Read Online JUDE: Book 2 The Justice Brothers Series by Taylor Lee - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Taylor Lee
Ads: Link
helped Blake back to the sofa, then leaned down and buzzed Alicia’s cheek. “Good morning, Alicia.” At her nod, he moved to the sofa where Marion and Charlotte were sitting. He held each of their hands and then turned to Skylar. Reaching for her hand, he pulled her up next to him.
“Alicia, Marion, Charlotte, Blake, I’d like you to meet my colleague, Skylar Hughes. Ms. Hughes worked with Jared in the Washington DEA. She is what we call an Intelligence Officer.” He added with a slight smile, “The first one that we’ve had at the Duluth PD. Ms. Hughes is helping me establish the facts in this hideous crime that we’re facing.”
Motioning for Skylar to the chair across from him, Jude waited until Sky was seated, then sat in the armchair between the sofas.
Blake looked at him beseechingly. His face was pale and his eyes were red-rimmed, swimming with tears. “Goddammit, Jude. Please…please tell us…what you know. Who…who did this?” His voice broke. “Jesus God, man. You must have some idea. Were they robbers? Kids? Horrible, horrible sick people? Who could have thought about the things that they did to our mother and father, much…much less have done them?”
He sunk back on the sofa and leaned forward, pressing his hands against the sides of his head as if he could squeeze the hideous images out of his brain. At his broken sob, Alicia put her arm around him and stroked his back. Her comforting murmurs were soft, unintelligible.
Marion, who Skylar knew was the oldest of the sisters, turned to Jude. Unlike her brother, her voice was firm, hard. Glaring at Jude, her rigid posture was consistent with her harsh words.
“Blake is right, Jude. It’s been at least thirty-six hours or more since our parents were brutally murdered. And this is the first time anyone has come to give us any information. Who is in charge of the investigation? Who will answer our questions, tell us what the police are doing? Most importantly, who the perpetrators are and when they will be caught?”
Jude focused a narrowed gaze on the angry woman. When he spoke his voice was calm, straightforward. “I’m in charge of the investigation, Marion. Either Ms. Hughes or I will be your contact. Before we leave today we will give you our direct numbers so that you can contact us at any time.”
Charlotte broke in, her voice shrill, disbelieving. “The two of you are our contacts?” She shook her head in disgust. “If you’re in charge of the investigation, that probably means you’re going to be busy—or at least I hope it does. Which means that she will be our contact.”
Glaring at Skylar, Charlotte’s face flushed a deeper shade of scarlet. Her voice rose further. “And who the hell isshe? We don’t even know her.” She added dismissively, “Just that she’s one of Jared’s projects.” She huffed. “But then, Jared always was bringing home strays. God, she looks like she’s twelve years old and you’re telling us she’s going to be our contact?”
Before Jude could answer, Alicia added her voice, as sharp as her sister’s. “Charlotte is right. What about Jake? Jared? Why aren’t they involved? Jake’s the police commander. I would think that he would be in charge, not you. You’ve been gone for years and just got back from L.A. How can you know what’s going on here?” She glanced at Blake, who was regarding his sisters with a frown.
Before he could speak, Alicia continued, “And where is Jared? Why isn’t he at least working the case with you? Jared and Blake were best friends. Why isn’t he—”
Jude held up his hand, stopping Alicia’s tirade mid-sentence. He looked from one to the other of the four siblings, holding each of their gazes for a moment. When he spoke, as before, his voice was calm, firm. “As I indicated, Ms. Hughes and I will be your contacts. If you have questions you may call either one of us.”
When Charlotte started to protest, Jude narrowed his gaze and frowned
“Alicia, Marion, Charlotte, Blake, I’d like you to meet my colleague, Skylar Hughes. Ms. Hughes worked with Jared in the Washington DEA. She is what we call an Intelligence Officer.” He added with a slight smile, “The first one that we’ve had at the Duluth PD. Ms. Hughes is helping me establish the facts in this hideous crime that we’re facing.”
Motioning for Skylar to the chair across from him, Jude waited until Sky was seated, then sat in the armchair between the sofas.
Blake looked at him beseechingly. His face was pale and his eyes were red-rimmed, swimming with tears. “Goddammit, Jude. Please…please tell us…what you know. Who…who did this?” His voice broke. “Jesus God, man. You must have some idea. Were they robbers? Kids? Horrible, horrible sick people? Who could have thought about the things that they did to our mother and father, much…much less have done them?”
He sunk back on the sofa and leaned forward, pressing his hands against the sides of his head as if he could squeeze the hideous images out of his brain. At his broken sob, Alicia put her arm around him and stroked his back. Her comforting murmurs were soft, unintelligible.
Marion, who Skylar knew was the oldest of the sisters, turned to Jude. Unlike her brother, her voice was firm, hard. Glaring at Jude, her rigid posture was consistent with her harsh words.
“Blake is right, Jude. It’s been at least thirty-six hours or more since our parents were brutally murdered. And this is the first time anyone has come to give us any information. Who is in charge of the investigation? Who will answer our questions, tell us what the police are doing? Most importantly, who the perpetrators are and when they will be caught?”
Jude focused a narrowed gaze on the angry woman. When he spoke his voice was calm, straightforward. “I’m in charge of the investigation, Marion. Either Ms. Hughes or I will be your contact. Before we leave today we will give you our direct numbers so that you can contact us at any time.”
Charlotte broke in, her voice shrill, disbelieving. “The two of you are our contacts?” She shook her head in disgust. “If you’re in charge of the investigation, that probably means you’re going to be busy—or at least I hope it does. Which means that she will be our contact.”
Glaring at Skylar, Charlotte’s face flushed a deeper shade of scarlet. Her voice rose further. “And who the hell isshe? We don’t even know her.” She added dismissively, “Just that she’s one of Jared’s projects.” She huffed. “But then, Jared always was bringing home strays. God, she looks like she’s twelve years old and you’re telling us she’s going to be our contact?”
Before Jude could answer, Alicia added her voice, as sharp as her sister’s. “Charlotte is right. What about Jake? Jared? Why aren’t they involved? Jake’s the police commander. I would think that he would be in charge, not you. You’ve been gone for years and just got back from L.A. How can you know what’s going on here?” She glanced at Blake, who was regarding his sisters with a frown.
Before he could speak, Alicia continued, “And where is Jared? Why isn’t he at least working the case with you? Jared and Blake were best friends. Why isn’t he—”
Jude held up his hand, stopping Alicia’s tirade mid-sentence. He looked from one to the other of the four siblings, holding each of their gazes for a moment. When he spoke, as before, his voice was calm, firm. “As I indicated, Ms. Hughes and I will be your contacts. If you have questions you may call either one of us.”
When Charlotte started to protest, Jude narrowed his gaze and frowned
Similar Books
