Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

hallway.
    She knew many of the officers who worked the entrance by name, and most were friendly to her, even if they sometimes disagreed with the tone of her articles. Every once in awhile one of them called her with a news tip, making them valuable to her as potential sources, as well.
    Around the corner, Officer Hinkley and Officer Kramer staffed a thick steel gate that marked the entrance to the visitation area.
    “So the bastards had him in the shower and went after him with a broom handle. It took the ER doc an hour and a half to stitch up—” Officer Hinkley saw her and broke off. He straightened up, grinned. “Hey, it’s Lois Lane.”
    “Hi, guys. How’s it going?” Sophie flashed them a smile, pretended she hadn’t heard, making a mental note to check the incident reports on the way out.
    They buzzed her through, and a minute later she was seated in the assigned visiting room. She glanced at her watch, realized she was a few minutes early. Rarely did guards bring the inmates on time. There were so many variables. More than once she’d arrived only to find her interview canceled because of some unforeseen event—fighting on a cellblock, shakedowns, inmate transfers. She sat back in her chair and settled in for the wait.

CHAPTER 3

    “L ET’S GO , H UNTER.” Cormack stepped back from the open cell door, his voice gruff to disguise any hint of favoritism. “Move your ass!”
    Marc held out his wrists, relieved to see Cormack was putting him in standard-issue police cuffs instead of a four-piece. Marc had pleaded male pride, telling Cormack that the idea of being seen by a pretty woman while wearing full restraints was humiliating.
    “I haven’t been near a chick in six years, man,” he’d said. “I don’t want to shuffle in there like some fucking loser.”
    “I’ll see what I can do, but you’re classified red, you know. They can’t do nothing to you they ain’t already done, but me they can fire.” Cormack had pointed a thumb at his own chest. “You hurt that lady, and it’s my ass that’ll be on the line. I got kids to feed.”
    It was too bad about the kids, but Marc had people depending on him, too.
    He’d allowed himself to look insulted. “I’d never hurt a woman. Besides, why would I do anything to her? I need her help finding Megan.”
    Obviously, Cormack had believed him.
    Cold steel touched Marc’s skin, the handcuffs closing with a series of metallic clicks. Then, sandwiched between Cormack and another guard, he walked down the long hallway and through the first checkpoint, ignoring the shouted warnings, obscenities, and threats that followed him.
    “You think you the big bitch, don’t you, Hunter?”
    “Better watch your back, Hunter! I’m gonna kill you before I kill my number!”
    “Check it out! Hunter’s going to lay some pipe. Is she pretty?”
    Marc felt his pulse pick up as they left the maximum-security wing. He tried to tell himself it was just the thought of what he was about to attempt that had his adrenaline going, but he knew there was more to it than that. It was also the thought of seeing Sophie again.
    What would she think when she saw him? What would she think of the man he was now? Truth be told, he didn’t want to know.
    It had been twelve years since that night at the Monument, twelve years since they’d sipped sodas and shared their dreams, twelve years since she’d made what had probably been the biggest mistake of her young life and given him her virginity. He’d always wondered how she felt about it afterward, whether she’d had regrets. He certainly hadn’t. Memories of that night had helped him get through boot camp, sustained him through the freezing cold of Afghanistan, and brought him back to Colorado when his term of enlistment was over.
    No, he hadn’t forgotten her.
    I’m the kid who always gets in trouble, remember?
    Not with me you’re not.
    That night had changed his life—for a while. He’d gone into the army with a