Bones Of Contention: The McKinnon Legends - The American Men Book 3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

inspect.
    She knew he was not being critical of her techniques. His conclusions were logical. She could respect his cynicism, at least from a scientific perspective.
    “Often the DNA tests take months.”
    “Well, the Discovery Channel solves the mystery in fifty-five minutes or less,” Josh joked risking her displeasure.
    “Don’t believe everything you see on T.V., Lawman.” She gave him a sideways glance to cover her smile.
    Josh moved closer to her to allow a student to pass. He was standing closer than he wanted yet somehow not close enough. There was something about this quirky doctor he was really drawn to, defying any and all logic. He usually shied away from blondes. And given his own family tree and the often strange genetics which came along with that family tree, as a general and stead-fast rule, he steered far away from anyone with any supernatural abilities or blonde hair. Dr. Gillman was in possession of both.
    “So," he paused studying her expression, “given the Discovery Channel is misleading me with its less than an hour answers, can I assume this is where the good doctor comes into the picture? You are the ace up the sleeve by possibly getting the information they need months in advance of the DNA finding? Hedging the bet -- so to speak?”
    “Right. I’m the ace up the sleeve as you put it. And besides, look at it this way. If this is not the queen then we can rule her out. Simply because it is not the person we were going after does not necessarily mean I am not able to identify her. I’ve been successful on several occasions where DNA was later used to back up my findings.”
    He thought she sounded just a little defensive. It was not his intention to have her erect further barriers between them, at least not until he got what he came here for. After that, he could care less if she built a new Wall of China between them.
    “A multiple-source approach makes sense from a scientific point of view,” he reasoned letting her know he understood.
    His comment surprised her. He actually sounded like he was a man of science.
    Or a great bull shit artist, she added mentally.
    They all wanted something when they came to her. She had seen it all over the years, everything you could imagine. However, if this was an act, it was a new and fresher approach to getting her to agree to a job.
    Just because he’s cute doesn’t mean he is cuddly and harmless, she cautioned herself, eyeing him with suspicion.
    He did not miss that look either.
    She took the tray, sliding it back into the selected slot, closed the reinforced door, and locked the cargo inside its special airtight compartment. Signing the entry log and placing the special sealing tape over her signature and around the vault, Jamie was now ready to turn her full attention to the handsome lawman who had driven miles just to see her.
    Well, not her exactly, she corrected herself.
    “All right, Sheriff McKinnon, I’m all yours,” she smiled.
    Josh’s logical mind knew what she was saying, but his body took it quite literally. Lowering the box he was carrying, the inconvenient evidence was covered.
    He cleared his throat, uncomfortable with where his thoughts were traveling at supersonic speed. “I have it by way of a reliable source you have certain abilities.”
    He was purposefully vague not wishing to harm her professionally. He did not know how wide her reputation was spread, or if she even wanted her abilities out in the open.
    “If what you are referring to is my ability in the area of identifying skeletal remains, Sheriff, then yes.” She gave him a sidelong smile. “May I call you Josh?”
    He knew she was flirting. It caught him off guard.
    “Please, feel free to call me whatever makes you comfortable,” he said holding the door to her office open for her.
    And how lame was that, he wondered? Man, are you rusty, he thought.
    She tossed him a full-blown smile and it rocked him on his heels. Too bad she was blonde.
     

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