Free In the Dark by Marliss Melton

this case."
    Her troubled gaze touched on Master Chief, who'd offered up photos suggesting that Miller, Lovitt's executive officer, had been terminated, possibly for knowing too much. "As for the circumstances surrounding Miller's death"—she drew a sharp breath at the implications suggested by the photos—"if this case goes to court-martial, then of course I'll do whatever it takes to prove Lieutenant Renault's innocence, but this is far too inflammatory to be brought up at an Article 32 hearing."
    Her gaze drifted to the end of the table, where Hannah sat in her wig and spectacles. Her lilac-colored polyester suit with its large mother-of-pearl buttons looked stifling in the warm chamber. To Luther, however, Hannah managed to look calm, intelligent, and oddly appealing, even in her dowdy disguise.
    "Miss Lindstrom's testimony, on the other hand," the commander added, "could tip the scales in Lieutenant Renault's favor, provided you can find the evidence to corroborate it," she said to Hannah.
    Hannah had been introduced as Rebecca Lindstrom, though it had been made clear that the name was an alias. The defense lawyer knew that Hannah's colleague had been killed while probing into Lovitt's affairs. His notes detailing Lovitt's crimes had apparently been seized by Lovitt's protector, an international arms dealer called the Individual.
    "Ma'am, if we can petition for a delay," Luther urged, "we could really use the time. Once the FBI arrests the Individual, Lovitt's activities are bound to come to light."
    Commander Curew scribbled herself a note on the pad in front of her. "I'll ask, Lieutenant, but I can't guarantee that the request will be met. The powers that be are bringing this hearing before a judge as quickly as possible," she added, lips thinning with disapproval.
    The men shared dark looks. Lovitt had friends in high places. They were doing their utmost to keep him above the fray, to keep the Navy from taking a blow to its dignity.
    Commander Curew began gathering up her notes. "Unless the delay is granted, gentlemen, we'll meet again on Monday at eight hundred hours, prior to the Article 32. At that time, each of you will offer the testimony you've given me today." She darted a rather desperate look at Luther and Hannah. "If you find anything remotely damaging to Lovitt's reputation, please let me know at once. You have my card."
    With that, she stood up, causing all six men to come respectfully to their feet. They bid her good day, listening to her heels tap the linoleum tiles as she retreated.
    Within seconds, two military guards stalked into the chamber to take Jaguar back into custody. Luther watched with his stomach burning as they slapped cuffs on Jaguar's wrists. Jaguar kept eye contact with his platoon members up to the moment he was hustled from the chamber.
    As the door swung shut behind him, the men turned wordlessly to Luther and Master Chief, seeking their guidance.
    Luther was the first to speak. "Miss Geary and I are going to visit Spec Ops tonight and go through the paperwork," he conveyed in a confidential voice. "Master Chief, if you could talk to the duty personnel and convince them to let her in..."
    "Yes, sir," said Sebastian without hesitation.
    "We'll find what it takes to keep Jaguar out of jail, guys," Hannah said, giving Vinny and Bear a reassuring look.
    Luther liked her immensely in that instant. It was easy to forget that she'd been traumatized for her part in this drama, already. She stood next to him, undaunted, determined to bring corruption to heel and to seek out justice. She was a lot like him in that regard.
    He thrust the random thought from his head. "Let's go," he said, urging her toward the exit.
    As she and Luther pushed through the double doors of the Trial Services Building with Westy immediately behind them, Luther swept an eye over the parking lot. Hannah was their best chance at rediscovering the evidence they needed to prove Lovitt's perfidy. God forbid Levitt caught