Dangerous Waters Read Free Page A

blew out an impatient sigh. “Look, lady, I don’t have time for this—”
    “Sergeant.”
    “Excuse me?” Those pale brows formed a formidable line.
    She held out a hand. “Sergeant Holly Rudd. I’m with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit.”
    “You’re a Mountie?”
    A proud member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by any other name. She nodded.
    He stood stock still, nothing moving but the glitter in his eyes. Finally he sucked in a breath and shook her hand. “Nice uniform.”
    She glanced down at her ragged old T-shirt, cutoffs, and thongs. “I was caught a little unprepared this morning, as I was officially on vacation. Thankfully, I always pack a uniform.” She tapped her bag with her foot, smiled widely, and watched his eyes grow a lot more friendly. And then they shifted straight back to suspicious as he realized she was cataloging his expressions like a facial analysis program. “And you are?”
    “Finn Carver.”
    Ah . Her fingers tightened on his when he would have let go. “You called it in?”
    “I did.” He forcibly disconnected her fingers.
    “I’m going to need all the gear you wore last night and the other diver’s. Forensics will want to check it out.”
    He regarded her with one of those silent, steady gazes people used when they wanted to argue but couldn’t. “I’ll need it back ASAP. I have a busy dive schedule this week.”
    “You can use something else for a day or two, right? I’ll make sure they do a quick turnaround.” She needed this guy on her side.
    The little time she’d had before the boat trip she’d used to pull up background information on the two guys who’d found the body. Finn Carver had been in the military. Right now he looked ready to go into combat. “Any chance the dive team arrived yet?” she asked.
    “No. Their ETA is eleven o’clock. West Coast Marine Service had a call north of Prince Rupert last night. It’s going to take them a few hours to get back here. So far you’re it.” His eyes scraped her form. He didn’t look impressed. She should be insulted, but she worked best when people underestimated her.
    “I want to check out the crime scene ASAP.”
    His face gave away nothing but skepticism. Those arms crossed again over that muscular chest. Mouth pressed into a firm line. She let her eyes wander over him. He really was very attractive and absolutely untouchable. Knowing that gave her a distinct advantage.
    “ You can take me down,” she suggested.
    He gave her one of those sideways glances. Not hostile. Not friendly. “Whoever is in charge of the investigation probably wouldn’t be very happy about that.”
    “Me. I’m in charge. On the ground anyway.” Although she was the newest member of the major crime unit here on the island, she had plenty of experience. She let her grin reach her eyes this time. This was her first case as primary investigator in a murder investigation, and she didn’t usually have to work this hard to charm anyone. “I just helped solve a case down in Blaine.” RCMP, municipal, and FBI collaboration. A hell of a big deal. “Guy murdered his wife, dumped her in Semiahmoo Bay. We found enough evidence to prove he was lying and he confessed.” To her, at the end of a bloody knife. She rubbed the newly healed scar on her arm. “I’ve been working with forensic experts in Burnaby for some time, looking at decomp after seawater submergence.”
    His lip started to thin. He was definitely not buying it.
    “If you’re too scared to go back down there…”
    He snorted and whirled away. “What am I, eight?”
    “If you don’t take me down, I’ll find someone who will,” she called to his retreating back.
    He stopped, tension stretching the muscles tight across his shoulder blades. “I thought people who found the bodies were suspects?”
    Knowledgeable about police investigations . Check. “At this stage, everyone’s a suspect, but I can take care of myself.”
    A harsh sound was