New Species 04 Justice (15 page)

right back to work.” He laughed. “I know my girl and you’d want the job so I hope you

don’t mind but I sent someone to your apartment. It’s being packed up as we speak, just

your belongings will be sent and all your furniture will be stored. The guys I ordered to pack your stuff are going to ship everything to you there. It might take a few days but it will come pretty fast.”

“Thanks. That was great thinking.” She forced a smile to hide her surprise at the

drastic changes in her life. “You know I want that job.”

Justice had come and gone but he hadn’t seen her. She masked her emotions from

her father, afraid he’d be confused by the sadness that she felt knowing that Justice had come but he hadn’t stayed long enough to see her. She felt a little anger too but let it go.

He had flown all the way from California to come to the hospital.
That has to mean

something, right?
He could have stayed and said hello.
Maybe made sure I was fine
. She sighed.

“What about my Gift Female? What was the emergency?”

“I don’t know but when you get to NSO Homeland I’m sure you’ll find out. He

ordered her moved there and said that would be your first job.”

Jessie pondered that. Justice might be angry at her for leaving, a reason why he

hadn’t stayed. She’d split on him. It was work though and she’d had to leave. He

should understand that.
Well, to be fair
, she thought,
he’d had to leave for work too
.

“I’d like to say goodbye to my team.”

“You do that. They are in the waiting room. I have a car waiting outside to drive us

to the airport. We’ll stop and buy you some clothes to last you a few days on the way.”

He glanced at the sweats. “I know you hate those but it was all they had unless you

wanted a summer dress in a bright orange flower print.”

She made a face. The Senator laughed.

“I know. I haven’t seen you in a dress since you graduated high school and had to

wear the gown. You wore cut-off jeans and a tank top under it if I remember right.”

She grinned. “It wasn’t a tank top. It was a sports bra.”

71

Laurann Dohner

He reached out and cupped her face. “That’s my girl. You always have to be

different.”

Justice’s image flashed through her mind and she wondered if maybe it was part of

the reason she was so drawn to him. She did like different and she liked him a hell of a

lot. She only wished he’d stuck around to see her.

72

Justice

Jessie was nervous as she stepped out of the cab and lifted the gym bag to her

shoulder. The sight of protestors marching near the gate angered her instantly.
Don’t
they have lives? Something better to do than harass a bunch of people who have never done
anything to them?
Jessie paused next to the cab window and handed the driver three twenties.

“Keep the change.”

“Thanks.” He backed the vehicle away.

Her gaze studied the men and women as she headed for the gates. The NSO

Homeland was the main home for New Species and they also had a huge wooded area

they’d bought and named Reservation. She’d been here before but she’d never had to

walk through the front gates. She’d come in a helicopter, dropped off females and had

promptly been flown out, having never stepped past the heliport area. Now she was

going to live and work inside Homeland. It was rumored Justice lived there full-time

and that meant she’d probably see him sometimes.

“What are you doing here?” It was a guy in his forties who stepped out of line

holding a sign that read “Abominations won’t be tolerated, Love the Lord.”

Jessie stopped, cocked her head and gave him the once-over with a critical eye.

“What are you doing here?”

He frowned. “I’m using my right as an American to voice my opinion.”

She shrugged. “I’m here because my American ass wants to be.”

She advanced another five feet before the jerk moved, jumping in her way. She

stopped, her body tensed and she evaluated him as a potential threat. He had about five

inches in height on her and wasn’t in good shape with his beer gut and flabby arms. He

glared at her bag with narrowed eyes.

“Are you staying here?”

“You’re really smart. Yes. That’s why I have a bag with me.”

He frowned, looking more pissed. “You can’t go in there. It’s a den of evil.”

Jessie flat out grinned.

That seemed to make the stranger madder. “Do you doubt me? I have the word of

the Lord on my side. He told me to come here and let them know they aren’t welcome

here in America. We’re a God-loving country.”

Jessie loved guys like these. He was just making her day as she laughed. “Wow.

God talks to you? That’s great. Could you tell him that I’d like world peace and Elvis

73

Laurann Dohner

back? I dream about him hooking up with some cool metal band. They could make

some kickass music together.”

The man gawked at her but finally closed his mouth. His eyes rounded while his

face reddened. “You mock me? You mock God?”

“No. I’d never make fun of God. What I mock is that you’re an idiot who doesn’t

seem to know it. Instead of wasting your time here you should be getting your own life

together. I wonder what God has to say about judging others? Remember that one? I do,

from Bible school. I never once saw a bumper sticker that says Jesus or God loves you

unless…fill in the blanks. Get a life and realize that if God were really speaking to you, he’d have better things to tell you to do than wasting your time annoying good people.

He’s about love and acceptance, not stupidity and hatred.” Her attention focused on his

sign and then him. ”You might want to take some classes too since you don’t seem to

know that comma should be a period. You might learn something like compassion too

while you’re at it. I know it’s nice to walk outside and take in fresh air but do it in a park, not harassing good people who are trying to better their lives. You should try that sometime. It might make you a decent human being. Currently you are doing a shitty

job of that.”

Jessie moved around him. He was pissed, sputtering and shocked. Jessie spotted

two Species officers grinning from where they guarded the gate entrance. It was clear

they’d overheard every word. She kept her hands where they could see them and tried

to appear nonthreatening as she approached. They remained on the other side of the

gates and were heavily armed.

“Hello. I’m Jessie Dupree. I’m going to reach into my front pocket and pull out my

driver’s license slowly.”

One of them gave her permission. She pulled out her license and handed it through

the bars. “Justice North spoke to Senator Jacob Hills early this morning and offered me

a job at Homeland. I wasn’t expected at any certain time but here I am.”

One of them handed back her license. He hesitated before reaching for something

on the wall out of her sight. He pulled out a clipboard and ran his finger down it. “Let

her in. She’s on the list.”

The second officer unlocked the gate. Jessie walked inside, paused and watched the

gate lock behind her. The first officer gave her a polite smile and indicated she should

follow him. Jessie gave the protestors a one fingered wave before she stepped out of

sight. The walls around Homeland were thirty feet high and had walking corridors

above where more Species officers patrolled.

“It’s standard procedure to check your bag. Everyone has to be searched. We also

have to pat you down. I apologize but due to serious threats against the NSO it’s

necessary. I can call a female officer to pat you down if you are uncomfortable with me

touching you. I can have one here in under ten minutes. We have some bottled water

and sodas available so you can comfortably wait. We do have to search your bag now

though. We need to make sure there aren’t any weapons in it or bombs.”

74

Justice

“I understand. I usually carry a gun, I have a permit but I didn’t bring it with me. I

realize it isn’t good here so I left it with my team.”

The man blinked. “What team?”

“I worked with the Retrieval Human Task Team to the NSO until this morning.”

He smiled. “I didn’t know they had any females.”

“I was the only one.” She turned to face the wall and spread her limbs. “Go ahead

and pat me down.”

The man was efficient and didn’t make Jessie want to punch him. His hands ran

over her breasts but they didn’t stop, squeeze or grope. He crouched down and started

at her ankles and ran his hands all the way up. He used the back of his hand to make

sure she wasn’t carrying a gun inside her panties. He stood and moved back. Jessie

turned and stared up at him.

“Thank you. We have notified the office of your arrival and they are sending a Jeep

for you, Miss Dupree.”

“It’s just Jessie. Thank you.”

He smiled. “I’m Flame and my partner over there glaring at the protesters is Slash.

Thank you for the amusement when you talked to that man out there. He loves to taunt

us.”

“My pleasure. When he starts up again just start chanting Elvis and I bet he’ll shut

up.” She winked. “It’s the best way to deal with them. It will totally piss him off, he’ll know it’s an insult but it won’t sound that way to anyone but him.”

The officer laughed. “I’ll remember and pass it on to the others.”

“It’s only fair you give it back. I’m sure you have to put up with a hell of a lot. May

I ask a personal question?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

“Why did you pick Flame for your name? I could see it if you had bright red hair

but yours is light red.”

He grinned. “I love watching a fire burn and often spend my nights sitting outside

in front of a fire pit. The smell of burning wood is pleasant, the flames are beautiful and so lively.”

“I always like to ask. You’re lucky you get to pick your names. I got stuck with

Jessica Marlee Dupree.” She shook her head. “My parents said it was pretty. I think they

were smoking drugs to rhyme two of my names.”

He laughed.

“That’s why I insist on being called Jessie. I hear someone call me my full name and

just cringe. It sounds like I should be crooning old country songs or something. You

have meaning for your name.”

“You are a joy to be around.” He grinned. “Your parents did something right.”

“Thanks.”

75

Laurann Dohner

“You are really going to work here?”

“Yes. I don’t know what I’ll be doing but I got canned from the team this morning. I

was sent here.”

His smile slipped. “You mean fired? Why did they fire you?”

“I got shot. It was just a graze, really. I killed three assholes too but they deserved it.

It’s a long story. It was a good shooting but my dad is Senator Jacob Hills so he freaked out. He fired me to make sure I’m not in danger anymore, or put in a situation where I

might have to kill assholes.” She smiled to soften her words. “I guess he figured I’d be

safer here.” She studied the high walls and armed Species officers patrolling above with

large guns. “I can see this place is pretty secure.”

Flame grinned. “Where did you get shot?”

She turned to show him her back and reached up into her hair. In seconds, she’d

parted it to reveal a shaved area about two inches long and an inch wide covered with a

bandage. “It was just a graze. The bullet took some scalp but…” she released her hair

and turned to face him. “Remember to always wear your vest on duty.” She glanced at

his. “I took two rounds to mine in the back from a sniper.” She pointed to his vest.

“They work well. All I have is a few bruises.”

“Amazing.” He grinned. “Do you have any friends here? Working with the task

force must have made you some.”

“No. I’ve met a few people but no one I spent a lot of time with.”
Except Justice
. She didn’t mention him aloud though.

“Why don’t you give me a call when you get settled? We have a bar here. I’d love to

buy you a beer and introduce you to everyone. I think you’ll make a lot of friends. You

are really funny.”

“I’d like that. You can never have enough friends.”

“We have a phone directory. I’m listed inside. I’m just called Flame. I don’t have a

last name. I haven’t had a reason to choose one yet.”

A Jeep being driven by a Species woman approached the gates. She was a big

woman, obviously an experimental prototype and not a Gift Female. Jessie didn’t have

much experience with those females except for the one she’d spent time with at

Reservation. She’d liked Breeze a lot.

“There is your ride. I hope you enjoy living and working here, Jessie. It’s been a real

pleasure meeting you. I hope to buy you a beer soon. Call me.” Flame waved.

She gripped her gym bag and waved back. “It was a pleasure meeting you too. I’ll

be calling about that beer.” She headed for the Jeep.

The large Species female scowled. “Human, you are to come with me.”

“Hello. I’m Jessie. You’re my ride?”

“Yes.” She didn’t look happy. “I’m Midnight. Please climb in.”

Jessie tossed her gym bag into the back seat and sat in the passenger seat. She didn’t

reach for her belt. There were no seatbelt laws on New Species properties. They also

76

Justice

didn’t have a lot of vehicle traffic or speeding issues. She mainly saw golf carts parked along most of the curbs. The driver turned the Jeep around and glanced at Jessie again,