Justice in Death---Chapter 22

This could have easily been her had she not met the right people that helped her. As Eve walked through Creeper’s Alley looking at the homeless families huddled together or warming by the barrel fire, she couldn’t help think of the little girl that was left in the alley and the Eve Dallas that walked out of the hospital and into a new world. Then there was the Eve Dallas that had been born from the marriage to billionaire Roarke. All three women were so different from each other that sometimes Eve didn’t know who she was.

    The earwig beeped into her eardrum reminding her that Feeney and Roarke were less than a block away listening to everything that was being said. Eve was grateful they couldn’t hear her thoughts.

    Roarke’s Irish lilt drifted into her ear. “Feeney, wanted me to tell you that we have the mini-cam and earwig running, Lieutenant. If you get into trouble, I’ll be there, Eve.”

    “I can handle myself, Roarke.” Eve mumbled under her breath as she came to the dead end of the alley and turned around to go back. Since her entrance into the alley, a second fire had been started in a barrel a few feet from the other one. Three people were gathered around it. Eve glanced at the first barrel and didn’t recognize anyone so she ambled up to the second barrel. The warmth smacked her in the face causing her to catch her breath. She put her hands above the flames letting them get warm. All the way her eyes and the mini-cam scanned the faces of those around the barrel.

    “It’s supposed to be colder than last night,” A man grumbled as he took a swig of a bottle covered in brown paper. “The shelter was full when I got there for dinner.” He swiveled his head to point at the woman holding her baby a few feet from them. The kid was bundled up and thankfully asleep. “They had no room for them either.”

    Eve felt disgusted at what she was hearing. She knew what it was like to be cold and alone. It hurt. At least a shelter would provide a warm bed, hot food, and clean water.
    Eve avoided eye contact and kept it that way until the man that had spoken earlier about the shelter looked up and grimaced. “There’s that new guy again. There’s something not right about him.”

    “Turn around, kid. Let us see him,” Feeney’s voice whispered into her ear. Eve felt like punching Feeney. She wasn’t a rookie. If he would just give her time, she was going to do just what he told her to do. Eve shoved her hands in her pockets, immediately feeling the change in temperature from the heat of the fire to chill of her pockets and turned. Her eyes locked on Kelsey Boone in a red cap pulled over his ears and long wool coat. Eve bit the inside of her jaw to keep from pulling her weapon on him. She had to get him alone and away from possible hostages.

    “Facial Ident is a match for Kelsey Boone,” Feeney told her what she already knew.
“Heat sensors show he has his weapon on him. Right side. Be careful, Lieutenant.” Roarke’s voice hummed in her ear.

    Eve left the warmth of the fire and travelled over to Kelsey Boone. The man was standing against the wall where the heat from the first barrel fire could still be felt. She rubbed her gloved hands together and blew into them. “Chilly night.”

    Kelsey Boone grunted his answer. He kept his eyes on the group in front of him.

    “I’ve never seen you around here.” She was silent for a moment. Boone was about as talkative as Summerset. “Hey, I know a place we could go that’s warmer and isolated. I can get us some food and liquor. We could have a party.” The words made her sick just saying them.

    She grabbed for his arm and was shocked when he didn’t pull away. “Come on.” She coaxed him out of Creeper’s Alley and away from the innocents.

    Eve kept steady pace beside him. He had a weapon, but so did she. Unfortunately, his weapon killed easier than her weapon did. The streets were quiet. No one wanted to walk this way anyway for fear of being mugged or having to see the homeless people that lived here.

    “How much further,” Boone asked.

    “We’re almost there.” Eve said and kept her pace beside him. They were coming to the corner. Eve slowed her steps deliberately knowing what was just around the bend. She wanted to be behind Boone not in front of him or beside him. The temptation was too risky for being shot in the back or used as a hostage.

    “Right around this corner,” Eve told him, pointing. “It’s the first door.”

    Eve slowed her steps more as they turned the corner. She slid her hand into her coat for her weapon. As they turned the corner, Eve drew her weapon.

    Feeney, Peabody, Baxter, and Trueheart were standing in a line blocking the way for an escape. Roarke was standing inside the van, watching.

    Eve cocked her weapon and aimed it at the back of Boone’s head. “Do you know who I am now?” Eve asked.

    Kelsey Boone grunted. “You’re Seargent Dallas,” He said.

    “Lieutenant Dallas,” Eve corrected him. “And you are Kelsey Boone. You’re under arrest, Mr. Boone, for murder. Put your hands behind your back and turn around.”

    Kelsey slowly turned and as he did Eve watched as he reached for the gun in his side. There were several voices blending together as the action seemed to slow. As Eve saw the gun in Kelsey’s hand, she fired her weapon. The stream hit him in the arm and the gun clattered to the sidewalk. With a limp arm, Kelsey charged her. Eve sidestepped him, used her left leg to trip him, and watched as he went face first on the ground.

    With one hand still holding her weapon, she used the other hand to roll Kelsey Boone onto his back. His nose was bleeding and he had a gash on his head. Eve pushed her boot into his chest and held her weapon at his head. “You’re under arrest, Mr. Boone, for the murder of Judge Wilbur Marcus and Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Costa. You’re also charged with the attempted murders of Dr. Charlotte Mira and Lieutenant Eve Dallas. I’ll tack on more charges as they come to me.”

    Eve removed her boot as Peabody and Trueheart pulled Kelsey Boone to his feet and cuffed him.

    “Get him out of here,” Eve ordered and watched as they loaded him into a police car.  

    Finally, Eve dropped her weapon to her side and took a breath. Roarke was at her side in less than a minute. “You did good, Lieutenant.”

    “I could have killed him,” Eve admitted. “For a split second, I thought of aiming my weapon higher.”

    Roarke kissed her temple, despite the fact they were in the company of other officers. “I’m proud of you, Eve.”

    Eve let him lead her back to the van and they went back to Central.