Free Touching Evil by Kylie Brant Page A

the looks of her expression he imagined she was gritting her teeth.  “I’m not placing the outcome of this case and the well-being of a material witness in Dr. Channing’s hands,” she snapped.  “She’s not in charge of the investigation.   Are you really saying that her experience a few days ago damaged her credibility?  Her expertise?  You don’t believe her work on this case can result in any valuable leads?”
    It was his turn to clench his jaw.  It was the resulting emotional cost to Sophie that he was really worried about, but there was no way to share that without revealing that his concern stemmed from the personal and not the emotional.  But he wasn’t done trying.
    He took a turn around the office as he spoke, making an effort to level his tone. “I’m just asking you to weigh the potential personal cost to Channing.  Is it worth it in exchange for the possible leads she can give us?”
    “She’s an adult.  She’s responsible for her own choices and I respect her too much to try to second-guess them.”  Although some of the temper had dissipated from Maria’s words, they still held a bite.  “And I’ll tell you one thing, I have a feeling she wouldn’t welcome your paternalistic questioning of her capabilities.”
    He stopped to arrow a look at her then, one she returned unblinkingly.  Rationally he recognized this was his out.  Better that the SAC thought he was a chauvinist than to suspect that his concern for Sophie stemmed from something else.
    Something far more intimate.
    He was zero for two since walking into her office.  Cam recognized there were no battles left to fight here.  Silently he went to the door.  
    “Assistant Director Miller has been in contact with lab manager Fenton, and your request last night for priority status on the ballistics testing has been granted.  As soon as the evidence has been logged in, they’ll start the tests.”
    It was a sop, but better than nothing.  Cam figured the brass and spent bullets collected at the two scenes were their best lead so far, and the sooner they yielded results, the better.  He’d left orders that the collected brass at the scenes be taken to the lab immediately.  Maybe the tests would be started soon.
    “Oh, and Prescott?”
    He aimed a look over his shoulder.
    Maria’s face was inscrutable.  “I’m hoping that the concern for Channing that you’ve stated so eloquently comes from a sincere lack of faith in her abilities.  Because if I start to believe you’re more worried about Dr. Channing the woman…  The case already has two agents on administrative leave.  We can’t afford to lose a third.”
    ssThe warning implicit in her words was impossible to miss, and one he knew better than to respond to.  Cam shut the door behind him almost silently, a stark contrast to the resentment seething inside him.

Chapter 4
     
    It had been ridiculously easy to find the woman he’d seen last night.
    Sonny stared at the computer screen, his throbbing leg propped on a pillow and stretched out on the recliner.  IOSME, he’d discovered, stood for Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner.  Which made sense, given that she’d been at the scene last night for Janice.  Barely a pang accompanied the thought of the dead woman.  All his focus was reserved for the new one.
    Dr. Lucy Benally, forensic pathologist.  Lucy.  He said the name aloud, savoring it.  It fit exactly the woman he felt as though he already knew.  The IOSME website showed the office personnel, and there was a picture of the female he’d seen last night.  Although the others wore a bright smile for the camera, Lucy’s lips were only slightly curved.  Fitting, Sonny thought approvingly, for the seriousness of the job she was entrusted with.  A second page on the site informed him that she’d been employed by the agency for the last five years, and listed her schooling and previous jobs.
    A sharp pain arrowed into his wounded leg, and he