Read Online Duplicity by Vicki Hinze - Free Book Online Page B

the face. “I have no idea.”
    Her skepticism again surfaced.
    He must have noted it because he grabbed the chair across from her, turned it around, and then straddled it, yanking the chains between his leg shackles tight. “I see your doubt. You don’t believe a word I’ve said.”
    The absence of anger in his voice disturbed her. “You’re accusing respected, high-ranking officers of murder and conspiracy, Burke. I’d be crazy not to have doubts. Wouldn’t you?”
    Adam frowned down at the table. A long moment passed, then he lifted his chin and met her gaze. “Look, you’re a beautiful woman, but I think you’re too young and idealistic to grasp how things work in the real world. I envy you your innocence-God, do I envy you your innocence-but I’d be a damn fool not to realize it could cost me my life. I need an attorney-”
    “I’m your attorney.” Something flickered in her eyes. Her face bleached white and she slapped a hand to her neck as if her heart had jackknifed straight up into her throat. “Too young and idealistic? Who gave you access to my Personnel file?”
    That had come from her file. Verbatim. Adam rolled his eyes back in his head. “For Christ’s sake, Keener. I’m in Intel.”
    Her face flushed. She flattened her lips to a slash and her hands into fists. “I’m not buying into this. But if I were, do you believe O’Dell acted on his own, giving you the orders?”
    Adam draped his hands over the back slats of the chair, dipped his chin, and met her cool gaze. “No, I don’t. Gus O’Dell doesn’t have the brass to pull something like this. He’d never risk stepping on Colonel Hackett’s toes.”
    “So you believe Colonel Hackett is also involved in this conspiracy?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    Tracy stared at the bruises under Burke’s left eye. What had been purple now had faded to green. Weighing all he’d told her, she cringed at the implications. Murder. Conspiracy. It had to be lies. All lies.
    If called down, would Burke admit the truth? She doubted it, but she had to give him the chance. “Is that it, then?”
    Wary, he nodded, his expression tense.
    Finally, the man had behaved as a typical defendant. No rationalization or justification, but he certainly had blamed someone else. Major Gus O’Dell-and, by implication, Colonel Hackett and possibly Lieutenant Carver.
    Madness. Sheer madness. But oh, so typical, Burke’s becoming predictable pleased her, relieved her. So why did she feel this shaft of disappointment stab her in the chest?
    Not wanting to explore that, she forced her mind back to Burke’s tale, to the plausibility of it. O’Dell? Maybe. Carver? Anyone’s guess. But Hackett? No way. Definitely a screw-up on Burke’s part, including Hackett in a conspiracy.
    “Well.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I have to say that your story sounds wild and creative. Very imaginative.” She drew it! a deep breath and turned the tables on him, preparing for anything. “But it can’t be accurate.
    Burke didn’t bat an eye. “It’s accurate.”
    “I don’t think so.” She disputed him with a tap of her nail against the blank legal pad. “Colonel Hackett is the problem,” she explained. “He’s ambitious, but respected and dedicated, and as I understand it, he’s about to be promoted to command the Pacific theater mission. What on earth would motivate him to get involved in something like this?”
    “Only he can answer that.” Burke’s accusing eyes glittered steel-gray. He didn’t have to repeat his remark about her being too young and idealistic. It was etched in the lines of his face. “I never claimed to have all the answers, counselor. The bottom line is that there’s a coverup going on here. A huge coverup. Whether or not you believe it doesn’t change a damn thing-except that your doubt leaves everyone who stands to be hurt by this wide open for attack.”
    “It leaves you open for attack.”
    ” Me and a country full of people who have no