Brute Justice (Justice Series) Read online

  I’m glad my powers are still with me for this. I’d still be able to protect the girls without them, but if something goes wrong, I’m much better with my strength than without.

  Clint smiled as Lexi squeezed his hand, pulling him toward her side of the car. The sensation of her transparency tickled his entire body. They slid through the door. His grin spread wider.

  Still can’t get used to being able to do that!

  He watched Jade open the clinic door and walk in with an air of confidence. Because she couldn’t see them, Lexi pulled Clint back a few steps behind her, into an empty corner of the room. They couldn’t risk having her turn around and bump into them unexpectedly.

  The waiting room was filled with people, mostly women in pairs, mothers and teenage daughters. Two of the girls were crying, others hung their heads as if they didn’t want to be seen.

  I wonder what the story is on all of these people. What a strange place to be in. Woah! That chick is huge!

  His eyes fell on a petite girl sitting alone in a bank of chairs in the middle of the room. Her brow was beaded with sweat and she had her arms grasped around her protruding belly.

  I don’t know much about this stuff, but I think she’s in labor! Why is she breathing like that? Doesn’t she know it looks stupid?

  Just then, the door next to the reception desk opened. A nurse pushing a wheelchair walked straight to the girl Clint was watching. “Jamie, we’re ready for you. Hop in, I’ll take you back to your delivery room.”

  The girl struggled to stand, so the nurse reached out to support her back as she transferred her weight from one chair to the other. She groaned as another pain hit her. The nurse wheeled her quickly through the door she had just come from.

  Jade turned around from the front, clipboard in hand, and found an empty seat in a quiet corner to fill out her paperwork. They had already decided she needed to change her birthday. Obviously they didn’t want to throw up any red flags to Crain with the date, plus Jade needed to be eighteen to be here alone.

  Lexi pulled Clint behind her, working their way toward where Jade was sitting. Since she couldn’t see them, it was up to them to stick close to Jade. They dodged a woman rushing to the bathroom.

  I didn’t think about how tough it was going to be, keeping out of everyone’s way.

  It took about ten minutes after Jade handed in her forms before the door opened and a brunette in red scrubs popped her head through the door. “Jade Hensley?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jade walked toward her. Clint and Lexi followed the two of them into the exam room and stood at the opposite end of the room, behind the exam table.

  “And how long has it been since your last cycle?” the nurse asked, writing in the new patient chart.

  “Ten weeks, four days,” Jade said matter-of-factly. “I counted again this morning to be sure.”

  “Are you using any type of birth control?”

  “Condoms. I’m not on the pill.”

  The nurse looked up at her, as if this inspired a new set of questions. “Do your parents know you’re here?”

  “No ma’am. My dad would have a stroke! I mean, he’s gonna…” Jade looked flustered, but since they had rehearsed this several times, Clint knew it was all an act.

  “It’s okay,” the nurse tried to act sympathetic. “Since you’re of the legal age, we don’t need any parental consent to examine you. Let’s just see what we find out today, and we’ll cross any bridges as they come.”

  Jade turned her tear-filled eyes up and nodded silently at her.

  Oh, she’s good.

  “If the time comes and you need to talk to your parents, we’ve got a counselor on staff who can sit with all of you and help through the process.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “Dr. Crain will be in shortly to examine you,” she set the chart on the counter next to the sink.

  “This Dr. Crain…”

  “Yes, dear?”

  “Is he, um… pretty good?”

  “Oh yes, sweetie. He’s a great doctor.”

  “I’ll bet he sees girls like me all the time, huh?”

  “We get all shapes and sizes here.”

  “Has he been here long?”

  “About a year now.”

  “He’s only been a doctor for a year?! How old is he?” Jade sounded shocked.

  “Oh no, honey. He’s been practicing for years now.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Jade paused. “How long?”

  “You know, I’m not quite sure. I haven’t been with him long. Just since he opened the clinic last winter.” She patted Jade’s shoulder. “He’ll be right in to see you. Sit tight.”

  As the door closed, Jade’s head swung around the room. Lexi reached forward and touched her arm to let her know where they were standing. Jade gave a quick nod, but no one spoke, too afraid of having Dr. Crain come in and be alerted.

  This room is larger than I had expected, for a clinic… I guess you’d need extra room for parents and expectant fathers. Huh. Nice digs. I’ll bet he’s spent a fortune on the equipment!

  There were machines and monitors of every shape and size lined up around the room. The artwork on the walls and the sleek leather couch below the window looked expensive. The hardwood floors shone like glass. There was even a private bathroom adjoining the room, according to the brass sign next to the cracked door. No expense was spared in the setup of the clinic.

  I’m guessing Crain makes a load of cash from the adoptions.

  There was a knock on the door and Clint felt Lexi stiffen at the sound.

  “Come in,” Jade answered quietly.

  The door opened and Crain’s shiny forehead peered around the doorway. “Ms. Hensley?”

  “Yes, sir,” she stood and extended her hand in greeting. “You can call me Jade.”

  “Hello, Jade. I’m Dr. Crain,” he said, paying more attention to her chart than her face.

  Clint was suddenly aware of his heart racing. Lexi had finally relaxed and was standing stone still, not wanting any movement to be heard.

  I hope he can’t hear us breathing. Holy crap, this is the first time I’ve ever seen him face-to-face. Well, not really face-to-face… Why am I this nervous? He can’t even see me. He’s not going to do anything. Shit man, get a grip. Clear your mind. You’ve got to focus!

  He slowed his breathing and closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to regain his composure. The wave of heat which had taken over his body, a combination of anger and adrenaline, gradually faded and his head cleared. He took a deep, but quiet breath, and opened his eyes. Lexi was watching him.

  She looks fine, calm. Well, she’s been here, seen him before. Of course she’s fine, she’s not scared of anything! I wish she and I could communicate somehow… We’ve got to find a way to connect and share our powers. Another time.

  He turned his attention back to Jade and the not-so-good doctor, who was feverishly scribbling notes in the chart.

  “Well Jade, the lab is working on your hormone test now, which is usually the first indication as to whether or not you’re pregnant.”

  “Uh-huh…”

  “I should have those results here shortly, but if it’s been ten weeks since your last cycle, we can do a real quick ultrasound to see if we can find anything now. Sound okay?”

  “Sure. Okay.”

  Dr. Crain set the chart down and pulled a cart on wheels toward the exam table. It held what appeared to be a television flat screen and a bunch of computer equipment, including a keyboard with a large roller ball mouse in the middle of it.

  “Go ahead and lay back,” he said, adjusting the pillow for her. “I just need to raise your shirt a little bit here.”

  The flush of heat hit Clint’s face again. He was torn between feeling completely uncomfortable watching this and angry that Dr. Crain was touching Jade. It took all he had not to reach out and wrap his fingers around Crain’s neck in a vice grip.

  Crain squeezed a bit of bluish gel onto Jade’s e
xposed belly. She winced.

  “Yeah,” he chuckled. “It’s a little chilly. Sorry. The girls keep telling me I need to get warmers for this.”

  Heaven forbid he do anything to make his patients comfortable. Clint ground his teeth together.

  “Now, what can we see here…” Crain put what looked like a white, rubber microphone attached to a cord onto her stomach and rubbed it back and forth, turning toward the computer monitor.

  All eyes were on the screen.

  “Yep, Jade. There it is,” he said pointing to the grainy black and white image on the screen. “There’s your baby.”

  What?!

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Jade’s eyes flew open. “Uh… Uh… Are you sure?”

  Crain never took his eyes off the monitor. He kept moving the white paddle back and forth across her belly. Finally after a long pause, he turned his eyes back to her. “Yes, Jade. I’m sure.”

  “I’m… pregnant?” Her eyes filled with tears.

  “Yes, you are.” He turned his eyes back to the screen and pointed. “See here? Here’s the head.”

  A muffled gasp escaped from Jade’s throat.

  Clint looked over at Lexi with horror. Her face stared back with a mixture of question and astonishment. She shook her head.

  I’m no expert, but I can’t see a damn thing on that television! What’s he looking at? It’s just fuzzy to me.

  “It just looks like…” Jade was struggling to form words together. Tears were streaming down her face now. “Like a peanut.”

  “I know,” he said, moving his fingers across the screen. “Here’s the little body, and here is where the legs are curled up against the body. Do you see this little flutter?”

  She nodded, speechless.

  “That’s the heartbeat. Would you like to hear it?”

  “Yeah. Sure.” She wiped her face dry.

  He reached toward the computer and turned a dial on the main machine. A strange static came through the speakers. He moved the paddle and a slow, steady pounding sounded.

  “There, that slow beat is your heartbeat. An adult’s heart is much slower and stronger than a fetus’s. This,” he said moving the instrument to the center of her stomach, “is the baby’s. Can you hear how much faster that sounds?”

  “Uh-huh.” Jade’s mouth was agape.

  They sat there in silence a few minutes. Dr. Crain took measurements with the keyboard and noted them in the chart. Jade just watched. Every so often, another tear would track down her cheek.

  “Dr. Crain?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can you tell what it is?”

  “You mean the sex?”

  “Yes.”

  “No, not yet. Probably not for another month or two.”

  “Oh.”

  “Look Jade, I know this is a lot to absorb right now. Probably a little bit of a shock, isn’t it?”

  Dude, your fake gentle voice isn’t fooling anyone. We know you want the baby.

  Jade looked up at Crain and nodded.

  “Do you need help talking to your parents? There are a lot of decisions you’ll have to make, and trust me, you’re going to want them around to help you think this through.”

  Jade opened her mouth, but nothing came out right away. The silence was heavy. “I guess… I think I’d like to talk to my mom first. See if she’ll come back with me the next time.”

  “That’ll be fine. By that time I’ll have some more information for you from your tests and the ultrasound measurements. We can talk about what to expect over the next months, birthing procedures, and other options if necessary.”

  “Okay. What do I…?”

  He handed her a sheet of paper from the chart. “Just take this to the front counter. The girls will help check you out and get you scheduled for your next follow up, okay?”

  “Okay.” She still looked shell-shocked.

  “Jade,” he said, clearing his throat. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get it all figured out, I promise. I’ll take good care of you.”

  Ha. Right.

  Lexi and Clint followed Jade silently through the checkout process, then out into the parking lot. The Range Rover was parked around the corner, out of sight. As soon as Jade cleared the building, Leesha jumped out, grabbed her around the shoulders and helped her into the back seat.

  The ride home was silent.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  “So what are we going to do about this?” Lexi started in. They had just sat down in her bedroom after the long ride home.

  Leesha looked up at Jade, sympathy all over her features. “I can’t believe you’re really pregnant.”

  “I know. I can’t go back to him!” Jade sounded horrified.

  “What?!”

  “Well, Lexi,” Jade turned to her, “I couldn’t put another baby…”

  “Yeah,” Leesha tried to help. “How could we, after knowing what he did to us? What are you going to tell your parents?”

  Jade burst into tears again. Both boys were quiet, stoic.

  Crap, man. What have we gotten into?

  “Jade!” Lexi said. “You’re not pregnant!”

  “Yes I am. You saw the baby.”

  “What baby? There was no baby on that ultrasound!”

  “Huh?” Sam sat up.

  “Yeah Lex, explain,” Clint said. “I couldn’t see squat on the screen. What makes you so sure?”

  “I’ve been to plenty of OB appointments with my Aunt DeeDee. I know what a baby looks like. There was no baby there.”

  “But Dr. Crain-” Jade stammered.

  “Sam, did you see a baby?”

  “No, Lex. I couldn’t see the screen from where we sat.”

  “Clint?”

  “I couldn’t make heads or tails, pardon the pun, of what he was pointing at.”

  Jade’s big eyes were still filled with terror. “But the heartbeat…”

  “There was nothing but static!”

  “Wait,” Leesha said, trying to keep the conversation from getting further out of control. “Do you think Crain was lying?”

  “I’m not sure,” Lexi answered. “Why would he?”

  “Do you think he knew we were there?”

  “Hmm…” Sam said. “I didn’t hear anything from his thoughts. No, I don’t think he suspected anything.”

  “Then why would he say you’re pregnant?” Clint asked.

  Just then, Marcy Dixon passed through the hall and stopped mid-stride. She came back to the doorway. “Who is pregnant?!”

  “I am,” Jade said, hanging her head. Marcy’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

  “No. You’re not,” Lexi argued.

  Marcy came in and sat down on the bed. “Okay, I’m confused. Please explain. And start at the beginning.”

  They each took turns filling her in on the day’s events. She took it all fairly well, masking her surprise and horror as best she could.

  When they were done, Marcy turned and put her arm around Jade. “What’s your boyfriend’s name, dear?”

  “Bruce.”

  “And he’s the father?”

  “What? No!”

  Oh great. Here we go. More complications.

  Marcy sighed, squeezed her tighter. “Okay, well tell me who you think might be the father, then.”

  “Well, um… No one.”

  “What do you mean no one?” Marcy was trying to be patient, restrained. “There has to be someone. Count back by the calendar. Who were you with?”

  “With? You mean, like, sex?”

  “Yes Jade. I mean sex.”

  Silence. All eyes were on Jade.

  Um. You gonna say anything?

  “Sex?” Jade’s eyes flew open. “I’ve… Well, I’ve never had sex.”

  “You do know how pregnancy works, don’t you dear? Have your parents talked to you about this?”

  Oh, hell. Get me out of here.

  Clint looked up and caught Sam’s eyes. His face was white and he was nodding in tot
al agreement.

  Marcy looked down at Jade. “When was your last period?”

  “I’m out,” Sam said silently to Clint. “Follow me.”

  With ya.

  “Boys, sit down.” Marcy didn’t miss anything. “Jade, do you remember?”

  “Um. Two weeks ago, tomorrow.”

  “And you’re not engaging in intercourse?”

  “Mom!” Sam’s face flushed with embarrassment.

  “Samuel, enough. You’re all in this together. You can sit through this conversation. Jade?”

  “No, ma’am. No… intercourse.” She winced at the awkwardness of the word, the conversation.

  “Well, we can certainly rule this out pretty quickly with a home pregnancy test. But if you’re not sexually active, there’s really no way you can be pregnant.”

  “So what did I see then, on the screen?” Jade only looked slightly relieved.

  “The more important question,” Lexi spoke up, “is what was Dr. Crain looking at?”

  The room was quiet. No one had an answer.

  “So, did you make another appointment? When is it, dear?” Marcy finally broke the silence.

  “Next week. Monday morning.”

  “Are you taking your mother with you?”

  “Uh. Well…” She dropped her face into her hands.

  “How about if I go with you instead?”

  Clint looked around the room to gauge the reaction. Jade’s face lit up. Lexi’s fell. Sam stood up. All three reactions happened instantaneously.

  “Mom, no! You can’t.”

  “And why not, Samuel?”

  “Well, first of all, you’ve already met him. He’ll recognize you.”

  “And Mom,” Lexi added, “I don’t want you anywhere near that creep! He may already be on to us, and if he is, he’s gonna be pissed!”

  “Alexis, watch your language. Now it’s been seventeen years since I’ve been in the hospital with you two. I know I’ve certainly changed a lot since then. Not to mention I don’t have much of a recollection of what he looked like, since he wasn’t my doctor – he was only on call during my overnight there. Think about all the women he’s seen since then. There’s no way he’ll recognize me.”

  “Mom-” Lexi tried to argue.

  “Nonsense. It’s settled. If you guys can face him, so can I. Besides,” she flexed her jaw, “it’s about time I do something about this situation.”