Don't Say a Word by Beverly Barton Page B

laugh at that. Will was so private that few people knew anything about his love life. She sure didn’t. Not that she wouldn’t want to. She bet it was as hot as everything else about him. “I haven’t heard that one. What? Did he come on to you?”
    “No, not exactly, but I saw him in full throttle, lady-killer form when he picked me up at the airport. Flight attendants galore and all of them eating out of his hand.”
    “I know his sister’s a pilot with Delta, but that’s about all I know about him. He seems like a good guy, but he’s so private it’s almost creepy. At least, that’s what J.D. tells me. Will is friendly and is easy to talk to, but when you get done talking, you don’t know a single thing about him that you didn’t know before. Are you two having trouble working the case together?”
    Julia shook her head. “No, not at all. We’re getting along fine. He knows what he’s doing. Actually, I’ve been pretty much wowed by him. He was sort of flirty and silly at first, but man, once we got the case, he was all business.”
    “He and J.D. were the ones who saved the last victim of the Rocking Chair killer. Did you know that? She’s here. See her, down there? She’s the girl in the black suit and white blouse. Her name’s Somer Ellis, and she barely made it out alive. She told me the other day that Will was the guy who untied her and carried her out of that awful church basement where the victims were taken. She said he was very kind and comforting and even came to see her in the hospital a time or two.”
    “He hasn’t discussed that case with me yet. Like I said, he teased around with me some when he was driving me to J.D.’s house, but he’s been serious since we were assigned to this case together. He’s very thorough, and he doesn’t give me that superior act that some special agents put on for the locals.”
    Down the hallway, Will had reappeared and was motioning for Julia to join him.
    “Will’s ready to start the interviews, Tam. I’ll catch you later.”
    “Yeah, keep me posted, will you?”
    “You bet.”
    As Julia moved away, a thought occurred to Tam. “Hey, Julia! Audrey and I are having lunch tomorrow downtown at the River Street Deli. How about joining us?”
    “I’d like that, but I’m not sure I can get away. I’ll let you know, okay?”
    “Sure. You’ve got my cell number. Talk to you later.”
    Tam watched Julia hurry off. Yeah, J.D.’s sister was okay. J.D. was right about Julia and Zoe, but the resemblance was not just in looks, with all their dark hair and delicate features, but in other ways as well. She looked forward to getting to know Julia better. Actually, that couldn’t happen too soon. She watched Will and Julia disappear into Judge Lockhart’s chambers, and then she sighed and went back to the interminable waiting.

Chapter 6
    Pleased that she’d bumped into Tam Lovelady, Julia had a feeling that in time they were going to be a great homicide team. She had never worked with a female partner, but they seemed to fit together well. She hoped Tam would soon be available. The task force could use her help. Even after this short time, she was feeling more than comfortable teaming up with Brannock, too. Their investigatory techniques were pretty well matched. At least, so far, and a lot more than she had thought they would be when they’d first met. Despite the fact that not much was adding up yet, Will was running a tight ship.
    “Jane Cansell’s ready for us. They said we could use the judge’s private office for the interview,” Will said as soon as Julia reached him.
    “Okay, let’s just hope this lady’s more forthcoming than his wife was,” Julia answered. “She can’t be any more unlikable.”
    Once they reached the portal to Lucien Lockhart’s private inner sanctum, it didn’t take Julia long to locate Jane Cansell. Loud weeping could be heard through the door. Once inside, she and Will found Lockhart’s clerk/ lover/mourner