Free Touching Evil by Kylie Brant

for the scope of Sophie’s involvement.  He shifted in his chair looking for a more comfortable spot.  There wasn’t one.  “I can have complete case files at Dr. Channing’s disposal,” he began.  “Her involvement can be done safely in a controlled setting, with an agent at her side at all times…”
    He stopped when he noted the meaningful look exchanged between Gonzalez and Miller.  “I’ve spoken to Dr. Channing again since I left her this morning,” Maria began.  “And although I have a few reservations about her idea, I think it has some merit.”
    “She wants to fake her death,” Cam stressed.  He looked at Miller.  “It would involve deceiving the public.”
    “A deception that is forgivable if it leads to her safety.”  Cam’s stomach clenched at the other man’s reply.  “Dr. Channing is probably safer right now than she has been since her abduction.  If Vance and his accomplice believe she’s dead, she doesn’t have to work in a controlled environment, although certainly I believe we should continue to offer protection.  With the right precautions in place, she could move around freely, conduct interviews, and attend scenes.”  
    With a hitch of his trousers, the man stood.  “I believe hers is a reasonable request, one that will offer more safety for her.  She’s e-mailing an obit notice to be released to the press and we’ve agreed to a handful of her family and friends who can be let in on the truth.  I’ve directed Special Agent Gonzalez to agree to her plan.  You will, of course, personally see that she’s accompanied by an agent at all times.”
    “Of course.”  It was difficult to force even those words out of his mouth so Cam said nothing else while Miller issued a few more directives for Maria before leaving the office.  Only then did he lean back in his chair, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes.
    “Relax.  The news of her death will be greatly exaggerated.”
    “Spare me the literary references.”  
    “We’re not going to announce it,” Maria went on.  “The obit will be buried in the newspaper with minimal information pending the notification of next of kin.  Hopefully that will be enough to satisfy anyone following up to make sure Channing is really dead.”
     “This is totally unnecessary.”  Frustration had Cam biting out the words.  “She could consult from her current location where she’s already safe with an agent at her side.  No one knows where she’s at.”
    “I believe she can be more valuable when she’s not kept at a distance.  And I agree with Dr. Channing that we lose a valuable element of surprise if Vance and his partner discover she’s alive.  We can make sure she’s no longer a target, and, properly disguised, she can be mobile.  Once this thing is solved, we’ll have public sentiment on our side, and there shouldn’t be any blowback for the false obit, since we’re doing it as a matter of protection.”  Maria lifted her shoulders in a gesture that was oddly reminiscent of Spencer Pals.  “I don’t see a downside.”
    He lowered his hands to stare at her.  “You don’t see a downside,” he repeated incredulously.  “Jesus, Maria, you’re the same one who told me only days ago that you had second thoughts before naming me lead in this investigation.”  And the memory of that conversation still held a bite.  “And I’d been back on the job for a year since my stint undercover on that multi-agency task force.”  An assignment that had resulted in  recurring PTSD, which had kept him from returning to work for far longer than he’d liked.  
    An assignment that continued to haunt him to this day.
    “But you don’t think that Soph…Dr. Channing might be too traumatized to consult after being abducted, beaten, terrorized and nearly raped just three days ago?”  He surged to his feet, unable to contain his frustration any longer.  “Try explaining that reasoning to me.”
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