Free Flames Of Deceit by Carol Hutchens Page B

sofa, he frowned.
    “You’re determined to believe the worst about me, aren’t you?” Mia tore her eyes from his face. Was she afraid of what she would see, or worried he would look into her eyes and read her mind? Cursing her reaction to a man who could ruin both her and her brother with one phone call to chief of police, she held up a staying hand. “Don’t answer that question. I don’t have a right to question your opinions.”
    “Are you protecting me again, firebird?”
    Her head jerked up. “Protecting you from what? You’re the officer of the court.”
    “From finding my words quoted in your paper perhaps?” Jake pursed his lips, squinting his eyes as he searched for possibilities. “Or…maybe you’re trying to protect my career.”
    Tossing her head, Mia made a lady-like snorting sound. “Now why would I do that?”
    “Because you’re conscious of the threat to your career…and your brother’s, but mainly because you’re a caretaker, firebird. You care about others.”
    This time, her snort sounded louder. “You know all that from what…the few hours we’ve spent together? Come on, Judge. Stop channeling Dr. Phil. I need that disc.”
    The loud ticking of the clock on the mantel and the rustle of the March wind blowing in the trees outside the cabin filled the silence as Jake stared at her. “I need to know why you were in the courthouse the same time the fire started.”
    Did he doubt her because she was a reporter, or because she had slipped past security to get inside the courthouse? Fingers clenched on the edges of the laptop, Mia demanded. “You don’t believe someone shoved me in that closet and blocked the door so I couldn’t get out?”
    From the other side of the coffee table, Jake watched every twitch of her expression, every breath. “When you talk about your brother, I hear love. But I hear doubt, as well. Are you afraid of being disappointed by your brother’s actions, Ms. Clark?”
    How did he know? Could he read her mind? “Haven’t you questioned decisions your siblings made?”
    Lips twisted, Jake shrugged. “We’re talking about your brother. Do you think he’s guilty?”
    “It doesn’t matter. He’s my brother. I love him.”
    “I hear a but in your tone. If he is guilty as the model claimed, what will you do?” Jake settled back in the chair, waiting for her answer.
    “Phil has a responsibility to the family who loves him, and the people who elected him to office. I’m praying he told the truth.” Chin tilted, she repeated. “Will you give me the disc?”
    Jake tossed the purple blob toward her.
    Heart hammering against her ribs, Mia reached up to catch the small device. Jake hadn’t repeated his question about whether she intended to try to erase the disc. Did that mean he was starting to trust her? Or maybe he didn’t care because he was planning to turn her over to police?
    Wanting answers, from the disc and her own muddled questions, she plugged the purple object in the USB drive and held her breath. After long seconds, the screen flickered but remained fuzzy. Pain exploded behind her eyes. All this time, the hope, the risk. Holy cow, the risk, she still couldn’t believe she had broken the law and skipped past security. And for what? A big fuzzy nothing on the screen. “It won’t open.”
    Raising accusing eyes to Jake’s face, she spit out her frustration. “You knew, didn’t you? You tried the disc while I was in the shower.” Chest heaving, she sucked in air. “Did you erase the disc? Damn you, answer me? Did you ruin my chances of clearing Phil?”
    “Who’s showing a lack of trust, now, Ms. Clark?” Jake lifted a wide shoulder and frowned. “Look at the disc. It got hot enough to change shape.”
    Mia stared at the purple disc. He was right. She should have known the instant she saw the strange shape, but she had hoped. “Maybe the techs at the paper can read the disc?”
    “Can we risk asking?”
    “Risk?” She could feel