Free Body Double by Vicki Hinze Page A

crackers on the lawn from the end of the deck and then rinsed off his hands in the water. “The squirrels will have a feast.”
    She liked him. She really liked him. He was gorgeous, thoughtful, and he hadn’t grown so cynical by the job that he’d lost his sense of humor or the ability to care about others. She didn’t like the intimacy or bond between them—it scared the hell out of her—but she did like the man.
    When he sat back down, he grew serious. “I admire your steadfastness in this, Amanda. Frankly, I admire much more. I didn’t mean to come across like an ass, but I had to make sure you knew what you were risking by continuing with the investigation when you’ve been ordered to back off.”
    “How can I not continue?”
    “That was how I felt about it, too.” He leaned toward her, looped his hands on his knees. “But it could cost you your career, and if what happened today is any gauge, your life. Those are pretty high costs.”
    “We’re all going to die, Mark.” She met his gaze easily, calmly. “It’s what we do while we’re here that matters.”
    “Yes.”
    The look in his eyes burned her, and the truth dawned. “You were ordered to back off, too.”
    “Again.” He nodded. “Colonel Gray phoned while you were in the shower.”
    “Are you going to do it?”
    “Now that I’m certain you won’t back out on me, I’m going to work with you.” Mark reached over and covered her hand with his on the table. “And together, we’re going to find the truth.”
    Just as he had felt obligated to warn her, she felt obligated to warn him. “You could lose your career, or maybe even end up in jail.”
    He tilted his head and slid her a look that left her nearly breathless. “I can live with that.” A furrow formed in the skin between his eyebrows. “I can’t live without self-respect. I have duties, too.”
    Self-respect. That was the one. The single comment heaped on all of his other comments that captivated her. The intimate bond between them expanded and, damn, but it was strong. So was her physical reaction to him, but this…this connection seemed far deeper than mere attraction.
    Don’t be crazy. You just met the man.
    He smiled and thoughts of resistance faded, her blood heated, and her logic turned to mush. Sometimes you don’t need time. You just know. She knew, and she liked knowing just fine—at least, at the moment.
    “You look ready to fall over.”
    “I am. I haven’t had time to recoup.” She heard what she said, but still couldn’t believe she’d said it. Amanda West, admitting vulnerability to a man? Inside, she froze. Outside, she shuddered.
    “Are you cold?” When she nodded she wasn’t, he added, “It took me about four days to get back to normal.”
    Amanda watched his expression and body language closely, but he hadn’t sneered or gloated. Her father would have done both—and then ridiculed and beaten her for being weak.
    Totally oblivious to her scrutiny, Mark glanced at his watch. It caught the light and the metal twinkled. “We’re out of time for today. What do you say that tomorrow we reinterview a couple people attached to M. C. Harding’s case? Maybe you’ll pick up on something I missed, or make a connection I haven’t. We should talk with M.C. again, too, but we can’t get in to see him until normal visiting hours.”
    A lawyer banned from the correctional facility? How bizarre! “Aren’t you a member of his legal team?”
    “Yes, but at Providence Air Force Base that doesn’t mean you have total access to prisoners. I have total access, but only during normal visiting hours. We’re stymied until tomorrow morning.”
    “Colonel Gray?” she asked.
    “He doesn’t like routine being interrupted. It undermines order.” Mark rolled his gaze. “So does our plan of action sound solid to you?”
    She nodded. “It works for me.”
    He glanced at the boat dock, and then at a long, thin cabinet built into the back wall of the house. “Do