Free Silent Witness by Lindsay McKenna Page B

and heaved my guts out, just like you. It’s a pretty common response. No college class can prepare you for a corpse.” Jim gave her an apologetic look. “And walking in and finding your husband dead, well, I felt real bad about that. If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have put you in that position. Next time, speak up?”
    â€œI didn’t want you to think I was weak,” Ellen said.
    His mouth curved at one corner. “That’s not bein’ weak in my book.”
    â€œThanks for letting me know.”
    â€œI also had a crazy dream about Kane last night.”
    Ellen raised her brows. “Really? Tell me about it.”
    Laughing, he said, “Spoken like a true shrink.”
    She realized he was teasing her. Maybe Cochrane was trying to make up for yesterday, and how tough it had been on her emotionally. “I’m curious, that’s all. I know why I had those terrible, fragmented nightmareslast night. I was traumatized by seeing another dead person.”
    â€œIt must be rough,” Cochrane agreed, glancing over at her. He lowered his voice. “You said it happened two years ago?”
    Ellen avoided his glance and looked down at her tightly clasped hands. Her voice grew strained. “Yes. I’m still processing a lot of grief. I miss Mark. I miss our talks, the way he saw the world. He was a wonderful person. One of the best.”
    â€œYou were lucky to have a marriage like that.”
    Ellen whispered, “I was.” She glanced out the window and watched the palm trees and houses flash by. “The sunlight is comforting. I feel like Persephone from the Greek myths, pining away for spring on Earth. I’ve been feeling so cold inside.”
    And then she saw Jim lift his long, large-knuckled hand and place it on hers. His touch was butterfly light, his gesture completely unexpected.
    â€œReal love’s hard to find. Harder to keep. I’m sorry.” Lifting his hand away, he quickly replaced it on the wheel. Jim knew he shouldn’t have done that, but there was something so touching about Ellen in that moment he’d done it without thinking.
    Biting her lower lip, Ellen gave a soft sigh. Jim’s gesture had been exactly what she needed. How had he known? She found herself wanting him to touch her in just such a way again. “You remind me of a knight on a white horse, a crusader. Maybe a throwback to an earlier time.”
    â€œDon’t go putting me on pedestals, Ms. Tanner. I fall off real easy. Deep down, I see myself as a knight tilting at the windmills of injustice and trying to right wrongs when I can.”
    â€œDon’t pay any attention to me. I’m an emotional puddle right now.”
    â€œI’ve been there once or twice myself,” he assured her in a husky tone. “We all get splattered with mud. Thanks for the compliment about the knight and all. I read all of King Arthur’s books growing up, so chivalry is important to me. It’s nice to be thought of in such glowing terms.”
    â€œYou’re pretty readable, Mr. Cochrane. Now, are you going to tell me your dream about Susan Kane?”
    â€œNothing much to tell,” he said. “She came up to me in a dream and asked me for my help. After she left, I woke up.”
    â€œHow did you feel during the dream?”
    He grinned. “I can feel you stalking me like a coon-hound on a scent trail, Ellen.”
    She smiled slightly. “Dreams are very important. More important than most people realize.”
    â€œI see. Well, I felt real emotional when I saw Susan. She was still in her uniform. I was standing in the middle of nowhere and she came out of the mist and light. She had blue eyes.”
    â€œAnd?” Ellen heard Cochrane’s voice go softer, and the line of his mouth was no longer as tight.
    â€œShe had tears in them. That shook me for somereason, but then, I can’t stand to see a child or woman cry,