Page 84 of Hidden Justice
Justice clasps the locket around her neck. “You think Cooper helped whoever betrayed us?”
“Yes,” Leland says. “We think he was a go-between, informing Walid and taking money for the job. We also believe he helped orchestrate the attack on the school.”
“The attack? You think he worked with Walid?” She sounds as doubtful as I feel.
Mukta Parish shakes her head. “Not Walid. All signs suggest the attack was an inside job. Few would have the knowledge to avoid security. And though the traitor could have passed this information to him, I sincerely doubt Walid would target areas devoid of people.”
“In fact,” Leland says, “we believe the drone attack was the family member’s plan to force us to cease operations.”
“What proof do you have it’s not Walid?” Justice asks. “Gracie thinks this is all strategic—keep us in the school, keep us busy, get rid of the kids, and then Walid can move forward with a second attack.”
Mukta and Leland share a look. Mukta uncups her hands, lays them flat on the desk. “I believe our gentle Bridget is behind everything. There was written evidence in Cooper’s apartment, communications between them. Not only that, she and Cooper were part of the same Buddhist temple, and she has implicated herself with prior statements, repeatedly advising her siblings to resist training.”
My head is spinning. Bridget? My stomach turns. I can’t imagine how Justice feels, but my shock is growing into rage. I don’t understand why they’re laying this on Justice right now. It seems cruel. Why not give her a chance to understand Cooper is dead first and grieve before breaking it all down?
A pained breath escaping her, Justice shakes her head. “Coop. Bridget and Coop? Are you sure it’s her? Dada is sleeping with her informant. Tony is so angry. And Gracie practically gave me Walid’s plan of action. She’s also a tech genius. She could easily access computer info like my GPS and operate drones,unlike Bridget.”
Leland tugs at a button on his suit coat’s sleeve. “According to the FBI, the drones were preprogrammed. Bridget could’ve hired someone for that. As for the GPS, Internal is analyzing some new material and information. We’re hoping for an answer soon.”
Justice shoots to her feet. “This isn’t horseshoes, Leland. We find outnow. We bring Bridget and Cooper in. We question them.”
Enough.What is this game? I grab Justice’s hand.
She looks down at me.
I meet her eyes, hoping she can see—feel—how much I want to protect her right now. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Cooper is dead, murdered. I found him in his apartment. If he was the go-between for Bridget and Walid, there’s a chance Walid found him and had his men torture him.”
She doesn’t so much sit as fall into her seat. “Torture?”
She stares at me, and I squeeze her hand tight, nodding.
Her eyes narrow. Finding the anger she once told me she needed, she turns to Leland and Mukta. “You dragged Sandesh into this?”
I place a hand on her shaking knee, rub in circles, desperate to touch her, to ease her pain. A pain she wants so badly to block out that she’s reaching for the one emotion she told me she uses to get through life. Cooper knew, too.Anger is her drug of choice.“I was asked to go, no dragging involved, and no danger to me. Leland had Cooper’s place cleaned, and even made it look like Cooper had taken off for good, which keeps you from being tied to his death.”
The tension around her eyes doesn’t ease. In fact, it tightens. “Cooper. I almost believed him.” Her lips trembles with rage or sorrow, I can’t be sure. “And now he’s taken another of my sisters.” Her voice breaks on the last word. Justice bends forward, hands against her stomach, and growls, “I hate him.”
Technically, it wasn’t Cooper who’d started it all, but it’s easier for her to blame him than Bridget. And, as someone who’d once held a lot against his own father, I know the turmoil that emotion can bring. I found my way through it, and I want to help her. It might not sit well with her, but she should know.
I get out of my chair, drop to a knee in front of her, then smooth her silky hair. “Justice. First, I want you to know your father’s apartment was filled with paintings of you and Hope and your mother. You should also know, judging by his condition, Coop resisted interrogation. He loved—”
“Don’t. Don’t say it.” Tears line her eyes… and then they fall. She swipes angrily at her wet cheeks. “He was an asshole. And Bridget. Bleeding heart. She brought Coop here. Probably hoped we’d have a relationship. Macro-view. Please. She’s so much into peace that she won’t even eat dairy from a cow. That has to screw with your head.”
“Justice,” I try to hold her, but she shakes her head. I drop my hands, aching for her. I want to give her a way, a way other than anger, to share and release her pain.
“Tucker.” Leland has moved around the desk and is now using the office speaker phone to talk to someone in Internal. “Have you had a chance to go through the information found at Cooper’s apartment?”
“Yes, sir. It’s been sent to your and Dr. Parish’s secure email.”
Leland exchanges a glance with Mukta, who nods slightly and reaches for her computer. Leland asks, “Where is Bridget Sunya Parish?”
The clicking of a keyboard comes through the speaker, followed by a moment of silence, and then, “In her office.”
“Have someone from Internal bring her to Mukta’s lower office. Posthaste.”
Leland clicks off, exhales a sigh of age and regret and sadness before bending over Mukta’s shoulder to read what I’m sure are the documents sent in the email mentioned.
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