Navy Justice (Whidbey Island, Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

or her motives. Regardless of the fact that she trusted Brad.
    Motives
.
    Were they centered on a belief that Brad was telling her the truth, or did he still hold some kind of crazy sway over her? Or both? It would help if she knew that all her fantasies about him weren’t unrequited—that he at least shared her physical attraction.
    Not that it made a difference now.
    “These are pretty good. You get them in the Navy?” Officer Dade motioned at her with the binoculars.
    “No. They were a gift from my parents. I got used to good binoculars when I was aboard an aircraft carrier.”
    “So you drove an aircraft carrier?”
    “No, not really.” JAGs didn’t stand bridge watches, although she’d observed some of the tactical operations. Not typical for a JAG, but she’d wanted to spread her professional wings a bit.
    Why was she telling a strange police officer about her Navy career? Officer Dade was nice and all, and obviously a polished professional. Still, she hadn’t asked for the information.
    Brad had been back in her life for less than an hour and not only was she hoping that he reciprocated her ridiculous crush, which had gone on for far too long, she was also forgetting all her legal training.
    Don’t say more than you need to. Ever
.
    “You got a pretty clear look from here. Too bad these things aren’t also a camera.” Officer Dade rested the binoculars against her uniform.
    “Yeah, too bad.”
    Please leave
.
    “That’s all you remember? You’re sure you’ve told me everything, Ms. Alexander?”
    “Yes, that’s it. I’m sorry it’s not more, and that I bothered the authorities with this when you already have witnesses. I know it’s going to be a long day for you.”
    “It’s fine. I mean, no one got hurt, right?”
    “Did anyone? Get hurt?” Playing stupid was pushing it, but Brad needed to know what they’d found out so far.
    “No, not that we’re aware of. It doesn’t make sense that there was an empty fishing boat out there, though. Especially one that caused such a huge explosion.”
    “No, it doesn’t.” Her tension kicked into high gear. She was a JAG, not a SEAL, and she didn’t relish one second of her involvement in Brad’s undercover op.
    Officer Dade sighed and handed the binoculars back to her.
    “Thanks for your cooperation, Ms. Alexander. If you remember anything else, give us a call.”
    “Will do.”
    Joy walked the young woman to the front door and wanted to shout with relief once the door closed and she heard the police car drive off.
    That had been too close—as well as too easy.
    What did it say about her that she’d lied so effortlessly? And to a police officer, yet.
    * * *
    “Y OU DID GREAT , J OY . ” He leaned against the counter, his bulk making the kitchen seem tiny.
    “
Great?
Lying to an officer, trying to manipulate her into telling me classified information about the investigation?” She poured coffee into his mug and took out the small bag of chamomile that was steeping in hers.
    “Trust me.”
    That was the problem. She
did
trust Brad. It was herself she was having trouble with.
    “What do you need from me, Brad?”
    His stare unnerved her but she’d be damned if she’d let him see it. She met his eyes and waited for him to blink. He didn’t. Instead, he glanced away and spoke as if transcribing an operational report or a court order.
    “For right now, I need to stay put. I need time for things to settle. And I need to figure out why they’re after a certain high-ranking military official who lives here.”
    “You know who they’re after?” As she asked, she suddenly knew who Brad was about to name.
    “Is it General Grimes?”
    “General Grimes.”
    They said his name in unison.
    General Grimes had been the Marine Corps Flag Officer in charge of the overall mission that Brad’s SEAL team had completed nearly five years ago. The same mission that had depended on Farid’s help. The same operation that had precipitated Farid’s