you? ’Course, that’s not your problem anymore, is it? After all, she’s the one who gave up on you
.

Jayce stood and paced. Maybe if he stomped his feet loud enough he could drown it ou—

“Let’s go, kid.”

Jayce spun. An officer was sliding the key into the cell door. “Go?”

“You’re free. Released into custody.”

Jayce scowled. “Custody? Whose?”

The officer pulled the door open. “I guess you’ll find out in a few minutes. Now let’s go.”

As Jayce walked, he tried to keep his mind quiet, calm. Whoever was here for him, it didn’t matter. He was free. And that meant he could run. Go somewhere. Anywhere. So long as it was away from this stinkin’ town.

Jayce saw Miss Wilson as he came around the corner. For a moment he felt a surge of relief, then he spotted the man standing at her side. He jerked to a halt. Anger rose in him, and he took a step back.

“Come on, kid. They’re waiting for you.”

“No.”

The officer grimaced. “Don’t give me problems here, boy. You’ve been released into the deputy’s custody. That’s it.”

If Jayce had learned anything in his bouts with the law, it was that arguing only made things worse. Usually for him. So he ground his teeth and walked over to Dan Justice. Dan lifted his chin in silent greeting.

Jayce didn’t respond. He stood there, stone silent, as Deputy Justice finished whatever he was doing. He jumped when a hand touched his arm. Turning, he met Miss Wilson’s blue eyes.

“I’m so glad to see you, Jayce.”

And he was glad to see her, too. He’d thought for sure he was on his way to a foster home. He blinked fast and hard to hold back the sudden sting at the back of his eyes.

“Everything’s going to be okay.” She smiled. “You’re going to stay with Dan for a while.”

His mouth fell open. “I’m … I’m
what
?”

“Staying with me.”

Jayce turned, glaring at the man who now stood before him. “And if I don’t want to?”

“I’m afraid it’s not up to you.”

The deputy’s words stirred the embers of anger within him, breathing them into flame.

“Look, let’s not fight right here in the entrance of the Juvenile Services Center. Come outside. I’ve got something to say to you. When I’m done, if you want, you can just take off.”

“Dan!”

He ignored Miss Wilson’s alarmed yelp. “Deal?”

Jayce narrowed his eyes. “I can go?”

“As fast as your legs will carry you.”

“Done.” Jayce walked out the front door of the center, out to the parking lot. Then he turned, crossed his arms, and glared at the deputy. “So? Let’s hear your big speech. I got places to go.”

“I … um, I’ll be over there.” Miss Wilson started to walk past the deputy but grabbed his arm and went up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. Jayce heard her all the same: “I hope you know what you’re doing!”

Deputy Justice gave her arm a squeeze, and she walked a little distance away. Far enough to be out of the conversation, but not so far that she couldn’t hear.

Jayce wouldn’t put it past her to try and tackle him if he took off.

Deputy Justice leaned back against his cop car, hands in his pockets. He looked … different. More like he used to look. Before that day.

So what? You going soft? He looks like he used to, so suddenly you trust him? After what he did?

No. Jayce wasn’t stupid. No way he’d trust this man again.

“I know.”

Jayce jumped then gave the deputy a glare. “You know what?”

“That you don’t trust me. I wouldn’t, either.”

What? Could the guy read his mind?

“I’m sorry, Jayce. I blew it.”

He didn’t reply. Just continued to glare.

“When you came up to me at the funeral, I just lost it.”

Why? Jayce would never voice the question, but he so wanted to know.
Why?

“Because I was afraid.”

Shock pierced Jayce. “Afraid? Of me? Give me a break!”

“Of how you made me feel.” His brow creased. “No, that’s not right. Not how I felt but
that
I felt. At all. I’d just lost the two people I cared about most in the world. And then there you were, and I wanted to care. Wanted to reach out, to comfort you. And I couldn’t.”

Jayce stared at the ground. Hard.

“I knew if I let myself talk with you, cry with you, that would be it. I already cared about you. If I spent time with you, I’d just care even more. And I couldn’t let myself do that. Because you might … I might …”

Jayce lifted his head and met the man’s eyes. “Because something might happen and I’d be gone, too.”

“So I pushed you away. And Miss Wilson. And I ran.” He shook his head. “Funny thing, though, I didn’t get far.”

“You got far enough.”

At his bitter words, Dan sighed. “Yes, eventually. But right then, when I walked way from you two, I got corralled by someone who read me the riot act for doing that.”

Who did that? Jayce tried to remember, then his eyes widened. “You mean that old lady?”

The deputy gave a lopsided smile. “Yeah. Agatha Hunter. She told me how disappointed in me she was. How I was letting you—and Shannon—down.”