Fair Justice Read online

  FAIR JUSTICE:

  A Judge Willa Carson Mystery

  BY

  DIANE CAPRI

  Presented By:

  AugustBooks

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  Praise for

  New York Times and USA Today

  Bestselling Author

  Diane Capri

  “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too.”

  Lee Child, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Jack Reacher Thrillers

  “[A] welcome surprise….[W]orks from the first page to ‘The End’.”

  Larry King

  “Swift pacing and ongoing suspense are always present…[L]ikable protagonist who uses her political connections for a good cause…Readers should eagerly anticipate the next [book].”

  Top Pick, Romantic Times

  “…offers tense legal drama with courtroom overtones, twisty plot, and loads of Florida atmosphere. Recommended.”

  Library Journal

  “[A] fast-paced legal thriller…energetic prose…an appealing heroine…clever and capable supporting cast…[that will] keep readers waiting for the next [book].”

  Publishers Weekly

  “Expertise shines on every page.”

  Margaret Maron, Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Award Winning MWA Past President

  Also by DIANE CAPRI

  (Click each title to buy or download a sample)

  CLICK HERE for a complete list of Diane Capri Books

  The Hunt for Justice Series:

  Due Justice (Judge Willa Carson) Twisted Justice (Judge Willa Carson) Secret Justice (Judge Willa Carson) Wasted Justice (Judge Willa Carson) Raw Justice

  Mistaken Justice

  Cold Justice (Judge Willa Carson) False Justice (Judge Willa Carson) Fair Justice (Judge Willa Carson)

  The Hunt for Jack Reacher Series:

  Don’t Know Jack

  Get Back Jack

  Jack and Joe

  Deep Cover Jack

  Jack in a Box

  Jack and Kill

  Jack in the Green

  The Jess Kimball Thrillers:

  Fatal Enemy

  Fatal Distraction

  Fatal Demand

  Fatal Error

  Fatal Fall

  Fatal Game

  The Heir Hunter Series:

  Blood Trails

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  Have you read all of Diane Capri’s books? Maybe it’s time to give them a try!

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  Fair Justice is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 Diane Capri, LLC

  All Rights Reserved

  Published by: AugustBooks

  Visit the author website:

  DianeCapri.com

  License Notes:

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Publisher’s Note:

  The publisher and author do not have any control over and do not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without express written permission from the publisher. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  eISBN: 978-1-940768-73-1

  Original cover design by Michelle Priest

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  FAIR JUSTICE

  Reviews

  Books by Diane Capri

  Copyright

  Thanks to…

  Dedication

  Cast of Primary Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  About the Author

  Thank you to some of the best readers in the world: Beth Nagorsky (Desiree Rothchild) and John Kuvacas (Antoine Crowe) for participating in our character naming giveaways which make this book a bit more personal and fun for all of us.

  DEDICATION

  For Wilhelmina Boersma, trailblazer extraordinaire.

  CAST OF PRIMARY CHARACTERS

  Judge Wilhelmina Carson

  George Carson

  Mike Caldwell

  Lydia Gregg

  Roger Madsen

  Annalisa Fantz

  Dale Fantz

  Bradley Fletcher

  Walter Danbury

  Chuck Bartow

  Cathy Bartow

  FAIR JUSTICE

  BY

  DIANE CAPRI

  Presented By:

  AugustBooks

  CHAPTER ONE

  Mike Caldwell stared at the jewel-colored bottles lined up behind the Sunset Bar at George’s Place and briefly wished he’d come an hour early to knock back a few before his date arrived…even though she was the same date he’d been lucky enough to have for the better part of a decade.

  Sweet Lydia.

  He almost never felt awkward or nervous around her. Except when he knew something he’d planned to say would piss her off, or, apparently, when he knew he was about to propose.

  And he would do both tonight before he left town.

  He winced and waved the bartender over. “Let me have your best whiskey, neat.”

  His boss, News Director Roger Madsen, threw a major wrench in his plans an hour ago. An assignment too good to turn down. A story that would make his career, if he handled it right. A married man needed a good job. Lydia would see that.

  “Caldwell, this thing may turn out to be a bust,” Madsen had said when he called Mike into the office to give him the assignment. “But after that water catastrophe in Flint, Michigan, and environmentalism run amok in the country…well, we can’t afford to ignore a potential story like criminal polluting.”

  Mike’s heart skipped a beat. It was the first time Madsen had given him any assignment, let alone one that could have national news potential. “What’s the claim?”

  “Fletcher Textiles, a carpet manufacturer up in Peru, Florida. Not far from the Georgia state line. A local woman says they’re dumping toxic waste into the drinking water. She says one of the workers found solid proof, and now he’s disappeared. She’s worried about him. Not exactly a whistleblower, but close enough to take a look.” Madsen held an unlit cigar between his fingers as if he could still smoke in the office like news directors of old. “Frankly, if I was sure it was a story, I’d send someone with more experience. But if I was sure it wasn’t a story, we wouldn’t go at all. Everybody else is covering the hurricane down in the Caribbean, and you’re always bugging me for an opportuni
ty. So it’s yours.”

  “I understand,” Mike said, nodding like the eager young reporter he surely was. “When would I need to go?”

  “Tomorrow. Stay a few days. Dig around. See whether there’s anything worth investigating or not. Keep me posted.” Madsen waved him out the door as he reached for his clamoring phone. “Everything we know so far was sent to your email inbox.”

  It wasn’t until Mike’s excitement slowed that he realized what he’d done. Lydia was going to kill him.

  The bartender slid a crystal glass across the bar, and Mike glanced at his watch before powering down the amber liquid in one swallow. It burned a welcome path of warmth straight to his stomach. Liquid courage.

  Everything would be fine. He’d explain to Lydia, and she’d be angry, but she’d get over it. Eventually. Maybe.

  Judge Willa Carson walked into the Sunset Bar still wearing her business suit. She walked around like her husband owned the place. She came over and sat beside him. “Sapphire and tonic, and whatever my friend is drinking,” she said to the bartender before clapping a hand on Mike’s shoulder and giving him a friendly squeeze. “So tonight’s the big night? George has the pastry chef doing something amazing. Hand it over.”

  She held out a palm and Mike couldn’t help but be swept up by her enthusiasm. He reached into his pocket and fished around, producing a gleaming black box. He handed it to her.

  Willa cracked the box open and let out a gasp that settled Mike’s nerves some.

  “It’s quite literally perfect, Mike,” Willa said, her eyes going suspiciously glassy.

  The praise meant a lot coming from the notoriously tough federal judge, and his nerves settled a little more.

  “Thanks.” Mike gave a halting nod and Willa’s brow furrowed.

  “You don’t honestly think there’s a chance she’ll say no, do you?”

  “I think there’s a chance she’ll say yes and then take it back once I give her the news,” he admitted ruefully.

  “What news?” Willa closed the ring box and placed it on the bar.

  “That I can’t go with her to Alabama for the week. Her parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. They have a huge family thing planned. Been working on it for months.” He shrugged helplessly. “But opportunity came knocking, and I had to answer the door.”

  Willa’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of opportunity?”

  “A toxic waste story up in Peru, Florida. The kind of irresponsible corporate behavior that ruins communities and gets CEOs indicted.” Mike could hear the excitement in his own voice. He’d need to tone that down when he told Lydia. But dammit, this was big. Or it could be. He had a right to be excited.

  “In other words, the kind of story that gives a young network reporter like you a chance to climb the ladder from live shots behind the camera to features.” Willa took another sip and shook her head.

  “Exactly.”

  “More likely to be a wild goose chase. CEOs are savvy enough not to get involved in shady practices that have potential criminal penalties attached. We levy big fines and put CEOs in jail these days.” Willa frowned and placed a hand on his arm.

  “I know but—”

  “Criminals are dangerous, Mike. You spent enough time in my courtroom to learn that much, didn’t you?” She patted her pockets as if searching for something.

  “All I’m supposed to do is ask around. How dangerous can that be?” He’d never have had the nerve to argue with her in public, but it was just the two of them here.

  “Don’t mess this up.” Willa shook her head as she pulled a Partagas cigar from her jacket. “There will always be tension between your job and your family if you’re halfway good at either. Lydia’s a special woman. You won’t find anyone who loves you more.”

  “Believe me, I know,” he nodded, miserably. “But chances like this won’t come my way every day, either. It’s been two years since I stopped covering cops and courts here, Judge Carson. I’m ready for a bigger job, and this story can push me right into Eyes on Eight if I play it right.”

  The bartender brought their drinks and Willa raised her glass in a toast. Mike raised his, too, and clinked the glasses before they sipped. The whiskey was starting to loosen him up.

  “What’s the name of the business?” Willa’s tone took on the demanding quality he’d seen her use on the bench.

  “Fletcher Textiles. A whistleblower is missing. Guy named Chuck Bartow. People in the town are sick. Sounds like a textbook case of toxic waste dumping, doesn’t it?” Mike asked.

  Willa nodded. “Which is why you have to figure it’s not.”

  He raised his eyebrows but didn’t reply.

  “I’ll ask around. I’ve got colleagues in that area. If there’s anything going on, they’ll know about it.” She took another sip of her gin.

  Before Mike could ask her not to interfere, George came breezing through the double kitchen doors, the leather soles of his cap-toed brogue dress shoes clicking on the marble floor.

  “Mike!” He closed the distance between them and shook Mike’s hand before slipping an affectionate arm around his wife’s waist. “Let’s have a look.”

  Willa held up the open ring box, and George let out a low whistle. “Beautiful. She’ll love it.”

  Mike frowned again, “I hope so.”

  George cast a questioning glance toward Willa.

  Before he could say more, the restaurant door swung open, and Lydia walked in, with a quick wave, she swept past Desiree at the hostess station. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, but her beaming smile warmed Mike to the core.

  George slid the ring box into his pocket.

  After small talk, and a warning scowl from Willa for Mike’s eyes only, George led them to their table for two with a view of Hillsborough Bay. Once they were seated, George excused himself to tend to other guests, leaving Mike and Lydia alone.

  Mike almost wished he could call George back. He could use the buffer. Coward.

  He asked, “How were things at the hospital today?” Lydia worked as a nurse at Tampa Southern, the only level-one trauma center in the Bay area. More than once, she’d helped him with access to victims in cases he’d reported. They made a good team, personally and professionally.

  “Like every day. Crazy busy.” Lydia slipped her coat off. She’d donned his favorite red dress with the sweetheart neckline that made her look like a million bucks. “I swear, it’s the full moon or something driving people to do stupid stuff that gets them injured, you know?”

  She opened the elegant leather menu and began scanning it quickly. “I’m starved. I skipped lunch because I love the food here.”

  Mike opened his menu, but he wasn’t hungry. He’d planned to tell her about the assignment after he proposed, hoping her excitement over the engagement would soften her anger. Now, though, going through the whole dinner with bad news hanging over him seemed intolerable. He closed the menu with a snap.

  “Look,” he said in a rush, “I have to tell you something, and you’re not going to be happy.”

  Her head shot up, and her smile slid away. She cocked her head and waited.

  The waiter came at that moment, bearing two glasses of red wine and an appetizer.

  “Did you order ahead?” she asked, surprise taking the edge off her expected irritation. She eyed the fancy charcuterie board and all the selections, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth once again. “Brie and figs…and is that Stilton? You know me so well.”

  She snatched up a fancy cracker and slathered it with soft, creamy cheese before setting a fig on top.

  “When I put this in my mouth, you start talking. It will be like anesthesia for your bad news. Ready?” She popped the cracker in her mouth and groaned in pleasure as she chewed.

  He launched in with no further hesitation. “Our best investigative reporter has the flu, and everybody else is covering the hurricane, so the boss offered me an Eyes on Eight slot for next week.” He cleared his throat. “I have to leave tomorro
w morning.”

  He broke off as her eyes closed and her body caved in on itself like she’d been sucker punched. He gave her a second to swallow her food before continuing softly. “I’d be gone for about three days, that’s all. I can meet you in Fair Hope as soon as I’m done. I’m so sorry, Lyd—”

  “I know how important your career is, Mike,” she cut in, holding a palm out, fire flashing in her eyes. “I know how cut-throat it is, and how hard you work. But it’s my parents’ fiftieth. You promised me you wouldn’t bail on us.”

  He’d expected her to be pissed off and now he almost wished for it. Because instead, she looked heartsick, which he simply couldn’t take.

  Antoine, their waiter, passed by and Mike stopped him with a hand. “Can you thank George for selecting such a lovely bottle of wine for us?”

  It was the pre-arranged signal sending Antoine into the kitchen to return with the ring. Only that wasn’t supposed to happen until dessert. Antoine eyed Mike in confusion. “Uh, yes, yes of course.”