Free Expert Witness: A Romantic Suspense Novel by Nicole Luckourt

use. We have tests with normative data that provide useful results. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. But it’s something we often catch when it does. I’ve diagnosed defendants with malingering when they were using the system to avoid jail or for some other gain.”
    “You can tell when they’re doing that?” He looked at her with interest.  
    She nodded. “I was evaluating a defendant once who had all kinds of mythical creatures in the room with us. Unicorns, dragons, even a miniature mermaid. It was something.” The corners of her mouth turned up as she shared the memory. “He was trying very hard to appear impaired, but his symptoms weren’t consistent with any real mental illness. It made for an interesting morning though.”
    Chase chuckled, and Jordan felt herself laughing lightly with him. It was so easy to share things with him. She couldn’t help but think that he probably made a wonderful date. He could teach the men she’d been set up with on rare occasions a thing or two.  
    “So what about you?” she asked between forkfuls of broccoli and bell pepper. “Mike said you were with the state police before. I’m sure you’ve been to the jail a time or two.”
    “I’ll say. When I first started, I couldn’t seem to stay away from the place.” He shook his head.   “I remember a buddy telling me I needed to learn how to drive home with blinders after my shift ended—this was after a week of barely sleeping between arrests and court appearances.” His tenor became somber. “But I could never do it. I’d see a driver ping-ponging back and forth between the road lines, and all I could think about was preventing anyone from getting hurt. Getting home was the last thing on my mind then.”
    “That’s a hefty responsibility.” Jordan rested her chin on her fist. “I can’t imagine being able to ignore it either.”  
    “Yeah, well, I’ve had to tell enough parents they’ve lost a child…husbands they’ve lost their wives or the other way around. If there was anything I could do to save someone that unwanted visit from one of us, I did it.”  
    She felt her heart constrict at his confession. “That must’ve been hard. Having to be the one to tell the family members.”  
    Chase didn’t say anything. He nodded, then took a long swallow of his water. “Sorry I got into that.   It’s not exactly dinner talk.”
    “I don’t mind,” she responded softly.
    “Well, I’m glad those days are behind me. That’s one part of the job I don’t miss.” His tone indicated he was done discussing it.  
    She didn’t pursue it any further.   It was apparent the death and loss he’d encountered had weighed on him. But she’d also seen a determination to protect others in what he’d shared. She wasn’t surprised he’d ended up a bodyguard, given his inclination to want to shield others from danger. The setting might’ve changed, but he was still doing the same thing he was those late nights on patrol.

CHAPTER FIVE

    After finishing dinner, they retired to the living room. Jordan settled into a recliner, and Chase took a seat across from her on the couch. He debated going straight to his guest bedroom, but he decided to sit with her for a few minutes instead.  
    The sleeping setup wasn’t what he was used to. He purposefully didn’t tell her this when she’d asked earlier. Most of his employers had specific quarters designed for security personnel. When he traveled, he generally requested a hotel room adjoined to his clients. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d stayed in such close quarters.
    Letting out a breath, he reminded himself that this was part of the reason he’d taken the assignment. He’d wanted a change from the ordinary. And the physical proximity wasn’t the only difference. Most of his clients could afford an army if they needed one, but Jordan was facing this difficulty while living alone. And though she was putting up a strong front, it was clearly