JUDE: Book 2 The Justice Brothers Series by Taylor Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

distance.”
    Skylar managed not to show her surprise. It was the first time that Jude had indicated that he saw her as anything but a nuisance thrust on him by his solicitous brothers.
    Jude quickly crushed the brief respite she felt when he added, “Besides, I believe we all agreed that we cops can’t find our assholes without a flashlight. As it appears that you’re the one with the Mensa IQ, your big brain will be a lot more powerful than the one lodged in my small head.”
    With that lewd reference to his dick, Jude shoved back his chair and rose to his feet.
    “I expect ongoing reports from all of you throughout the day. Leave them on my voicemail if Specs and I are with one of the Parker siblings. I’ll check in with you between interviews.”
    With that, Jude threw down his folder and leaned forward, his hands resting on the table. Meeting each of their gazes, his eyes were piercing; his voice was soft, riddled with danger.
    “I don’t have to tell you how important it is that we solve this crime. There are at least a couple, if not more, vicious sons of bitches out there who don’t deserve to see the outside of a solitary cell for the rest of their sorry lives. It’s up to all of us to ensure that they don’t. Those animals need to go down hard, harder than they ever imagined they would. They need to live knowing that the inhumanity of their vicious attacks was revealed to the world. And that those attacks will serve as their routing slips to determine which level of hell they’ll inhabit for the rest of eternity.”

Chapter 6
    When they got to the parking lot in back of the precinct Jude pointed to the black and silver Porsche parked against the wall, the space beside it labeled No Parking. He laughed at the surprise Skylar couldn’t hide.
    Grinning in the direction of the impressive vehicle, he said, “My acknowledgment to conspicuous consumption, and my one indulgence. For the most part, I pretend to live on my cop’s salary, but there are some toys that we spoiled boys can’t do without.”
    Motioning for her to follow him, he said, “We’ll drive in my car. No telling what you drive. Christ, it’s probably a fucking Prius.”
    Skylar didn’t want to disabuse Jude of his contemptuous impression by telling him that she drove a Ferrari 485 Spider that cost many times more than his phallic symbol. The fact that she took the bus to work and left her pride and joy securely parked in her locked garage confirmed that she cared every bit as much about her “toys” as he did his.
    They were silent as Jude skillfully negotiated the winding hilly streets. Since she had first arrived in Northern Minnesota, Skylar had fallen in love with Duluth. The beautiful city was situated at the westernmost point of the Great Lakes on the north shore of Lake Superior, and was rich with cultural attractions and historic buildings—not to mention rocky cliffs, pristine forests, and the largest freshwater lake in the world. The historic mansions gracing the hilltops were just one sign of an elegant and prosperous past.
    In minutes, Jude pulled onto the cobblestone driveway of the Queen Anne mansion known to all as the Justice Mansion. Skylar had attended several parties at the imposing structure with the gorgeously maintained gardens, expansive lawns, and breathtaking views of Lake Superior. The mansion was built at the turn of the last century and was a museum in its own right.
    Jude flicked a button on the dash and guided his sleek automobile inside, choosing one of the six bays in the sparkling clean garage. He turned off the engine, opened his door, and started to unwind his tall body from the low-slung seat.
    Before Jude could get out of the car, realizing that she couldn’t partner with him until she knew the answer, Skylar surprised herself as much as she did him with her question. “Why do you let them put out doughnuts if it offends you when people eat them? Or does it only…only offend you when I eat