Touching Evil by Kylie Brant Read Free Book Online

persuaded to testify against Vance, she’ll be another effective weapon against him, as well.”
    “I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t occurred.”  Cam’s admission stopped Sophia short.  “For some of the same reasons you mentioned, yeah, but mainly because letting Vance think you’re dead takes his focus off you.  You can be damn sure his partner was following orders last night.  If he and Vance think the assassination was successful, you’re far safer than before.  But I think there are a few details you haven’t considered yet.”    
    “Such as?”
    “Faking your death means everyone thinks you’re dead.  Not just Vance and his sidekick.  Your parents.  Your friends.  Neighbors.  Colleagues.”  Sophia deflated a bit at the listing, hating his sardonic expression as he took in her response.  “Reports of your demise would have to be public, because that’s the only thing that would convince Vance.  So that complicates things a bit.”
    She chewed her lip.  “My parents are still in Europe.”  A fact that she gave thanks for daily.  It meant she had been able to sugarcoat most of the details about her kidnapping.  Both academics, Gloria and Mitchell Channing had never approved of Sophia’s gravitation toward forensic psychology.  Had they heard the truth, they would have cut their sabbatical short to fly to her side and would currently be trying to whisk her off to their home in Michigan.  “I could get in touch with them before any public announcement was released.”  
    Another thought had occurred.  “Oh.  And I’d have to let Livvie and Carrie know the truth.”  The women were not only neighbors but also dear friends.  And after everything Carter had been through last night on Sophia’s behalf, there was no way she’d add to Livvie’s stress by letting her believe the farce.  “And Dr. Redlow.  Since he’s handling my private practice he has to be clued in so he can decide how to best handle any client concerns that arise.”
    “That was quick.”
    Sophia didn’t trust Cam’s tone.  He took an exaggerated look at his watch.  “After planning to announce your death to the world, it took you all of three seconds to start reeling off exceptions.  News flash, something like this works only if everyone really thinks you’re dead.”
    “You get snotty when you’re tired.”  The observation was mild, but her movements as she tightened the knot on her robe were jerky with irritation.  “Five exceptions aren’t going to sink the pretense.”
    “Five plus most of the DCI,” he countered.  He’d given in to exhaustion and shut his eyes for a moment, but she knew better than to believe he’d take any well-deserved rest before heading back into headquarters.  “The more people who know the truth about you, the greater the risk that Vance learns you’re alive.”
    “Stop being a naysayer.  This could work.  And you know it.  You just said that you’d considered it.”  His eyes snapped open then and something in them stopped her.    
    “Because letting the world believe you’re dead is the best way to keep you safe.”  The starkness of his words, the intensity in his gaze had everything inside her going still.  There was a time when just a look from him had her heart stuttering in her chest.  She hadn’t recognized the woman she’d become in the brief time they’d been together.  The feelings he’d elicited in just twelve short days had been thrilling.  Frightening.  With the benefit of hindsight she could see now how those unfamiliar feelings had impacted her decision to break it off.  
    It hadn’t been the fact that he was totally different from any man she’d ever been involved with.  It had been that free fall of emotion he’d elicited, which she’d been quite certain had been one-sided.  For a woman who had spent most of her life making safe choices, her loss of control had been terrifying.
    And then Mason Vance