Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(16)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Dylan just kept his dark gaze focused on the prisoner.

“The guy thought I was guilty from the first minute I stepped into that courtroom! He didn’t give me a chance—”

“So you made sure that he wouldn’t be around long, didn’t you? You made your own chance.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Chris rocked back in his chair. “The guy got attacked. He died. Sucks, but that’s life.”

No, it wasn’t. “He had a family,” Rachel said. An image of Patterson’s body flashed through her mind. “A daughter. A son.” His wife had died years before.

“I got a family, too,” Chris snapped. “You think my old man likes that I wound up like this? He was military, too. Thirty years. Hell, no, this shouldn’t have happened, but that lying jerk McAlister said I got drunk and roughed up some girls. I didn’t. He did. McAlister’s ribs got broken because I was making him back off. That’s what happened.” His chin jerked into the air. “I should get a medal. Instead, they threw me into the brig.”

“I don’t care about your sob story,” Dylan fired out.

Chris blinked.

“I want to know how you found him.” Dylan pointed at Chris. “And you’re going to tell me.”

Chris laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“The FBI is checking your father’s bank account right now,” Dylan revealed. Rachel knew that the EOD was actually the one doing the check. “Are they going to see that it’s short by…oh, maybe twenty thousand? Thirty? That used to be Jack’s going rate.”

Chris’s smile dimmed. “I don’t know any Jack.”

“Sure you do. You had him kill Hank Patterson.”

Chris’s gaze cut over to Rachel. “Pretty lady, are you just gonna stand there and let your—”

“Eyes here,” Dylan snarled.

Chris jerked upright. His eyes flew back to Dylan.

“I’m not your lawyer.” Dylan’s words hit with a thundering intensity. “I’m not one of your guards. I don’t care about how much money your father has or who the hell he served with. I’m an ex-SEAL, and I am your worst nightmare.” He leaned toward Chris. “You think you’re safe in here? I’ve got you now. No guards will hear you if you cry out. No one will hear you but me.”

“I didn’t hire Jack!”

“You’re weak.” Disgust was heavy in Dylan’s voice. “The bully who picks on others, but never on anyone that he thinks can actually fight back against him.”

Chris’s lips clamped together.

“You knew Patterson was going to rule against you, so you had him killed. Probably you and your old man.”

Goose bumps rose on Rachel’s arms. This was just like before. Her last case as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate. Jack had been brought in on that case, too…

“Money can’t buy everything,” Dylan said. His eyes were like black ice. “And it’s sure not going to buy you freedom. You’re going to stay locked up, and everyone will know just what a weakling you are—”

Chris erupted from his chair. “I’m not weak!” He flew right over the table, tackling Dylan. The two men slammed to the floor.

Rachel lunged forward.

But she didn’t need to help Dylan. He’d already tossed Chris off him and Dylan was back on his feet. “Wrong move, kid,” Dylan snarled.

Breath heaving, Chris glared at him. “No, you made the wrong move. I can make you vanish. Make you disappear, just like I did Patterson—”

And there it was. The confession that they’d wanted. Dylan had just needed to push the guy past his control in order to get the words that they wanted to hear.

“One call is all I need to make to my old man act. Just one.” Even as he spit out the last word, Chris’s eyes widened, but it was too late. His fury had driven him to reveal too much.

“Thanks, genius,” Dylan drawled mockingly. “That was all I wanted to know.” He turned away and glanced at Rachel. “Ready?”

Because now the trail would take them to Chris’s father. “Definitely.”

“No!” Chris yelled. “Hell, no! You aren’t going to keep me in here!” His eyes were wild. “I’ve got plans. One way or another, I’m getting out of here! I won’t stand trial again—I’m getting out.”

“No,” Dylan flatly told him, “you’re not. You won’t be free anytime soon.”

Chris screamed and ran forward again. Never taking his eyes off Rachel, Dylan struck out with his right hand. When Chris hit the floor, he was out cold. “Now let’s get out of here,” Dylan said. He headed for the door. The guard appeared because he’d never gone far, not really.

“It was all recorded?” Rachel asked because she had to be sure. After what Chris had done, she wanted him to pay for Patterson’s death. Just as Jack would pay.

The guard nodded.

Rachel glanced back at Chris. The guy wasn’t moving. She hoped Chris got used to being locked up because he wouldn’t be a free man again.

* * *

THE SUNLIGHT BEAT DOWN on Dylan as they left the military holding facility. They’d cleared all the guard checkpoints and already phoned in their intel to the EOD.

He opened the door for Rachel, and she slid inside the car. His ride this time, not Thomas’s. A vehicle that came courtesy of the EOD. A tracking device was included with the car so that the other EOD agents could always locate the vehicle.

In an organization like the EOD, you could never be too careful.

His hand went to the ignition, but then Dylan paused. He shot a fast glance at Rachel. “Are you going to say anything?”

She blinked at him. The sunlight streamed through the window, making her skin appear so golden. Rachel was Italian, part of a big, brimming family. A family that thought she worked as a pencil pusher for Uncle Sam. They had no idea what Rachel really did for a living. If they knew, he was sure they’d be terrified.

Dylan didn’t have to worry about his own family being terrified. He had no family. His folks had passed when he was nineteen and, unlike Rachel, he didn’t have any brothers or sisters.

Actually…Rachel was the only family he had. The thought slipped through his mind. I’m not alone because I have Rachel.

“I was certain you’d get the intel from him,” she said with a shrug. “You’re good at your job.”