Trust No One by Diana Layne Read Free Book Online

to come from nowhere, but MJ knew he’d been waiting behind the big oak tree. Irritation pricked at her that he was being such a pest, even though he was no doubt only doing his job. She just hated that she was his job, for whatever reason.
    He watched as she caught Angelina at the foot of the slide. To outer appearances, MJ didn’t let his presence bother her, focusing on her daughter, who soon tired of the slide and ran as fast as her chubby legs would go toward the swing. MJ went after her.
    “Cute kid,” Ben said, following along to the swing. He held onto the chain while MJ buckled the safety harness.
    The tone in his voice set her on edge. “Yes, she is.” She tried to analyze why those two simple words made her uneasy. It was as if he disliked kids. But then again, everything about him so far today had affected her senses. And not in a good way.
    She silenced the thought and moved his hand away from the chain so she could push the swing. No sense in showing him his deliberate move unbalanced her, even if she hadn’t convinced herself.
    He stepped back, seemed to acknowledge her message.
    “Do you have children, Mr. Walker?” He didn’t wear a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean anything. He might be divorced. He might be an unwed father. He might not wear a ring when he was on a job.
    “No.”
    The word was abrupt. Clipped. Okay. Or he might not have kids at all.
    No sense in pursuing the subject, and she had nothing else to say. She turned her attention to pushing the swing, enjoying Angelina’s delighted squeals and the abandoned way she kicked her little legs.
    “When’s the last time you saw Tasha?” he asked over the noise.
    MJ kept pushing. “I was told she visited me while I was in the hospital. I don’t remember whether she did or not.”
    “No holiday visits?”
    “I haven’t been back . . . h-home,” MJ stumbled over the word, the place she’d lived out the remainder of her adolescence had never really felt like a home, “ . . . since Ed died. You haven’t done your homework.”
    “There’s been no reason to keep tabs on you.”
    “So, why are you looking for Tasha?” MJ didn’t think about Tasha much. Tasha was the oldest of the three kids Ed had taken in—light years older it seemed when they were growing up. Tasha was beautiful—blonde, pale, curvy, and she had always known how to use her looks. Next to her, MJ had felt gangly, too skinny, her face too pointy, her hair too dark and straight. To add insult to injury, Tasha was brainy—she had both book smarts as well as a sharp cunning which had gotten her out of many sticky situations, even as a teenager.
    Tasha’s brother Nikolai—Niko—was closer in age to MJ, and she had always gotten along with him better than his sister. They’d been quite close in fact, not only had Niko taught her to work on cars, but he’d taught her the meaning–
    “Seems she’s killing people she’s not sanctioned to kill,” Ben said.
    That shocked MJ out of her musings. She felt her eyes widen before she could stop the reaction. Her hands dropped to her side. Tasha was sly and crafty, true, and good at her job, but killing was something the Vista agents only did as an absolute necessity.
    Of course, maybe Tasha did have a reason. She always adopted her own rules, her own agenda, and everyone who knew her knew Tasha didn’t appreciate interference. This time was likely no different. Regardless, MJ didn’t want to debate motives in front of this stranger, Vista employee or not. “Maybe they needed killing,” MJ commented, her tone casual.
    “They were senators.”
    Keeping her face blank, MJ said, “Well, there you have it. I’m sure quite a few senators need killing.”
    Ben didn’t react with more than a slight raise of his left eyebrow.
    “Hey, lighten up, suit. It’s a joke.”
    “Do I look like a suit to you?”
    “You might not dress like one, but you’re acting as stuffy as any FBI agent I ever met.”
    “If you’re