The Scars Of Her Disdain

ve clutched in my hand. The grief had been burned away by a cold, h

e chief had shaken hands with Brandon Thorne's father. I bypas

e Lily Miller case," I sai

man with a bored expression, looked up from hi

is is a recording. It proves Brandon Thorne's guilt and it proves

ook the drive from my hand and walked into an office at the back. I waited, a flicker of hope

the USB drive in his hand. He toss

thing, it's inadmissible. Probably faked it yourself. Yo

t even lis

is chair. "The case is closed. Now get out

d, the realization dawning on

uy who just lost a defamation suit." He stood up and pointed a

in his eyes. He jerked his head towa

e passed under a security camera, and as soon as we were out of its line of

eared from a doorwa

rushed out of my lungs. Before I could recover, the second officer hit me from the side, a hard blow to the

first detective leaned down, his face close

ne's father owns this city. He owns the mayor, he owns the judges, and he owns this departme

body screaming in protest. The world seemed to tilt and spin, a vortex of pain and despair. They hadn't just bea

y, but I had one last place to go. I had to se

ass and steel that mocked the very idea of justice. I didn't go in. I

d casually over her shoulders. They stopped by the curb, waiting for his car. He leaned in and kissed her, a lo

eet, clear and sharp. They were laughing about Lily. I knew it. They were laugh

now how to play the game. That's why I like you. This wasn't new. This had been go

had ever felt, surged through me. I wanted to run across

n. He really scares me. Fear. She had been afraid. And rage wouldn't honor her me

local police were corrupt. The DA's office was corrupt. The co

I had served. A system built on honor,

use my parents had left me. I opened the old footlocker at the end of their bed. Inside, nestled in velvet, were my father's P

y were my last resort. They were my only remainin

my truck and started driving. I drove all night, heading east, toward Wash

walked up to the imposing main gate, a place guar

the cold pavement, right in front of the armed guards

Captain John Miller and Major Helen Miller, died in service to this country. My sister, Lily Miller,

isten. I am here to beg for justice. For the honor of my

r faltering for a moment. They were young, but they recogni

ent. "We have a situation at the main gate. A former SE

suspicion was gone, replaced by a flicker of res