Silent Witness Read Free Page B

volunteered for this job. I had no idea where I’d be assigned.” That was the truth. The other truth, which she didn’t tell him, was that she was fighting to get away from her old life and to start anew.
    â€œReally?” Jim was sardonic, and that wasn’t like him, but frustration was boiling up through him and he was helpless to cap it. Glaring at her, he answered his own question. “You haven’t a clue, Agent Tanner. Do you? I don’t care what you do back at the OIG for DOD, it’s still a civilian job. You can return to that job when this one-year trial balloon is over. It won’t work. I have to train you on the job with time I don’t really have. That sucks.”
    Running his fingers in frustration through his dark, cropped hair, he added caustically, “Not only do I get saddled with a woman for a partner, she’s a civilian. What the hell have I done to deserve this?” He really didn’t want an untrained partner, regardless of gender. But here she was: bright, pretty, gentle and very nurturing. All those things he so desperately craved and had lost. His heart kept going up and down like a roller coaster in his chest.
    â€œMaybe it’s not as bad as you think,” Ellen protested in a stronger voice. “I’m a fast learner. I’ll try not to be a pain in the butt to you.” Realizing that Cochrane was not going to compromise, she erected strong, firm boundaries. Apparently the only thing he respected was fighting fire with fire. Ellen could do it, but she was so damn exhausted emotionally that it took a huge effort to assume that kind of warrior facade.
    Laughing harshly, Cochrane cleared a chair for her. “I reckon you’re in Hollywood la-la land when it comes to understanding the military way of doing things.”
    â€œLa-la land is a delusional world, Lieutenant. I can assure you, I operate out of cold, hard reality.” Ellen moved to the chair, and sat down. She placed the knapsack on the floor and folded her hands primly in her lap, her level gaze never leaving his. “My father was an FBI agent for thirty years. My mother still works as a policewoman in Minneapolis, where I was born. I think I have the blood and background to be a source of support for you, not the opposite.” Ellen wasn’t about to be scared off by this officer.
    Sitting down in his chair, Cochrane thought her parents’ backgrounds were a hopeful sign, but quickly nixed the idea. He said, “Someone is trying to hornswoggle you. Because of the training you’ll need, my job will be twice as hard.”
    â€œHornswoggle. Is that word from the Ozarks?” She didn’t like that he was disempowering her by using a language she didn’t understand.
    â€œIt’s hill lingo. It means to pull the wool over your eyes.”
    â€œI won’t slow your investigation efforts.” Compressing her lips, Ellen gave him a narrowed-eyed look. “Aren’t you being a bit paranoid about this?”
    â€œParanoid? You can be calm as you want, Agent Tanner, but I see the handwriting on the wall.” Jim closed his fist and looked away. On the corner of his desk was a gold-framed photo of his six-year-old daughter, Merry. “This might be a trinket on your own careeragenda, but it’s like someone has just handed me a live grenade after they pulled the pin.”
    â€œI disagree,” she insisted, her gaze on his. Despite his dislike of her, Ellen found herself drawn to the officer. That was crazy. And then she laughed silently to herself. Crazy wasn’t a word she threw around lightly, but in this case, it sure fit.
    â€œWell, you just go right ahead and disagree, Miss OIG.” The phone rang. Jim yanked it off the cradle. He answered like a snarling dog protecting its bone. “Lieutenant Cochrane speaking.”
    â€œMr. Cochrane?”
    His brows shot up in surprise. Instantly, Jim wiped the derision