Jodie Bailey - Calculated Vendetta

They had been good times, when both of them had been green in the army at their first duty station, heady with new soldier swagger. “And so long ago at this point, I almost can’t remember most of it.”

Marcus laughed. “You got that right. But one thing I’ll never forget. You never had a shortage of very pretty dates.” He glanced at Casey, then turned to Travis, his eyebrow arched. “Some things never change.”

“Casey’s a friend.”

“Sure. Right. And I’ve got eyes that can’t see.” Marcus hitched his thumbs into his belt. “What are you doing way out here in the middle of a crime scene?”

“John and I served together a few years ago, and Casey was interviewing him for a story. Thought I’d ride along.”

“Good thing you did.”

Travis bit the inside of his cheek. The comment brought a wave of gratitude he hadn’t expected. Last night, the idea to tag along with Casey had been an impulse driven by the image of her under attack and possibly a little misplaced jealousy. Turned out to have been the right call. He didn’t want to imagine what might have happened if he hadn’t been with her this afternoon.

With a glance over his shoulder at Casey, Marcus leaned closer to Travis, his expression grim. “Look, your friend?” He scratched his cheek, his gaze never leaving Travis’s. “Keep an eye on her. She might have trouble headed her way.”

The first time Travis had jumped out of an airplane, he’d stood in the door certain his stomach was going to abandon him by bottoming out through his boots. Right now, the same sensation leaped on him with a vengeance.

The laptop. They’d figured out it was Casey’s. Somehow, they suspected her.

He tensed for the fight, sending a silent thank-you to God he’d come here with her. If she’d been alone, there would be no alibi. “Number one, Marcus, I did CPR on John. I know...” He swallowed hard against the still-vivid vision. “I saw his injuries. Casey’s not capable.” He held up a hand to halt whatever Marcus started to say. “Number two, she was with a friend last night, at work this morning and with me this afternoon. She never had a chance to do this.”

Marcus thunked a finger against Travis’s forehead, the same way he used to do when Travis was getting stupid as a young private. “You done playing defense attorney yet?”

Fine, so he’d jumped the gun. The idea of Casey in handcuffs was a little too much to handle. He gave a stiff nod.

“I doubt someone as tiny as her could have manhandled the victim into that chair. But there’s enough evidence to warrant a few extra questions.” Arching an eyebrow, Marcus surveyed the area and lowered his voice again. “I saw the report. The two of you were mugged last night. At gunpoint. After she had dinner with the victim. Her laptop was stolen and one matching its description is inside the house next to a dead man. So either this is a crazy coincidence, or she’s in some kind of trouble. My man, stay close to her. And if you’re a praying person, start. Because you and I both know how rare a coincidence like this would be. That girl over there? She’s probably about to be in some real trouble, and the police are the least of her worries.”

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