Maggie bristled. “My sister didn’t take her life.”

Nate glanced down at his notes. “Let’s go back to the beginning. What happened after you entered the house?”

She explained how she had searched the rooms and, finding nothing, had made her way to the attic. “The upstairs was pitch-black. I couldn’t see anything and waved my hand in the air to find the pull cord for the overhead light bulb. The moon shone through the window and—” She struggled to find her words.

His voice softened. “That’s when you saw your sister?”

She nodded. Tears pooled in her blue-green eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks. Nate pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and shoved it into her hand, his fingers touching hers for longer than necessary.

Maggie seemed oblivious to the way his hand burned where it touched hers. What was happening to his ability to remain neutral? No one had ever affected him like the woman sitting close to him.

DEBBY GIUSTI

is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write. Growing up as an army brat, Debby met and married her husband—then a captain in the army—at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful army brats of their own and have now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul. Contact Debby through her website, www.DebbyGiusti.com, email debby@debbygiusti.com, or write c/o Love Inspired Suspense, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

The Officer’s Secret
Debby Giusti

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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If you remain in my word,

you will truly be my disciples, and you will

know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

—John 8:31, 32

To Tony and Joseph

My Military Heroes

To our brave men and women in uniform

God bless you

and

God bless the United States of America

To the Seekers

Thanks for making it so much fun!

To my editor, Emily Rodmell

You always make my stories better

To Tony, Liz, Eric, Mary, Katie and Joe

To Anna, Robert, John Anthony and baby William

I love you all so much!

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

LETTER TO READER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

PROLOGUE

The night lay cold and dark outside the car just like the layer of regret that hung around Maggie Bennett’s heart. She had left Fort Rickman as a young teen, vowing never to return. Too many painful memories were associated with the army post, memories Maggie had secreted away in the deepest recesses of her heart. Tonight, she prayed those memories would remain hidden forever.

Squinting through the rain-spattered windshield, she approached Fort Rickman’s main gate and parked in front of the Visitor’s Center. The clock on the dashboard read 2:15 a.m., a chilling reminder of the urgency of the middle-of-the-night plea that brought her here.

If not for her sister’s phone call, Maggie would still be sound asleep at home in Alabama instead of seeking entry to the Georgia army post she had left sixteen years ago. Dani’s attempt at reconciliation last week when the two sisters had met for lunch had been as unexpected after their years of separation as tonight’s phone call. Maggie had been surprised that Dani would reach out to her so soon after opening up communication again, but she wasn’t going to let her sister down. Not this time.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled her key from the ignition and stepped from her car, shivering, not so much from the cold February night air but in anticipation of what awaited her. Perhaps Dani’s outreach would move them beyond the pain of their estrangement.

How had the years passed without either of them making an effort to reconnect? After more than a decade of silence, her sister’s invitation to meet for lunch had been a welcome first step. Both of them had been guarded at the onset. Then slowly, recalling their childhood days, the sibling bond had semisurfaced and opened them to share at least a bit more deeply.

Maggie had known intuitively that Dani had changed, even before she had mentioned her time in Afghanistan. The deployment had provided an opportunity for her sister to reflect on the purpose of her life and, as she had told Maggie, she’d eventually realized her marriage to Graham had been a huge mistake. As soon as Dani had returned to the States, she had tried to explain to her husband the way she felt, but he hadn’t wanted to listen. Evidently Dani had been more insistent tonight.

Over lunch, Dani had also alluded to a possible illegal operation she had uncovered during her deployment, something that could put her in danger if the wrong people found out. She hadn’t divulged any of the details to Maggie, although she had voiced her own hesitation about telling Graham. He traveled to the Middle East with the civilian contracting job he had on post, and for a reason her sister never divulged, Dani felt she couldn’t confide in him—nor could she confide in the military police on post, who Dani believed could in some way be connected to the Afghani operation. All of which made Maggie wonder whether her sister thought Graham was involved, as well.

The old Dani never worried about the future, but Maggie had heard concern in her sister’s voice a week ago and had seen the glint of fear in her eyes, no matter how hard Dani had tried to cover her anxiety with a nervous laugh.

Neither sibling had mentioned their father’s death or leaving Fort Rickman years earlier, yet the topic had hovered like a dark cloud over their time together until, in parting, Dani had opened her arms and the two women had embraced, both with some hesitation and neither making the most of the moment. Yet the outreach on Dani’s part had been significant enough to, if not knit the tear, at least bandage the wound she doubted would ever completely heal.

Pushing aside the guilt that had claimed her heart for too long, Maggie tugged her coat closed against the wind and hurried inside where the glare of fluorescent lights greeted her along with the brisk “Welcome to Fort Rickman” of the military policeman on duty.

With a perfunctory nod, she pulled her driver’s license and registration form from her purse. After giving him the documents, she raked her free hand through her chestnut-colored hair, painfully aware of her disheveled appearance.

If only she had changed into something more presentable than faded jeans and a baggy orange sweater prior to starting out on her journey. As distraught as Dani had sounded over the phone, Maggie’s focus had been on packing a suitcase and heading for the highway. She’d made the trip in a little over two hours.

“Ma’am, your reason for entering post?”

The MP’s question brought to mind a number of answers. “I’m here to see my sister, Major Danielle Bennett. She lives at Quarters 1448 Hunter Road.”

Referencing Maggie’s license and registration form, he typed information into a computer database before he handed them back to her along with the visitor’s pass. After a hasty word of thanks, Maggie scurried to her car, threw the pass onto the dashboard and climbed behind the wheel. A sense of déjà vu, mixed with sadness, slipped around her shoulders as she drove through the main gate and entered post.

Maggie passed the Post Exchange and Commissary and caught sight of the old movie theater in the distance. All too vividly, she remembered sitting by herself, while a few rows over, Dani watched the movie surrounded by friends—mainly boys taken with her raven hair and rounded curves. As a young teen, Maggie had been bashful, gawky and underdeveloped.

Uncomfortable dwelling on the reality of her childhood, she refocused her eyes on the road ahead. Speed limit thirty miles per hour, a road sign warned. Maggie checked her speedometer. Easing up on the accelerator, she made the first of a series of turns that eventually led to the old housing area where brick homes sat guarded by stately oaks. She entered the subdivision painfully aware of even more memories that bubbled up from her youth. Despite the years that had passed, the streets were still familiar. Maggie turned right at the first intersection and pulled to a stop in front of Quarters 1448 where her sister now lived.

For a long moment, she stared at the Federalist-style structure built in the early 1900s, knowing farther down the road and on the opposite side of the street sat another two-story house with the identical floor plan where Dani and Maggie and their parents had lived when the girls were teens. Their dad’s assignment had been cut short by his death—a tragedy that haunted her still. Dani carried the guilt on her shoulders, while Maggie carried it in her heart.

Pulling in a calming breath and forcing her mind back to the problem at hand, she yanked the keys from the ignition, grabbed her purse and overnight bag and stepped onto the sidewalk. This wasn’t the time to revisit the past.

Maggie needed to focus on her sister’s problems. Dani’s voice had been stretched thin over the phone when she’d called, and the nervous laughter Maggie had heard at lunch last week had been replaced with labored pulls of air brimming with tension. The fact that Dani had even called made Maggie realize how desperate her sister was for help.

Graham had moved out a week ago, but he kept coming back, insisting their marriage could be saved. Finally, Dani had told him point-blank she wanted a divorce. Never one to be pushed around, Graham had balked at first until he finally realized Dani wouldn’t change her mind.

The Graham Hughes Maggie remembered usually got what he wanted. And from what Dani had said, it sounded as if Graham wanted his marriage intact, which was why Maggie had packed a suitcase and driven two hours to arrive at Fort Rickman in the middle of the night. Not that Maggie could provide protection, but she could offer her sister much-needed support.

Before closing the driver’s door, she dug into her handbag for the house key Dani had insisted she take when they’d finished their lunch last week and were ready to part company again.

“Just in case,” she’d said, giving no other information as she had shoved the key into Maggie’s hand. Now glad of her sister’s forethought, Maggie climbed the steps to the front porch and knocked repeatedly on the door. When no one answered, she slid the key into the lock and stepped inside, feeling an immediate sense of coming home.

Her gaze swept Dani’s living room, taking in the two Queen Anne chairs, the couch and love seat and then the marble-topped coffee table decorated with memorabilia her sister had kept that honored their military dad. His medals and the flag that had draped his coffin were both displayed in glass cases, reminders of the man he once had been.

Leaving her suitcase and purse in the foyer, Maggie shrugged out of her coat and followed a lone light into the kitchen. Neat, uncluttered, every item in its place and, just as with the living room, so like their house of old. Their mother had been a meticulous housekeeper, and from the looks of Dani’s quarters, she kept her own house as tidy as their mother had up until her own death years ago.

Circling through the dining area, Maggie stopped at the foot of the stairs. She glanced up and listened, hearing nothing except the wind buffeting the house.

“Dani?” On the phone her sister had mentioned being tired. Had she gone to bed?

Maggie flipped on the upper hall light and climbed the wooden stairway that wound to the second story. A small bathroom sat at the top of the landing, flanked by two bedrooms. Searching for her sister, she glanced into each room—one of which had been turned into an office—before she headed for the master suite and tapped on the door.

Stepping into the darkened interior, Maggie switched on the lamp, noting the neatly made bed and undisturbed accent pillows. The bath and dressing area beyond sat vacant, as well. Backtracking to the head of the stairs, she peered over the banister, debating her options, then refocused her gaze on the closed door at the end of the hallway.

Her pulse quickened, pounding against the tendons in her neck, filling her ears with the thump of her own heartbeat. Visions from the past returned to taunt her as they often did in the stillness of the night.

Her father’s body shrouded in death.

Her mother’s screams of disbelief.

Maggie shook her head ever so slightly, scattering the memories that clouded her consciousness.

“Let the dead bury the dead,” came the words from scripture. Maggie had moved on with her life and didn’t need reminders to draw her back in time.

What about Dani?

Over lunch and again on the phone tonight, she had sidestepped mention of their father’s death. The realization that Dani could still be caught in the past unnerved Maggie. With purposeful steps, she walked to the end of the hallway. The stairs to the attic sat behind the closed door. Maggie grabbed the knob and tugged it open.

Light from the hall spilled across the bottom steps. Pulling in a fortifying breath, she climbed the stairs, one foot after the other. At the top, she peered into the darkness and swatted the air, hoping to make contact with a pull string for the overhead light just as she had done years ago in her childhood quarters.

A sound below punctuated the stillness. Footsteps or the creaks of an aged house? Perhaps Dani was home after all. Maggie turned to descend the stairs she had just climbed.

A moonbeam broke through the dormer window, cascading light into the corner of the attic where an overturned ladder-back chair lay on the floor.

The hair on the back of her neck rose in protest.

“No!” Maggie screamed as she raised her eyes and focused on her sister’s body, hanging from the rafters.

ONE

Chief Warrant Officer Nathaniel Patterson, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, got the call at 0315. Possible suicide at Quarters 1448 Hunter Road.

Arriving fifteen minutes later, he parked behind two MP sedans and stepped from his car, adjusting his weapon on his hip. Although Nate hadn’t known Major Bennett, the death of an officer was significant, and tonight, the combined resources of the military police and the army’s major crime unit, the CID, had been called in to investigate the case.

Headlights signaled an approaching vehicle. Nate waited as his friend and fellow agent, Jamison Steele, crawled from his late-model sports car. Dressed in a tweed sports coat and gray trousers, he looked like a fashionable young executive in contrast to Nate’s run-of-the-mill navy blazer and khaki slacks.

With a hasty nod, Jamison fell into step beside Nate and followed him up the front steps in silence. Before either man could knock, Corporal Robert Mills opened the door. The young MP had the makings of a future CID special agent if he learned to keep his somewhat self-centered ego in check. Nate chalked it up to youth. Hopefully over time, his impetuous nature would mellow.

Raising his right hand to his forehead, Mills saluted the two warrant officers. “Evening, Mr. Patterson. Mr. Steele.”

The agents returned the salute and stepped into the brightly lit foyer. Nate glanced into the living room where a woman sat huddled in a high-backed chair. Blue-green eyes looked up with the hollow stare of shock he’d seen too many times at crime scenes. The raw emotion written so clearly on her face brought home the tragic reality of what had happened tonight.

Their eyes met and held for an instant, causing an unexpected warmth to curl through Nate’s gut. Then, tugging on a strand of her auburn hair, she dropped her gaze, breaking their momentary connection and leaving Nate with an emptiness he couldn’t explain. Probably the middle-of-the-night phone call and his attempt to respond as quickly as possible that had thrown him slightly out of sync.

Or maybe it was the woman—a family member, perhaps.

Putting a human face on the tragedy—a very pretty face—intensified his desire to learn the truth about what had happened tonight. Nate was good at what he did. Tonight he wanted to be even better. The woman deserved as much. So did the victim waiting for him upstairs.

Bottom line, the army took care of its own in life and especially so in death. He motioned Corporal Mills into the kitchen as Jamison headed upstairs. Nate pulled out a small notebook and ballpoint pen from his breast pocket then, lowering his voice, he nodded toward the living room. “So who’s the woman?”

“She’s the sister of the deceased, sir. Name’s Margaret Bennett, but she goes by Maggie. She found the major’s body in the attic.”

Nate knew how tough it was to lose a sibling. He thought of his own brother. Although eight years had separated them in age, they’d always been close.

He scribbled Maggie’s name on a blank page of his notebook. “Apparent suicide?”

“Roger that, sir. Major Bennett hung herself from a rafter. Sergeant Thorndike’s upstairs. He wanted me to check for prints.”

A half-empty bottle of cabernet sat on the counter. Nate pointed to a wineglass, stained with residue. “Be sure to send off a toxicology sample on whatever’s in the bottom of that glass.”

“Yes, sir.”

Opening the dishwasher, Nate used a latex glove he pulled from his pocket and lifted a second wineglass onto the counter. “Check the bottle and both glasses for prints. Let me know what you find.”

“Will do, sir.”

Nate nodded his thanks to Mills, returned the notebook to his pocket and grabbed a water glass from the cabinet, which he filled from the tap. Leaving the kitchen, he approached the woman in the living room.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I thought you might be thirsty.”

Maggie Bennett glanced up with tear-filled eyes and a drawn face that expressed the heartbreak of a deeply personal loss. The two sisters must have been close. His heart went out to her, understanding all too well the pain she must be feeling.

“I’m Special Agent Nate Patterson, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.” With his free hand, he pulled out his CID identification, although he doubted Ms. Bennett would question his credentials. At the moment, she looked like a frightened stray caught in a trap. A beautiful stray, he decided, noting her high cheekbones, arched brows and full lips. But her strikingly good looks were overshadowed by a blanket of grief that lay like a black veil over her alabaster skin.

“I’m the lead investigator on this case, ma’am. Please accept my condolences as well as the heartfelt sympathy of the CID and the Military Police Corps here at Fort Rickman.”

She bit her lip, then mumbled a broken, “Thank…thank you.”

“I’ll be upstairs for a few minutes. When I return I’d like to talk to you about your sister.” He placed the water on the end table.

She gave a brief, pained smile of thanks at the offered glass and then looked back at him. “Yes, of course. Whatever you need to know.”

Nate climbed the stairs to the second floor, feeling the weight of Maggie’s grief resting on his shoulders. He’d give her a few minutes to gather strength before he saddled her with the endless questions that any death investigation required.

Reaching the second landing, Nate glanced into the home office on the right where Corporal Raynard Otis attempted to access the victim’s laptop computer files. The soldier looked up, a full smile spreading across his honey-brown face. “Hey, sir. How’s it going?”

“You tell me, Ray.”

“Should have something for you shortly.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

Nate continued on to the open attic door. Rapid flashes of light confirmed the military photographer was already on the job. Within the hour, photos would appear on Nate’s computer, systematically capturing every detail of the attic scene.

On the opposite side of the hallway, Jamison questioned a military policewoman and jotted down pertinent information she shared, information the CID team would review over and over again until all the facts were in and a determination could be made about the actual cause of death. Foul play needed to be ruled out. Hopefully, the case would be open and shut.

Climbing the stairs to the attic, Nate eyed the rafter and the thick hemp rope wrapped around the sturdy crossbeam. Without forethought, he touched his breast pocket where he had tucked the notebook, containing Maggie’s name, as if to shield her from the grim reality of her sister’s death. Lowering his gaze, he took in the victim’s black hair and swollen face.

God rest her soul. The prayer surfaced from his past. His mother’s influence, no doubt. She had raised him to be a believer, although his faith had never been strong, and for the past eight months, he had tuned God out of his life completely.

Once again, his hand sought the notebook as his eyes refocused on the body.

Death by strangulation was never pretty, yet despite the victim’s contorted features, he recognized the same classic beauty that the very much alive sister sitting downstairs possessed. The deceased, with her low-cut silk blouse and snug-fitting leggings, appeared to be the more flamboyant sibling in contrast to Maggie’s modest jeans and sweater, but appearances could lie, and more than anything else, Nate needed the truth.

A chair lay at Major Bennett’s feet. Classic suicide scenario. In all probability, the victim had stood on the chair to secure the rope around the crossbeam and the noose around her neck. Kicking over the chair would leave her hanging and preclude the major from saving herself, should she have second thoughts about taking her own life.

Staff Sergeant Larry Thorndike stepped forward. The military policeman was mid-fifties with a receding hairline and an extra twenty pounds of weight around his middle.

“The victim worked in Headquarters Company of the 2nd Transportation Battalion,” Staff Sergeant Thorndike offered as Nate glanced his way. “The major redeployed home from Afghanistan fourteen days ago as part of the advance party.”

“Same unit that had two casualties in Afghanistan this week?” Nate asked.

“That’s right, sir. Captain York—the company commander—and his driver hit an improvised explosive device. Now this. It’s hard on the unit. Hard on everyone.”

Nate knew all too well the tragic consequences an IED could cause. Was that what had led to the major’s suicide? Had she felt in any way responsible for the captain’s death? “How long before the medical examiner gets here?”

“The ME should be here any minute.”

“Did you talk to the sister?”

The sergeant nodded. “But only briefly. She’s pretty shook up.”

An understatement from what Nate had seen.

“Ms. Bennett had enough sense to call for help,” Sergeant Thorndike continued. “When I arrived she was white as a sheet and hyperventilating. Said she lives in Independence, Alabama. Received a phone call at approximately 2330 hours from the deceased. The victim sounded anxious, according to the sister. Major Bennett had fought with her estranged husband, Graham Hughes, shortly before the phone call.”

“The major used her maiden name?”

“Roger that, sir.”

“Has the husband been notified?”

“Negative. We’re trying to track him down. Evidently he moved out a few days after Major Bennett arrived stateside.”

“Alert the post chaplain to a possible notification of next of kin. I’ll want to talk to the husband. Let me know when you find out where he’s staying.”

“Will do, sir.” The sergeant unclipped his cell phone from his belt and stepped to the corner of the attic to call the chaplain.

Nate neared the body. He examined the knots that formed the noose and then the victim’s neck and hands, noting her intact skin. No signs of struggle. Blood had pooled in her extremities, consistent with death by hanging and the beginnings of rigor mortis. It all looked like a textbook suicide, and yet… Something about it bothered him, and it took a minute to put his finger on it.

The sergeant closed his cell. “Chaplain Grant will be here shortly, sir.”

Nate pointed to the victim’s bare feet. “Where are her shoes?”

“Main floor, sir. Under a table by the door.”

“It’s a cold night. Why would Major Bennett walk around her house without shoes?”

The sergeant shrugged. “You got me there, sir.”

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Nate turned as Major Brett Hansen, the pathologist and medical examiner on post stepped into the attic. “Good to see you, Nate.”

“Sir.”

The major nodded to the sergeant and photographer. “What do we have here, gentlemen?”

Nate filled him in on the somewhat limited information accumulated so far. Wasting no time, the doc slipped on latex gloves and began his visual exam of the victim’s body. Once complete, Sergeant Thorndike would lower her to the floor so additional forensic evidence could be gathered.

Knowing the procedure would take time, Nate descended the stairs to the first floor where the bereaved sister sat, legs crossed and head resting in her hands.

Peering into the kitchen, he saw Mills bent over the wine bottle. “Find anything yet?”

The MP looked up. “The glass you pulled from the dishwasher had been wiped clean, sir. We might get lucky on the bottle.”

“Good man.”

Entering the living room, Nate glanced, once again, at the grief-stricken woman. She appeared fragile as a butterfly and, no doubt, was devastated by what she’d discovered tonight. As much as he hated to disturb her, Nate needed information.

Moving closer, he touched her shoulder. The knit of her sweater was soft to his fingertips. “Ms. Bennett? Maggie?”

She looked up, startled. The pain in her eyes cut through him like a well-aimed laser beam.

“If I could have a few minutes of your time, ma’am.”

Fatigue lined her oval face, but her ashen coloring concerned him more. She had found her sister’s body and was surrounded by law enforcement personnel trying to make sense of a tragic death. No one had time to offer her more than a perfunctory word of compassion or support.

He glanced at the empty glass on the end table. “Would you like more water?”

She shook her head and rubbed her hands over her arms. “Thank you, no.”

“If you’re cold, I could raise the thermostat?”

“I… I’m just tired.”

“Of course.” He pulled up a chair. “Could you tell me what happened tonight?”

When she didn’t answer, he scooted closer. “I know it’s difficult.”

She nodded. “Dani called me. She was upset…almost hysterical. She had told her husband she wanted a divorce.”

Nate removed the notebook and pen from his pocket. He needed to put aside the fact that this woman ignited a spark of interest deep within him and focus instead on the questions he had to ask and she, hopefully, would be able to answer.

“Graham…” Maggie hesitated. “My sister’s husband wanted them to reconcile.”

“Go on.” Painfully aware of the heat that continued to warm his gut, Nate swallowed hard and concentrated on the information Maggie began to recount.

“They…they had argued. Graham was upset. But then so was my sister. Dani told him to leave. Obviously, he…he came back later and—”

When she failed to complete the statement, Nate asked, “When did your sister and Mr. Hughes marry?”

“Dani ran into him shortly after she transferred here to Rickman. That was two years ago. They dated a few months. She sent me a wedding announcement after they were married.”

“You attended the ceremony?”

“I wasn’t invited.”

Could Maggie’s dislike of her brother-in-law stem from being excluded from their wedding? Nate drew a question mark on his tablet before asking, “Did you know Graham?”

“Yes.”

“Had infidelity been an issue?”

She wiped her hand over her cheek and sniffed. “Not that Dani mentioned. But when we met for lunch last week, she told me that their marriage was over.”

Nate nodded as he continued writing. “When you entered the house, did anything indicate Graham had been here?”

“A bottle of wine on the kitchen counter. Dani never drank red wine.”

“What about her husband?”

“I… I don’t know. When I was upstairs, I heard footsteps on the first floor.” Maggie bit her lip and shook her head ever so slightly, her eyes widening with realization. “Graham must have been in the house the whole time I was searching for my sister.”

“Did you see Graham Hughes?”

“No, but it had to be him.”

Had to was supposition. Maggie seemed eager to place blame on her brother-in-law’s shoulders. Too eager? No matter how unlikely, if Major Bennett’s death were ruled a homicide, the beautiful woman sitting next to Nate could end up being a person of interest, as well.

“Was the front door locked when you arrived?”

Maggie nodded. “I knocked. Dani had mentioned being tired. I thought she might be sleeping. When she didn’t answer the door, I used the key she had given me when we met for lunch.”

“Did your sister say why she wanted you to have a key to her house when you lived so far apart?”

“No, and I didn’t ask for an explanation. Dani and I had been estranged for a few years. I was relieved that we were trying to patch up our differences.”

“What type of differences?”

She lowered her gaze and uncrossed her legs. Nate watched her body language. Her refusal to make eye contact was telling.

Finally she shrugged and tried to smile. “Two women going their separate ways. Dani went into the military. I pursued a career in family counseling.”

Nate was sure there had been more to the differences than Maggie was willing to admit. “Did Major Bennett invite you to visit this weekend?”

With a quick shake of her head, she said, “Dani was independent. She had a hard time accepting help.”

“Yet—” Nate glanced at the small suitcase in the foyer “—you packed a bag and drove here to be with her.”

“I told Dani she shouldn’t be alone, that I was worried Graham might come back.”

“And Major Bennett shared your concern about her husband?”

“She was more upset about something that had happened in Afghanistan. But she didn’t go into the problem. Only that it was serious.”

Nate raised his brow. “Serious enough to cause her to take her own life?”

Maggie bristled. “My sister didn’t take her life.”

Nate wouldn’t state the obvious, which was that, at this early stage in the investigation, nothing indicated foul play.

“How long ago did you and your sister reconnect?”

“Dani called last week and asked if we could meet for lunch, which we did, in Alabama.”

“Not here on post?”

“That’s right. We met just over the state line in a little town called Hope. There’s a ladies’ tearoom on the square.”

Nate would have someone check out the tearoom. Not that he thought Maggie was lying, but he wanted to ensure the information was accurate before he passed it up the chain of command.

“How did your sister seem? Happy? Sad?”

“She was concerned about her marriage, but she wasn’t depressed, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“What did you talk about?”

Maggie shrugged. “Her deployment. Being back in the States.”

“Her marriage?”

“Yes, of course. She said marrying Graham had been a mistake.”

“Did she give a reason?”

Maggie shook her head.

“What about growing up? Did you reminisce about the good times?”

“Sure. We were always close as kids.”

“But that changed?” he asked.

“We…we grew apart, as I mentioned.”

“Looking back to your childhood, what thoughts come to mind?”

A hint of a smile tugged at Maggie’s lips. “Running barefoot in the backyard.”

“Sounds as if you and your sister didn’t like shoes.”

“Only when we were little. Dani had a closet full when we were teens.”

“But she went barefoot in the house?”

Maggie wrinkled her brow. “Not that I recall.”

Nate glanced down at his notes. “Let’s go back to the beginning. What happened after you entered the house?”

She explained how she had searched the rooms and, finding nothing, had made her way to the attic. “The upstairs was pitch-black. I couldn’t see anything and waved my hand in the air to find the pull cord for the overhead lightbulb.”

“If you hadn’t been here before, how did you know about the pull cord?”

Angling her head, she paused, as if weighing her words. “My dad was military,” she said at last. “We lived in similar quarters sixteen years ago.”

“At Fort Rickman?”

“That’s right. In this same housing area.”

“A three-year assignment for your dad?”

“Yes, but—”

Maggie clasped her hands then worried her fingers. “My father…” Deep breath. “His tour of duty was cut short.” She looked down as if gathering courage to go on. “Regrettably, my father committed suicide.”

Not what he had expected to hear. Nate fought to keep his expression neutral as she glanced up at him with troubled eyes.

“He hanged himself in the attic of our house.” She leaned closer to Nate. “The similarity in the two deaths proves Dani would never have taken her own life.”

“Because—?”

Her eyes widened as if the conclusion she had drawn was obvious. “Because Dani did everything to overcome the stigma of his death. That’s why she went into the military. She idolized him. Dani tried to be the son he always wanted. Problem was she tried to prove herself to him, even after his death.” She leaned closer. “Don’t you see, for Dani, suicide wouldn’t have been an option?”

Unless Major Bennett wanted to prove how much she loved her father by following him into death. Nate kept that thought to himself.

“You brought up depression earlier. Is there a history of depression or anxiety disorders in your family?”

“None that I know of.”

“Tell me about when you were in the attic. You said the light was off?”

“That’s correct. The moon shone through the window and—” She struggled to find her words.

His voice softened. “That’s when you saw your sister?”

She nodded. Tears pooled in her blue-green eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks. Nate tried to remain detached despite his desire to wipe away her pain. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and shoved it into her hand, his fingers touching hers for longer than necessary, as if attempting to pass on support.

Maggie seemed oblivious to the way his hand burned where it touched hers. What was happening to his ability to remain neutral? He had been around other attractive women…had dated a few along the way…but no one had ever affected him like the woman sitting close to him.

Nate turned to look over his shoulder as Jamison scurried down the stairs and motioned him into the foyer, providing the reprieve Nate needed. Time to regroup and focus on the internal warning signal that was telling him something unexpected and downright powerful was happening to his status quo.

“Excuse me for a minute.” He rose from the chair and met the agent in the kitchen.

“You okay?” Jamison stared at him with narrowed eyes.

Nate straightened his shoulders. “Yeah, why?”

“You look troubled.”

“An officer died tonight. That is troubling.”

“Of course, it is. The ME is getting ready to release the body. They’ll bring Major Bennett downstairs soon. Might not be good for her sister to watch.”

Jamison was right. Maggie shouldn’t be around when the body was removed.

“What did the doc say?” Nate asked.

“Only that he’ll order a toxicology screen. Drugs and alcohol. As backed up as the lab is at Fort Gillem, I don’t know when we’ll get the results back, though.”

“See what you can find out about Major Bennett’s father,” Nate said. “He was stationed at Rickman sixteen years ago and evidently committed suicide.”

Jamison let out a low whistle. “Quite a coincidence.”

Before Nate could respond, the front door opened and CID agent Kelly McQueen scurried inside and joined the men in the kitchen. She was blond-haired and blue-eyed and the best marksman in the unit.

“What do you need me to do?” she asked after Nate filled her in on what they had learned so far.

“Help me decide where Major Bennett’s sister can stay tonight,” Nate said. “The downtown area has had problems with all the rain. The basement of the Freemont Hotel is flooded, and they’ve shut down temporarily.”

A number of small motels were located immediately off post, but most of them were fleabag rentals that catered to a transient troop population. At this difficult time, Maggie deserved something more ac com mo dating.

“I’ve got an extra room,” Kelly volunteered. “She’s welcome to stay at my place.”

Nate nodded. “That works.”

Kelly was good at her job and had compassion to embrace someone reeling with grief. Her apartment was directly across from Nate’s in the bachelor officer quarters on post so he would be able to keep an eye on Maggie and offer his support.

“I’ll have Mills follow us to the BOQ,” said Nate. “He can bring me back here once I get Maggie settled.”

The corporal responded with a thumbs-up. “Can do, sir. By the way, Ms. Bennett’s driving a silver Saturn. I checked the car and her personal effects. She’s clean.”

“You need authorization.”

Mill’s face darkened.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about the wine bottle? Did you find prints?”

“Negative.”

Nate turned back to Jamison. “Pull the major’s medical records and see if there’s any history of psychological problems. Also, check with the main gate and find out what time the sister, and any other guests the major may have had this evening, entered post. Question the neighbors in case the major and her husband aired their dirty laundry and find out if any strange cars or visitors stopped by this evening.”

“Will do,” Jamison said.

“Lieutenant Colonel Foglio lives across the street,” Kelly volunteered. “That teenage son of his is staying with his dad again.”

“The one with the tattoos?” Jamison asked. “What’s his name? Carl, Kurt…?”

“It’s Kyle,” Kelly said. “After the trouble he got into last summer, I didn’t think Lieutenant Colonel Foglio’s current wife would allow the kid back in her house.”

“Be sure to ask Foglio where his son has been this evening,” Nate said to Jamison.

“You got it.”

“Have we located Graham Hughes yet?” Nate asked.

Jamison pulled a notebook from his pocket. “I called his boss. Graham’s a civilian contractor who works for AmeriWorks. After splitting with his wife, he moved in temporarily with a guy who has the desk next to him in the contracting office. The guy’s name is—” Jamison referred to his notes “Arnold Zart. Travels between Fort Rickman and various forward operating bases in Afghanistan. He’s got an apartment off post.”

Nate nodded. “Once we get the sister settled in at Kelly’s place, the chaplain and I will pay Mr. Zart a visit.”

Jamison removed a sheet of paper from his notepad and offered the handwritten note to Nate. “Here’s Zart’s address.”

“Thanks.” Nate stepped back into the living room and motioned Kelly forward. “Maggie, this is Special Agent Kelly McQueen.” Kelly offered a few words of compassion along with a warm smile.

“Agent McQueen has a spare room at her place,” Nate continued. “You’ll be able to get some rest there tonight, and we can talk more in the morning.”

“But I…” Maggie looked around seemingly momentarily confused.

“I’m going home shortly,” Kelly said. “You and Nate can take your time and come over when you’re ready.”

With a final smile, Kelly headed into the foyer just as the front door opened once again. Chaplain Grant, a tall lieutenant colonel with a sincere face, stepped inside.

Nate excused himself from Maggie and approached the chaplain. “Thanks for being here, sir.”

“Terrible shame.”

“Yes, sir.” Nate lowered his voice. “Major Bennett and her husband had separated about a week ago. He’s currently staying with a guy who works with him in the AmeriWorks contracting office on post.”

“Over the phone, Sergeant Thorndike mentioned a sister from Alabama.”

Nate nodded. “She’s had a rough night. The sister’s the one who found the major’s body.” Nate ushered the chaplain toward the living room, introduced him to Maggie and then stepped back, giving the two of them a bit of privacy while the lieutenant colonel offered words of comfort, which Maggie seemed to appreciate.

“Have you talked to your brother-in-law?” the chaplain eventually asked her. When she shook her head, Chaplain Grant turned serious eyes toward Nate. “Might be beneficial to have Maggie with us when we notify Mr. Hughes.”

“Ah, sir—?” Before Nate could register an objection to the idea, the chaplain had refocused his gaze on Maggie.

“I’m sure you and Mr. Hughes have things you’d like to discuss, concerning your sister’s internment, if you feel up to seeing him at this late hour.”

Maggie nodded. “You’re right, Chaplain. I… I need to talk to Graham.”

Nate wasn’t sure whether her current interest in her brother-in-law had to do with discussing the major’s burial or establishing his guilt. Either way, the chaplain had made the offer, and Nate wouldn’t withdraw it now. Besides, seeing the dynamic play out between the victim’s sister and husband might reveal more information than Maggie had been willing to share.

Touching her elbow, Nate encouraged Maggie to stand. Corporal Mills approached, carrying her coat and handbag, which Nate took from him.

Nate handed Maggie her purse and helped her with her coat. “If you give me the keys, I’ll have Mills drive your car to the BOQ and leave it there, while you and the chaplain and I talk to Mr. Hughes.”

“What about Dani?” she asked as she placed the keys in Nate’s outstretched hand.

“She’ll be taken to the morgue. An autopsy will be performed sometime later today. Once you and Mr. Hughes determine how your sister should be buried, her body will be released to the funeral home. If you’d like, I can help you with the arrangements.”

Nate was relieved to see her face soften. She attempted to smile. “Thank you.”

Warmed by her response, he asked, “Is there anyone you’d like to call? A family member? Your mom? Maybe a boyfriend?”

Her eyes clouded as she shook her head. “My mother died a number of years ago. There’s no one else.”

Her loneliness in the midst of her grief cut him deeply. Upstairs the sound of footsteps indicated the body was being prepared for transport. It was time to get Maggie out of the house.

“My car’s outside.” Nate put his hand on the small of Maggie’s back and urged her toward the door Corporal Mills held open. The chaplain grabbed her suitcase and followed them into the damp night air. Maggie wrapped her arms around her waist and accepted Nate’s steadying hand on her elbow as she walked down the steps and settled into the front seat of his car, while the chaplain slid into the rear.

A light went on in the front bedroom of Lieutenant Colonel Foglio’s quarters across the street. The curtain moved ever so slightly.

Looking back at Quarters 1448, Nate’s eyes focused on the attic dormer window. The copycat suicide was unusual, and often little things made a difference in an investigation. The fact that Major Bennett had been barefoot when she died bothered him. But something else troubled Nate more.

The victim would have needed light to loop the rope over the crossbeam. Why would Major Bennett then turn off the light and take her own life in the dark?

TWO

Sitting next to Nate in the passenger seat, Maggie watched the headlights cut through the darkness, knowing she had kept information from the CID agent. She needed time to put some semblance of order to the confusion of her life before she made the decision to tell him.

Dani had implied some military law enforcement personnel couldn’t be trusted. Maggie wasn’t sure if that included the CID. Graham worked in the AmeriWorks contracting office and her sister hadn’t mentioned the problem to him. Could the contractors be involved, as well?

It was hard to believe her sister was dead. Right when they were beginning to reconnect.

Oh, God, why? Maggie had been working on improving her relationship with the Lord. Hopefully He would provide the strength she needed.

Her parents, now Dani—

“Graham’s staying at an apartment complex not far from post.”

Nate’s comment pulled her from a path to the past where memories cut like shards of glass. Tonight another tragedy left her riddled with grief and filled with questions.

From the backseat, the chaplain once again offered words of sympathy that Maggie appreciated but wasn’t able to fully comprehend. The fact that Dani was dead seemed surreal. Maggie still refused to believe it could have been suicide.

Her sister had worked too hard to get where she was in the military to take her own life. Plus, if she had wanted to end it all, she wouldn’t have chosen a noose.

The chaplain finished his discourse and settled back in his seat, giving Maggie an opportunity to glance at the agent sitting behind the wheel. Despite the civilian coat and tie he wore, Nate had military written all over him with his short haircut and intense gaze. He was probably a workaholic, who put the job first. Her father had fit that bill. Although so did she, if truth be told.

Just as Dani had turned to the military for fulfillment, Maggie had allowed counseling to take over her own life. They’d both learned from their dad, no doubt.

Riding across post in silence, Maggie concentrated on seeing Graham again. The last time they were together, Maggie had been in high school. Back then, he’d been the bad boy all the girls ran after. But people changed and maybe Graham had, as well.

Would she even recognize him after all these years? No matter what, she needed to be in control of her emotions and display strength instead of weakness. Dani deserved as much.

Nate drove through the main gate and turned onto a stretch of road lined with seedy bars, pawnshops and fast-food restaurants, all low-rent businesses that preyed on young soldiers far from home. Alabama had its fair share of ticky-tacky, but nothing compared with those hawking wares to the nation’s youthful warriors.

“Shouldn’t be much farther.” Nate checked the address written on a sheet of paper. Eventually, he pulled into an apartment complex and braked to a stop in front of a row of two-story town houses.

“Wait in the car, Maggie. Once we’ve established Graham is in the house, I’ll come back and get you.”

Trying to appeal to his common sense, she opened the passenger door. “That will delay you. There’s no reason why I can’t go with you now.”

“She’s right.” The chaplain stepped from the car and glanced at Nate.

“Whatever you say, sir.”

Maggie heard a hint of frustration in Nate’s reply. No telling how Graham would react to this dead-of-the-night encounter. The CID agent probably wondered if having her underfoot would complicate an already difficult situation. The look on his face sent a clear message he would rather leave her in the car.

Nate hadn’t known her long enough to realize she could handle adversity. She’d had enough in her lifetime, although tonight wasn’t the norm. She was acting on instinct rather than reason.

Falling into step between the two officers, Maggie was struck with the irony of the moment and the army’s attention to detail. The powers that be had provided a chaplain to comfort the grieving husband and a CID agent to decide whether to haul him in for questioning. If Maggie had anything to say about what would unfold, she’d demand Graham be interrogated for hours until he divulged the truth about her sister’s death.

Nate flicked his gaze around the apartment complex, making her realize that, if her brother-in-law was a killer, the three of them could be in danger. The hair on the back of her neck tingled as she took in the deep shadows and hidden recesses where someone—anyone—could be hiding.

Nate stepped protectively in front of her and knocked on the door. The three of them waited in silence.

“Yeah?” A deep voice sounded through the closed door.

“I’m Special Agent Patterson, of the U.S. Army CID, and I’m here with Chaplain Grant. We’re looking for Graham Hughes.”

The door opened, and a tall, beefy guy, wearing a T-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms, stood in the threshold. A scruffy beard and disheveled hair completed his attire.

Resting his hand on the doorjamb, he stared at them with confused eyes. “Something wrong?”

Nate pulled out his identification and held it open. “We need to speak to Graham Hughes.”

“He’s not here.”

Glancing around Nate and into the apartment, Maggie saw a leather couch and a coffee table covered with newspapers and a pizza delivery box.

“Are you Arnold Zart?” Nate asked.

“Yeah.” The guy stifled a yawn. “Who’s the woman?”

“I’m Maggie Bennett,” she said, in a voice that sounded more self-assured than she currently felt. “I’m Graham’s sister-in-law.”

“Any suggestions where we can find him?” Nate asked, deflecting the guy’s attention away from Maggie.

“No clue.”

“When was the last time you saw Mr. Hughes?” Nate continued.

“We work together. I saw him at the office yesterday, that would be Friday, and only briefly after work.”

“Has he been living here with you?”

“Graham and his wife are having problems. I’ve got a spare bedroom and told him that he could bunk here until they patched things up.”

“Did he mention reconciling with his wife?”

Zart dropped his arm. “Look, I’m not comfortable talking about Graham’s personal life behind his back.”

Nate squared his shoulders and leaned in closer. “I could take you to the CID office if you’d feel more comfortable there.”

The guy held up his hands. “Give me a break, okay?” He hesitated and then sighed. “Graham said he was going over to the Freemont Bar and Grill on Johnson Street about nine o’clock last night. A woman works there. She’s been interested in him for some time. Graham needed to talk.”

“A woman?” Maggie blurted out unable to remain silent. “What’s her name?”

The contractor shrugged. “Graham never said.”

Nate gave him his card. “If Mr. Hughes comes back, have him call me.”

“Will do.” The guy shut the door, leaving them standing on the front steps.

“But—?” Maggie wanted more information.

Nate took her arm and turned her toward the street. “We’ll talk in the car.”

She pulled her arm from his hold and huffed as she hurriedly walked along the sidewalk. “You could have searched the house.”

“We don’t have the authority—not at this point. But we’ll track down the woman who works at the bar and grill. She might be able to lead us to Graham.”

Maggie wrapped her arms around her waist, feeling tired as well as angry. “He’s probably out of the country by now.”

“More likely, he’s with his new girlfriend.”

“Well, that makes me feel better. He kills Dani and then finds another woman.” She glared at Nate.

“His indiscretion may be reprehensible, but it doesn’t prove he killed your sister.”

“What does it prove?”

“That he’s not the type of guy I’d want my sister to marry.”

The sudden softness in his tone made her drop her defenses. Tears flooded her eyes. She missed her step and stumbled on the rough sidewalk.

Nate steadied her with his hand on her elbow. “It’s late, Maggie. You need some sleep.”

A lump settled in her throat and prevented her from speaking. Maybe the CID agent understood a bit more than she had realized. If only she could make him understand that her sister hadn’t taken her own life. Maggie would do anything to convince him of the truth.

Once Maggie and the chaplain climbed into the car and buckled their seat belts, Nate pulled out of the apartment complex and onto the main road, leading back to Fort Rickman. He dug his cell phone out of his pocket, called Jamison and relayed what had happened.

“Have someone locate the owner of the bar and grill. See if he knows Graham Hughes or the woman who has taken an interest in him. We might get lucky. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until he eventually returns to Zart’s apartment. I’ll see you when I get back to post.”

Nate disconnected and flicked a glance over his shoulder to the chaplain. “Sorry to take up your time, sir.”

“You think the husband was involved in Major Bennett’s death?”

“He killed her,” Maggie said with conviction. “Dani fought with him earlier and kicked him out. Easy enough for Graham to return later.”

“We need evidence, Maggie, to prove a crime has been committed at all,” Nate explained.

“Check his alibi with the woman he’s supposed to be seeing. Threaten to involve her if she doesn’t tell the truth.” Nate almost smiled at Maggie’s attempt to tell him how to handle the investigation.

“Search his car and the apartment where he’s staying,” she added. “You’ll uncover something.”

“And if we don’t find any evidence that points to his guilt?”

“Then—”

The amateur sleuth seemed to have run out of options.

“Then throw him in jail until he talks,” she finally said.

“You know we can’t do that. But we will find him and determine where he was tonight.”

“Focus on determining why he killed my sister.” With another huff, Maggie turned toward the passenger window and stared into the night.

Nate glanced at the rearview mirror, catching the chaplain’s eye. “At this point, sir, we don’t know much. Hopefully the autopsy and toxicology results will shed more light on the situation.”

“The 2nd Transportation Battalion has had a rough few days,” the chaplain commented. “I’m sure you heard about the IED explosion that took two men in Afghanistan.”

“Yes, sir. Were you involved in the notification?”

“The driver was unmarried. His parents live in New Jersey. An officer from Fort Dix visited them. But the company commander lived on post and left a wife and kids.”

Nate heard struggle in Chaplain Grant’s voice. Most days, Nate didn’t think about God or the difficulty a man of faith might have in comforting the grieving. As a CID agent, his job was to ensure the family was notified, if a crime had been committed. He left the spiritual consolation to the chaplains. Still, he found himself searching for a way to reach out to Maggie, to ease the pain and frustration she was feeling and bring her comfort.

Nate glanced at Maggie again. If the tables were turned, he’d be lashing out, as well. Fact was, when his brother died, Nate had been filled with pain and anger. Some of which he still hadn’t resolved.

“Might seem strange,” the chaplain said from the rear, his voice melancholy. “But the commander’s wife ended up comforting me. The woman has great faith in the Almighty. She’s grieving, but she knows God didn’t cause the IED explosion that took her husband’s life.”

Once upon a time, Nate had believed God protected the faithful. Now, the memory of what had happened to Michael was never far from his mind. Truth be told, he blamed God as well as himself.

Glancing at Maggie, Nate said, “Seems impossible to trust a so-called loving God when your world falls apart.”

She nodded slowly but kept her eyes trained on the passing darkness. Raindrops splattered against the windshield, adding to the oppressive gloom that had settled over all of them.

The chaplain sighed. “I don’t have the answer, but I know we can’t turn our backs on the Creator. He made us because He loves us, and His love is unconditional. I keep coming back to that. God knows all. How can I, as a finite creature, hope to understand why things happen? Maybe someday I’ll see more clearly. Right now, I’m looking with human eyes that don’t see the entire picture. I have to trust in Him. That’s not always easy.”

Trust in God wasn’t high on Nate’s priority list. Would he ever be able to soften his heart and turn to the Lord again?

What about Maggie? Would her sister’s death have a long-term impact on her life, too? Maybe they’d talk about it sometime if he got to know her better.

Warmth spread through him again and his neck tingled. As much as Nate hated to admit it, even to himself, the woman’s pain affected him deeply. Usually, he could trust his feelings. Tonight he wasn’t sure of anything, especially when it involved Maggie Bennett.

She was alone and grieving. Nate thought of the other cases he had investigated. One death often led to another.

If he were a praying man, he’d ask that no one else—especially Maggie—would be hurt in any way by what had happened tonight.

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