When he rounded the first curve on the winding road she turned toward her rental car-and saw a blue sedan. It sat parked beneath an oak limb that encroached over the road. Through the thick leaves, she saw a man behind the wheel.
Her heart thudded hard. Had he been following her?
This was the third time she’d seen a standard-issue sedan. She couldn’t say it was the same one-they all looked alike-but determined to find out who was in this one, she left the gravel path and cut across the grass to the car.
Stopping a safe distance away from the driver’s window, she tilted her umbrella back and looked inside. Gus O’Dell.
If Adam had told the truth, O’Dell had changed his orders and he’d have a storehouse of reasons for not wanting her to investigate further-and for following her. A cold chill slithered up her back. “Major,” she said, the heels of her pumps sinking in the soft mud. She pulled the left one loose. It made a sucking sound, and she glanced down. The shoes-were ruined. “Why didn’t you attend the service?”
His sour expression didn’t change. “I have no respects to pay, Captain.”
Rain pelted her hip. She shifted the umbrella to block it. “Then why are you here?”
“Just verifying the bastard’s dead and buried.”
O’Dell’s gaze hardened. He draped an arm loosely over the steering wheel, and his tone turned bitter, accusing. “Why are you here?”
She swallowed back an angry response. “Oh, I don’t know, sir. Maybe because I’m his attorney and he wasn’t proven guilty. Or maybe because concepts like compassion and mercy and forgiveness appeal to me. Or maybe I was just curious and I wanted to see who would stand up and give the man the benefit of doubt. That is one of the principles we military types fight for, isn’t it, sir?”
She grunted and lifted a hand, knowing she was going too far; knowing it, but unable to stop herself. This treatment of Adam cut too deeply into her beliefs. “And I did see, didn’t I? No one. Not one single person gave Adam Burke anything. Not the benefit of doubt, not mercy, and certainly not compassion. Says a lot about us as people, doesn’t it, sir?”
“Yes, it does-for our collective good judgment and our lack of tolerance for those who mock the very thing’s we fight to defend.”
“Don’t I wish. But I believe indifference is more accurate.” Tracy lifted her chin. “You know, I can stomach people being for or against the man based on beliefs. But indifference?” She let out a little grunt. “Indifference is the worst insult of all.”
O’Dell’s expression became grim. He keyed the ignition, and the engine roared to life. “I suggest you get your emotions under control, Captain. Some clients deserve your righteous indignation, but Burke wasn’t one of them.”
Before she could remind O’Dell that every American wronged was worth righteous indignation, he stomped the accelerator. The sedan swerved down the road, its spinning tires spewing gravel that stung her shins. Refusing to let the likes of Major Gus O’Dell reduce her to rubbing her locket, she crossed an arm over her chest, and muttered, “Sanctimonious bastard.”
Scrutinizing him until O’Dell drove out of sight, she returned to her car, still seething.
Someone’s watching.
The familiar sensation crept through her. Goose bumps peppered her skin. What had alerted her senses this time?
Chaplain Rutledge and O’Dell had left. Except for her, the cemetery was deserted. No, it’s not. You’re being stalked.
Her hands shaking, she locked the doors and cranked the engine, knowing her instincts were right.
Chapter 11.
Bone-picking time evidently had arrived.
Ted leaned against the frame of his office door, his arms akimbo, his expression.stony.
Bloody hell. She didn’t need this. Not today. And never from Ted.
He’d entered the Air Force on a direct appointment which meant with Career Status, and he was definitely on the promotion fast track. He’d made major below the zone, and according to Janet, he’d make lieutenant colonel early, too. Ted suffered no worries about his military longevity.
Envy slithered through Tracy. She tamped it. Ted didn’t mingle much, but his professional sagacity had earned him esteem, and since she’d bailed him out of a touchy situation with an irate contractor threatening to sue because he’d lost out on a project bid, Ted had gone out of his way to be nice to her. He felt he owed her, but he didn’t. She’d just been doing her job: protecting the interests of the United States. What had him steamed at her?
He waylaid her in the hallway outside his office. “Did you go to Burke’s funeral?”
The troublemakers, Richard and Samuel, rode hard on Ted’s heels. “She did,” Richard answered. “She’s tracking cemetery dirt all down the hall.” He forked a hand through his curly blond hair. “Are you nuts, Keener?”
“Only when provoked.” She tried to pass them, but standing shoulder to shoulder, they blocked the entire hall.
“You’re making us all look bad.” Samuel laid a glare on her that could melt iron. “Burke was a coward. You had no business going to his funeral.”
Are you really going to take this? Fluff.
Remembering Adam’s taunt got to Tracy in a way none of the JAG officers’ jabs could get to her. She stiffened and focused on Ted. “I’m Adam Burke’s attorney, and I went to his funeral because I felt it was right. Are you forgetting the man wasn’t adjudged guilty?”
Richard grunted. “Christ, Keener. Do you have to witness a murder firsthand to believe one happened?”
“I need indisputable evidence. And before you condemn a man, you’re supposed to need it, too.” She wheeled her gaze from Richard back to Ted. “Ironic, isn’t it? All three of you devote your professional lives to preserving freedom, and yet you feel so damn righteous in snatching it away. Is it something you ration out when the mood strikes you?”
Samuel glared at her. “Any of us could have been tagged for this assignment, but you’re going too far. Burke made a mockery of everyone in uniform, and you’re idolizing him. You’re making us all look like bleeding-heart idiots.”
Bleeding-heart idiots? She chilled her voice. “You disagree with what I did. Fine. But I suggest you exercise caution in judging me. Someone might come along and hold you up to your own standards, and I don’t think you could stand the scrutiny.”
Angry and treacherously close to exploding, she pushed through their human barricade and strode into her office. Damn it. Why do I let them get to me?
“I heard,” Janet said from her desk. “The office politics will be sheer hell.”
“I know, I know. You told me so.” Because the crimes had been committed against fellow officers, the JAGS took her attending Adam’s funeral as a personal slight. “And you were right. I’ll be eating dirt for months,” she said in Janet’s general direction, then stepped into her office and slammed the door shut.
She slumped in her desk chair and buried her face in her hands. “Self-righteous jerks. Pompous-”
Her office door creaked open. She schooled her expression, and looked up.
Ted strode in, looking ready to commit murder. “I want to talk to you.”
Tracy Straightened in her chair. “If you’ve been selected office spokesperson to read me the riot act for calling you three down on the carpet, save your breath. You damn well deserved it.”
Ted stuffed his hands into his pockets. “You’re stepping on my toes, Tracy.”
“Be grateful I’m not stomping on them.” She glared up at him, unwilling to back down. “That little attack out in the hall was inexcusable, and you might recall that I’ve saved your toes a couple of times, too. I don’t expect your gratitude for doing my job, but I damn well expect a little latitude. How dare you criticize my actions? Especially when you don’t have a clue in hell why I’m doing what I’m doing, and you haven’t even bothered to ask.”
The starch left Ted’s shoulders. “Look, I was out of line, okay? I was pissed about something else, and I just unloaded.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared at her, locked in some mental debate. “I shouldn’t say anything about this, but it’s because you’ve saved my toes that I have to.” Worry flooded his eyes. “You’re in real trouble, Tracy.”
“What are you talking about?” And why did she have this awful feeling she was going to hate it?
“We both know the Burke case assignment was a by name request from General Nestler, and Burke left you his entire estate. What I know and you don’t is why Nestler tagged you to defend Burke.” Ted lifted his gaze from the star paperweight to her. “An officer specifically asked Nestler to assign you, Tracy. I was in the office and heard the general’s call firsthand. He didn’t solicit the officer’s recommendations or request suggestions. That’s significant, considering the officer was Colonel Hackett.
“Hackett?” Burke’s boss? Surprised, Tracy stilled. “Why would he care?”
“That, I don’t know.” Ted braced a hip on her credenza, brushing against the ivy leaves. “But he never does anything without a reason.”
What reason? What did this mean? “So Hackett’s request is why I’m in real trouble?”
“No.” Ted shifted his weight. The credenza’s legs creaked. “You’re in real trouble because you’re stepping on my’ toes.”
Tired of riddles, she elevated her voice. “How the hell am I doing that?”
“By sticking your nose in my project.”
She lifted her hands. “What project?”
Ted’s jaw snapped tight. “I know you’re damn good with contracts on cutting-edge technology, and that if it weren’t for your brother-in-law bidding on so many projects, you’d still be doing them. But he is doing them, and you’re not. I’m counsel on project Duplicity, and I’m telling you to keep your nose out of it. You’ll cost me making light colonel below the zone.”
“A man is dead and you’re worried about making lieutenant colonel early?
Get a grip, Ted.” Resentment and disappointment flickered in his eyes, and the truth hit her like a sledge to the back of the head. “There’s a connection between Adam Burke’s case and Project Duplicity. That’s what you’re telling me.”
The resentment faded. “I’m not telling you anything except that you’re stepping on my toes and I don’t like it. You’re exceeding your authority, Captain.”
Ted pulling rank? How atypical. How interesting. “A man’s reputation is worth the excess, Major. Live with it. Better yet, help me find out the truth.”
“I can’t.” The anger leaked out of Ted’s voice. ““Things are happening here that you don’t understand.”
“Obviously.” She rocked back. “Enlighten me.”
He scowled at her. “I’d have to breach security, and you know it. You’re not the only JAG with ethics.”
“Of course I’m not. But tell me, Ted.” She softened her voice. “Just what are you afraid I’m going to find out?”
Their gazes met and locked. A tense moment passed. Then, without a word, he turned to walk out of her office.
Damn it. “If you want me to stay off your toes, you’d better tell me how my case connects to your project. I won’t be held responsible for crossing a line I can’t sec.”
He glanced back at her, worry.pulling the lines in his face taut. “I don’t know how they’re connected. But if you try to figure it out, know going in that you’ll be risking a lot more than just your career.”
She nearly fell out of her chair. “Are you threatening me, Ted?”
“I’m warning you.” His eyes turned solemn. “Friend to friend.”
That knocked the wind out of her sails. He was project counsel and he honestly didn’t understand the connection himself. This wasn’t a case of “I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.” Ted didn’t know.
Trying to key in on what he sensed, she began quizzing him. “Is Project Duplicity ready for funding?” Weeks away from year-end, it had to be close, if not waiting in the wings for its turn at bat before Congress.
“Everything has been ready for a couple months except the clinical-study findings.”
“Cutting it kind of close on the timing, aren’t they?”
If not ready by fiscal year-end, Congress wouldn’t consider funding the project for another year.
“There was a snag,” Ted said. “But the program manager says it’s cleared now. I expect the studies in the next couple of days.”
“I see,” Tracy said, wishing she did see. What was the connection? She could question Ted on the project, but it was classified. Pushed, he might or might not tell her, but he would resent it. Shoe on the other foot, so would she.
Ted stared at the door, his back to her. “I can’t tell you what you want to know.- I can tell you I have a bad, bad feeling about this.”
Sharing his bad feeling, she watched Ted walk out the door.
Certain she was coming down with a cold, Tracy pored over Adam’s file and everything she could legally examine on Project Duplicity. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much. Just the log assigning Ted as counsel and his hours spent on the project.
Someone rapped on her office door, then immediately opened it. Janet.
She walked in talking. “Colonel Jackson’s gotten word you went to Burke’s funeral. He wants you to report to his office now.”
“Terrific.” Tracy permitted herself a groan. “What next?”
“Hey, where’s your locket?” Janet pointed the tip of her pencil at Tracy’s neck.
Tracy reached for it, but her locket was gone. “Oh, God.” She sneezed. “I know I had it on at the funeral.”
Had she lost it there? “I’ve got to find it, Janet. I need that locket.”
“Go placate Jackson.” Janet passed Tracy the tissue box. “If the locket’s here, I’ll find it.” , Feeling naked, vulnerable, Tracy swiped at her nose with a tissue and left the office, dreading the coming confrontation ‘with her boss. Scared stiff that she had signed her own career death warrant, she ignored numerous nasty looks coming-her way from the other JAGS. Evidently Samuel and Richard had been busy spreading the news through the whole damn building.
She stepped into the colonel’s outer office, wishing she’d changed her shoes. Even furious, Jackson would notice the mud.
His secretary, Peggy, a neat freak equal to the colonel himself, ushered her into Jackson’s inner sanctum without so much as a courtesy greeting. Tracy supposed her silence adequately expressed Peggy’s disdain.
‘ “She’s here, Colonel.” Stepping aside, Peggy darted Tracy a reprimanding look.