Its damn hard to believe.
I agree, Eve said. But its Ben Chadbourne, Joe.
Youre sure?
She nodded. And thats why I want you out of it. I dont know what will happen.
I do. Joes lips tightened grimly. And so does Logan. He knew what he was getting you into from the beginning.
Yes, I did, Logan said calmly. But that doesnt change the present scenario. We have to do that ourselves.
Joe gave him an icy glance and then turned back to Eve. You cant trust him. It would be better if I got rid of him for you.
Got rid of him?
It would be easy enough. Everyone thinks it happened already anyway.
Her eyes widened. Joe.
He shrugged. I didnt think youd go for it. He opened the car door. Stay here. Ill reconnoiter the area and feel out Kessler for you. What makes you think hell want to become involved?
He has integrity plus curiosity and an obsessive nature. Its why hes in the profession.
Well, you should know about obsessions. He slammed the door shut and moved quickly across the parking lot.
A very violent man for an officer of the law, Logan murmured.
Hes not violent. Hes just angry. He wouldnt really have
Oh, I think he would. For a few minutes my neck was definitely on the line. I think Id better step very carefully around Quinn.
Joe believes in the law, she said fiercely. Dammit, hes a good cop.
Im sure he is, but Im equally sure his SEAL training gets in the way occasionally. Particularly when the law doesnt seem to be working and his friends are involved.
Joe doesnt kill.
Now. Did you ever ask him how many men he killed when he was a SEAL?
Of course I didnt. We were at peace when he was in the service.
But SEALs have missions even in peacetime.
Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to make me distrust Joe?
Maybe self-preservation. He smiled grimly. And because I want you to admit that one nod of your head and I would have been a dead man a few minutes ago.
I wont admit any
Be honest.
She didnt want to be honest, not if it meant ad-mitting she didnt know Joe as well as she thought she did. Joe was one of the bedrocks of her life. He was everything stable and trustworthy. When everything else had been falling apart around her, Joe had always been there. She would not think of him as a killer be-cause that would be comparing him to Fraser. No. Never.
Has he ever talked to you about his time in the SEALs?
No.
Did you know hes killed three men in the line of duty since hes been in Atlanta?
Her gaze flew to his face.
I didnt think so. Quinns smart and he knows you well. Hed keep that part of his life separate from you.
Hes no murderer.
I didnt say he is. Theres no question that those deaths were self-defense and that the scum he killed deserved to die. Im just saying that Quinn is multi-faceted and very dangerous.
Youre trying to take away my trust in him.
And hes trying to take away any trust you might have in me. Im just defending myself.
I have no trust in you.
You have a little. At least, you know were on the same side. I wont have Quinn stealing that away. His gaze went to Joe, who was now climbing the steps of the geoscience building. And I dont want to have to fight Quinn along with everyone else.
Eve followed his glance. It was as if she were looking at Joe in a different light. He was always con-fident, always moved with a springy grace, but now she could see the relentless efficiency in his entire at-titude. Powerhouse, she had called him, and power-house she knew him to be, but not deadly.
She could sense the deadliness now.
Damn you.
Were all savages, Logan said quietly. We all kill when it means enough to us. Food, revenge, self- preservationhellip; But Quinn knew you couldnt take it, so he made sure you didnt see that side of him.
