Justice

Kayla squeezed her arm reassuringly. “You made a mistake. We all do.” She, of all people, knew.

Christine was shaking her head again. “You don’t understand. Before I found them together, I had caught him going through the files. He said he was pulling together some information on the brightest students to use in a statistical paper about private schools.” She pressed her hands to her face, looking nothing like the tough former Army officer and strict taskmaster Kayla knew her to be. “I should have known better. I should have told someone.” She lifted her tear-filled gaze to Kayla’s. “What if I let this happen to Rainy? What if that’s what Bradford was looking for? An egg-mining candidate? Dear God!”

Kayla turned this new angle over in her mind. As much as Kayla didn’t want Christine to shoulder this burden alone, she suspected that Christine was right on at least one score. Bradford had been looking for something. Was he connected to Dr. Reagan? Like Reagan, Bradford had once run his own private practice in Phoenix, but it had closed years ago. And no one knew where Bradford had gone. But she damn sure intended to nail down Betsy Stone. She was the only link they had to Reagan and Bradford, whether she admitted knowing about any unethical dealings or not.

“Christine.” Kayla drew back, held the woman firmly by the shoulders. “I have to talk to Betsy. She may very well know what Bradford was doing and who he was working with.”

Christine nodded. “I understand.” She let go a shaky breath. “The way I see it, we’re going to have to trap her into a meeting.” Christine’s watery gaze leveled on Kayla’s. “I’ll help you. I’ll do anything you need me to do.”

Christine told Kayla what she could about Betsy Stone’s schedule. Betsy might not know anything that would help, but one way or another Kayla intended to find out.

When she would have left, Christine stopped her. “Kayla, I know you must have gotten Jazz’s invitation by now.”

Kayla turned back to her, unprepared to discuss the matter just now. “I did.”

Christine’s hands knotted together in front of her. “Whatever my past sins,” she urged, “please don’t hold them against this school. Jazz deserves this opportunity the same way you did. You know what attendance at this school could mean for her future.”

Kayla managed a smile. “We’re going to talk about it.”

As Kayla left the Athena campus she wouldn’t allow herself to consider that Jazz’s invitation might be a prod for her to leave this investigation alone. No way. This school was too important to too many powerful people. They would never invite a student for any reason other than a legitimate one. Athena Academy wanted Jazz. There was no second-guessing that conclusion.

The only question that remained was if Kayla was ready for her daughter to take that kind of step.

Kayla called Shirley to let her know she’d decided to stop at home for a sandwich before heading back to the office. The morning had been long and emotionally draining. Kayla wanted to recharge before dealing with the afternoon.

But that wasn’t going to happen.

The red SUV sitting against the curb between her house and the next didn’t give her much of a pause on first glance. But when she parked in her driveway she saw that someone waited for her on her front steps.

It only took one look for her to recognize her unexpected visitor.

Mike Bridges.

Jazz’s father.

Chapter 4

Kayla couldn’t move. She sat in her Jeep, staring at the man who’d broken her young, foolish heart more than a decade before. She hadn’t seen him since.

Why was he here?

Her heart started to pound like a drum.

Jazz.

He was here to see his daughter.

Josie had warned her that he was asking about Jazz. She had worked under Mike’s supervision recently, and when they’d figured out their mutual connection—after some very rocky circumstances that still incensed Kayla—Mike had asked Josie about Jazz. Somehow Kayla had thought he’d just go away, the same as he had all those years ago.

Clearly she’d been wrong.

He was here.

In the flesh.

Her hand shaking, she opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. Her legs felt suddenly rubbery.

Kayla swallowed hard and summoned her courage. Why was she letting him do this? He hadn’t even spoken yet, and already she felt afraid. Afraid of what he might say…what he might do.

No way.

Fury, mostly at herself, blasted like a furnace deep inside her. There was nothing for her to be afraid of. Jazz was her daughter. Mike had merely been the sperm donor. The few dollars he sent each month was a pittance, a pathetic attempt to assuage his conscience. He had no right to make her feel this way. No right at all. Especially after what he’d almost done to Josie.

“What do you want?” The words came out every bit as cold as she’d intended. He flinched. A rush of glee went through her. She couldn’t help it. She wanted him to suffer. Wanted him to feel just a smidgen of the uncertainty and fear she’d felt twelve years ago when she’d been young and pregnant and unmarried. And so afraid.

He pushed to his feet. Managed a smile, though it in no way resembled the high-wattage charmers she remembered. “I apologize for showing up unannounced, Kayla.” He shrugged those broad shoulders. “I thought if I called to let you know I was coming you wouldn’t be home. I didn’t know what shift you worked, so I decided to wait around until you showed.”

She planted her hands on her hips and told him the truth. “You figured right. Look at it from my side, Bridges. Why would I want to see you?”

He nodded once, the move was jerky but humble all the same. It just didn’t mesh with his personality, but then time changed people. Had Mike Bridges really changed? Josie had told her about the trouble she’d had with him. That he would make a pass at one of his female subordinates like that—almost getting her kicked out of the Air Force in the process—indicated to Kayla that he hadn’t changed at all.

“I guess Lockworth told you about our run-in,” he suggested, evidently recognizing the disgusted look in Kayla’s eyes.

“She did.” Kayla felt absolutely no sympathy for his having lost his command. According to Josie he’d been transferred from Palmdale, California, to Nellis Air Force Base over in Nevada. Chances of him being promoted beyond major after that fiasco were about nil. Could he have finally learned his lesson?

Kayla wasn’t about to wager Jazz’s feelings on the probability. Not with his record.

Mike looked away.

As much as she didn’t want to, Kayla couldn’t help studying his features. He hadn’t changed that much. Had a bit of a leaner edge about his profile. More manly, less boyish. His hair was still thick and dark, his eyes that mischievous hazel she saw in her child’s every single day. He looked comfortable in his civilian attire, jeans and a simple gray T-shirt with the Air Force logo emblazoned across his chest. The bomber jacket was well-worn leather and suited his Top Gun image. There was no denying that Mike Bridges was a handsome man. He just didn’t understand the meaning of responsibility and commitment.