Free Body Double by Vicki Hinze

anyway.”
    Mark went for a carrot. “You’re going ahead with the investigation, then?”
    “Of course.” A breezy gust blew her hair over her eyes. She shoved it back, behind her shoulder. “Look, my job is to carry out orders, but my duty is to protect the interests of the United States. If the colonels want to get bogged down in a battle of wills, fine. No problem. If the general and the secretary want to worry about operatives rather than the country, fine. No problem. They do what they believe is right, and I do what I believe is right. I’ve listened to their worries and concerns and even their orders, Mark, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do my duty.” She snatched one of the last two grapes off his plate. “We were victims. I think Sloan and Harding might have been victims, too. Until I know what happened and that there aren’t more victims with access to high-level classified information, I’m going to press on.”
    His jaw ticked, but he offered her the last grape. “Against orders.”
    She took it—it was too plump to refuse—popped it into her mouth, and then challenged him. “Doing my duty and honoring my oath to this country.”
    “If you push this, at some point it’s going to lead to you making accusations against someone for suppressing the truth.”
    “Undoubtedly, it will,” she admitted.
    “Yet you’re still going to do it?”
    “When and if the occasion arises.”
    “Okay.” Mark’s expression darkened and the look in his eyes went flat. “Then it’s my duty as lead investigator to forewarn you. You’re treading on dangerous ground, Amanda. You can’t accuse fellow operatives or military members of covering up the truth without serious personal consequences.”
    “I’m aware of that. I’m hiding the truth, too, remember?”
    “I was beginning to wonder if you remembered.”
    “I do. Go on,” she said, motioning with a fingertip. “But first, pass the water—and do you by chance have some peanuts? I don’t even like peanuts, but I’m craving them.”
    “You’re craving salt from all the water,” he corrected her.
    “Okay, do you by chance have any salted peanuts?”
    “Sorry, but no. I’m allergic. Can’t be anywhere near peanuts.”
    She tilted her head. “What happens?”
    “My tongue swells up and I can’t breathe.” He frowned at the topic interruption, but passed over his water glass. “It’s also my duty to forewarn you that if you do make any accusations against anyone and you can’t indisputably prove them, you can be tried for crimes against those individuals, against the military, and against the government. And while it’s not my duty, I need to make sure you understand the consequences don’t start at the court-martials door. You could find yourself ostracized by the other operatives, Amanda. If you get into a jam on a mission and need their support, that could be fatal.”
    She sipped his water, returned the chilled glass to him, then chomped down on a cheese cracker. When she’d swallowedit, she responded to his formality with her own. “I acknowledge your warnings, Captain Cross, and I appreciate your clarity on the potential fallout with the other operatives.” That part was personal and sincere and she was grateful for it. “I can’t speak for you and what you would do in this situation, but I owe it to all of Kunz’s victims and to the U.S. to find the truth.”
    “I want the truth as much as you do.”
    “Of course. That’s why you’ve been doing what you’ve been doing for the past year.” She shoved the bowl toward him. “Have some crackers, before I empty the entire bowl by myself. My arteries will love you for sparing them.”
    He refused. “Sorry, you’re on your own for restraint. I’m full.”
    “In that case, I’ll do my best to exercise discipline.” She looked at the bowl and her mouth watered. “Maybe I could just take them into the kitchen.”
    Mark laughed. “I’ll help.” He sprinkled the