Person of Interest by Debra Webb

that might prove impossible for two reasons.
    Director Allen, Joe’s immediate boss, still wasn’t convinced of Elizabeth’s innocence—despite Joe’s assessment. Joe had learned that Director Calder, Allen’s boss and the director of the CIA, was the only reason stronger measures hadn’t been taken to determine her involvement, if any, with what David Maddox had done.
    Maddox had sold out his country in several ways, but there was no absolute proof that he was the one who’d released the names. All indications pointed to him, but there were also a number, Allen had suggested, that pointed to Elizabeth as having been in on it with him.
    With Maddox dead there was really no way to be certain.
    Unless Joe could fool Maddox’s primary contact from his final operation.
    The only glitch was the fact that the contact was female.
    Joe settled his gaze on Elizabeth Cameron and wondered if she’d had any idea that Maddox had maintained an ongoing relationship with another woman.
    If she did, she hid it well.
    Nothing about her demeanor over the past two weeks and some days had given him the first hint of deceit.
    But she was suspicious.
    She’d made no secret of it. Just another indicator that she wasn’t one to hide her feelings.
    “Aren’t you hungry, Agent Hennessey?” she asked, drawing his attention back to the table.
    Dawson’s scrutiny was now on him as well. He wasn’t happy with the situation at all. The more Allen pushed for information on Elizabeth, the more dissatisfied Dawson grew. Joe regarded the other man a moment and would have bet his life that the guy had a little crush on the good doctor. Of course Dawson was married with two kids and as faithful as they came in this business.
    Joe pushed his plate aside. “I’m good. Let me know when you’re ready to get started again.”
    It wasn’t like he could take a walk, but he could go to his room for a few minutes before the next session of alone time with her.
    He closed the door to his room and walked over to the dresser. He stared at his face, the one that looked nothing like him and more and more like David Maddox.
    In a few days the swelling and redness would be all but gone. Then he could move to the next step.
    His colored contacts had already been delivered. Probably by tomorrow he would need to start getting accustomed to wearing them. He doubted it would be a problem. He’d done that part before. It was the drastic change in his face that gave him pause.
    He’d been mimicking Maddox’s speech and movements for weeks before this. But—he reached up and touched his face—this was different.
    The counseling hadn’t fully prepared him. He’d thought he would be fine with it, but the more Maddox’s face emerged the less prepared he felt.
    Nothing had ever affected him this way.
    That the worst was likely yet to come didn’t help.
    He had to find a way to prod intimate details from Elizabeth. How Maddox kissed…how he made love to her was essential to Joe’s success. Hecouldn’t go into this without being fully prepared on every level.
    The only question that remained at this point was how he would get the answers he needed without hurting Elizabeth with the ugly details.
    A knock at his door told him his time for soul searching was up.
    “Yeah?”
    The door opened and Elizabeth strolled into his room. “I need to understand what’s going on here, Hennessey,” she demanded. “I get the feeling you’ve been hiding something from me.”
    Well, here was his opportunity.
    Question was, did he have the guts to take advantage of it?
    Only one way to find out.
    “Here’s the thing.” He moved toward her, locked his gaze with hers and let her feel the intensity. He needed her off balance. “One of the contacts Maddox had is female. I can’t be certain how close they were, considering his relationship with this group preceded the two of you.” That part was a flat-out lie but he was improvising here in an attempt to save her the