Withholding Evidence by Rachel Grant Page A

man’s service files last week, but they’d been incomplete. Distracted by replacing her lost computer files, she had forgotten to follow up on the missing documents and had foolishly entered this interview cold, with little more than starting questions drafted by Walt.
    Ruby leaned forward. His gaze darted around the room, then he said loudly, “Blow me, and I’ll tell you everything.”
    Trina bolted to her feet, her face flushing as she caught the startled stares from the couple at the next table. “Lieutenant,” she said through clenched teeth, “this interview is being recorded. You aren’t doing yourself any favors.”
    “Listen, honey, I’m just asking for the same service you give your other interviewees. Did Hatcher tell you everything you wanted to know?”
    Her stomach went cold. Her name had been in the news with Keith’s after the explosion, and Keith had insisted the official press release state she was there to interview him, to prevent anyone who was after him from thinking she was important to him. But any number of Falls Church officers and FBI agents knew the truth. They’d both been honest about where they were and what they were doing at the time of the first explosion. Which meant either someone had talked or Lieutenant Ruby had tossed out the accusation simply to offend her. Neither option sat well. She plucked her digital recorder from the table and grabbed her purse.
    Ruby glanced around the shop again and raised his lip in a sneer. “What’s wrong, honey? You don’t want word to get out that you’ll fuck for information? I suppose that could be a problem for you. Then you might have to blow the older guys too, not just the young SEALs.”
    A hand on her arm gently nudged her aside. She turned, almost expecting to see Keith, but her champion was Sean, who planted his hands on the table and leaned into Ruby’s face. “Apologize to Dr. Sorensen.”
    “Are you the guy she’s fucking now?” He met Trina’s gaze. “You sure do get around.”
    Sean grasped the front of the lieutenant’s shirt and yanked him to his feet as Trina rocked back on her heels. “Apologize to the lady.” Sean’s voice was low, carrying more than a hint of menace.
    “Lady, my ass. She’s just another whore and a government hack. I’m sick of bitches like her.”
    Sonofabitch . What the hell had Walt set her up for?
    The tables around them cleared. One woman appeared to be calling 911. Not your typical morning at Starbucks. “Let him go, Sean. He’s not worth it.” She’d been saying that a lot lately.
    He sighed. “I know. But, damn, it would be so satisfying.” He released Ruby, and the man dropped into his seat. Ruby, a former naval officer and only about ten years older than Sean, was no slouch, but he was still no match for the Raptor operative in his prime.
    Back in Sean’s car, Trina buckled her seat belt and flopped back into the seat. “I wish I knew what just happened there.”
    “What was the interview supposed to be about?”
    “Walt’s questions were about UN Security Forces post-Desert Storm.”
    Sean pulled out his cell phone and hit a speed dial button. After a moment, he said, “Keith, something strange just happened… No. Trina is fine. She’s right next to me. She was just interviewing a dickhead pilot who”—he looked apologetically at Trina—“implied she had sex with you to get you to talk.”
    “He more than implied,” Trina said, loud enough for Keith to hear. She had to admit, she was jealous Sean was able to call Keith. She didn’t even have his phone number.
    “My gut says there’s more going on here. The guy was a dick, sure, but he came spoiling for a fight and armed with your name.” Sean paused. “Will do.” Then he hit the End button and tucked his phone away. He put his car in gear and pulled into traffic.
    “Where are we going?”
    “To your office. We need to talk to Walt.”

    K EITH WATCHED L IEUTENANT Ruby with a riflescope from a vantage