Body Double by Vicki Hinze Read Free Book Online Page A

ask me questions like that. What? You expect me to spill my guts and help her shove the freaking needle into my arm?”
    “She isn’t here to push for the death penalty or a lethal injection, M.C.”
    Mark spoke loudly, but not loudly enough to be heard past M. C. Harding’s temper. He glared at Amanda. “Here’s the kicker, Captain West. I don’t have any guts to spill.”
    She held her patience, kept her tone low and even. “Meaning, you don’t remember what happened to you during that time? Or you’re being coerced by a third party into not admitting what you remember about what happened to you during that time?”
    “You want my life? You’re going to have to take it without my help. I’ve lost all I’m going to lose in this deal, Captain.” Harding stood up. His chair flew backward. “This interview is over.” He walked to the door, pounded on it, summoning the guard. “Don’t come back. I have nothing more to say to either of you.”
    “M.C.,” Mark intervened. “This isn’t what you think.”
    “Yeah, right. It never is, is it? I can trust them to find out the truth—of course I can. That’s why my ass is parked in a four-by-six with bars. Because they’re all so damn interested in the truth.”
    “She’s one of—”
    The guard arrived and Mark stopped abruptly. He took M.C. away and Mark dragged a frustrated hand through his hair. “Damn it, Amanda. Did you have to set him off like a rocket?”
    “I had questions, and I asked them reasonably. Harding is hiding something.” Residual effects of some sort that Dr. Vargus had mentioned; she’d bet the bank on it. “I got too close and he got nervous. That’s what happened here.”
    “No, Amanda, it isn’t.” Mark let out a sigh that heaved his shoulders. “You pissed him off because you didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt on believing he’s innocent.”
    “Do you know how many guilty people in jail claim they’re innocent?” She snagged her purse from the floor. “My faith can’t be demanded, Mark. Not by anyone. If Harding wants it, he has to stop being hostile and earn it.”
    “Harding doesn’t give a damn about your faith, he cares about his own.”
    “Well, that makes a lot of sense.” It made no sense at all.
    Mark rolled his eyes, then returned his gaze to hers. “He knows what he has and hasn’t done and you’re casting doubt on it. Knowing is all he’s got left. Knowing he didn’t kill his wife. Knowing he’s innocent and rotting here. He’s lost his wife, his family, his career—everything important to him in his life, including his freedom and reputation. Think about it, Amanda. He woke up just like you and I did—clueless—only he’s accused of murder. All that, and you want him to stop being hostile and earn your faith? Situation reversed, would you be interested in earning his?”
    She’d be beyond hostile, she’d be postal. “Probably not,” she confessed. “Let’s go run some data and see what turns up. I’ve got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that all four of us are in the same boat.”
    Mark looked into her eyes. “No, you don’t. You have the feeling there are even more than the four of us.”
    He’d read her thoughts. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but she didn’t much like it, so she didn’t confirm or deny his statement.
    They walked out and Mark passed her a set of car keys.“The green Honda is yours.” He gave her directions to the VOQ, and then left for his own car.
    He was a good-looking guy, and a considerate one, finding compassion for Harding when he had to be ticked off because M.C. wasn’t cooperating. Intriguing man, Mark Cross. “You do know your office phone is bugged,” she shouted back at him.
    He stopped in his tracks, sighed so heavily it lifted his shoulders, then turned toward her. “We’re backtracking calls on it, Amanda.”
    She tilted her head and looked over at him. “I did it again, didn’t I?” Underestimated him. Insulted