Page 38 of A More Perfect Union

“I’m no threat toyou, but your kind eat their own on a regular basis. You think your fellowsoldiers have your back? You need to think again.”

Rook felt her cheeksburning, and Zoey was looking at her like she’d lost her mind. This wasn’t atall how she’d planned this evening to go. She’d overstepped, but she didn’tcare. In spite of all her combat experience, in the ways of politics, Zoeyseemed naïve, and nothing but trouble could come from innocence. They stared ateach other for what seemed like forever until Zoey broke the silence.

“I’m going to leave.”

Rook looked at the door,just a few steps away. Was it this case or this woman that was causing her tolose her edge? She either needed to figure out what it was fast and solve it ortell Julia she was done. Bottom line, she wasn’t going to figure anything outif Zoey walked out the door.

“Please don’t go.”

“I feel like you’replaying tug-of-war with me. First I’m in, then I’m out.” Zoey’s eyes reflectedhurt. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but if I did something to pissyou off, I’m sorry.”

“It’s not you. You’reright. I never should’ve taken this case.”

“Because of yourdeep-seated hatred of all things military?”

“Because they killedmy brother.”

* * *

Zoey shot a look atthe door. She needed to make a decision now and stick with it, but Rook’s wordswere weighted with pain, and only a heartless bastard would walk out on hernow. Acting purely on impulse, she grabbed Rook’s hand and led her to the couch.

“Where’s yourliquor?”

“I need to stayfocused.”

“You need somethingto take the edge off.”

Rook leaned back andlistlessly pointed to a cabinet across the room. Zoey opened the doors andsurveyed the contents. There wasn’t a whiskey under twenty years old, so shepoured a couple of glasses of booze she would’ve had to save for specialoccasions. She carried the heavy glass tumblers back to the sofa and sank downbeside Rook. “Drink up and tell me what’s going on.” At the last minute, shebit back the words “that’s an order,” sensing the phrase might send Rook overthe edge.

While Rook took a sipshe did too, savoring the slow, smooth heat of the expensive alcohol andwondering what it was like to have a cabinet full of expensive liquor in anexpensive townhouse in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the capital.Apparently, none of these trappings were enough to mask any troubles one mighthave.

She waited as theminutes ticked by. Rook continued to sip slowly from her drink, but she didn’tappear to be inclined to talk. Finally, Zoey took charge. “What was yourbrother’s name?”

“Rory.”

“Older or younger?”

“Older.”

Zoey studied Rook’sface, searching for clues. Her drawn features and the faraway look in Rook’seyes spoke of difficult memories, and Zoey wondered if digging deeper wouldonly unearth more pain. Deciding it was better to get the poison out, shepressed on. “You were close?”

“The closest. He wasmy best friend. The first person I came out to and the only one in my familywho didn’t give me shit for not wanting to go into the family business.”

Zoey rememberedRook’s mention of her family full of lawyers during their picnic at MeridianPark. “So, I’m guessing he wasn’t a lawyer.”

“Oh, we’re alllawyers. He was a third-year associate at Chamblee and Ives.” Rook paused,apparently detecting the blank stare and then added, “It’s a white shoe lawfirm in midtown Manhattan.”

Zoey nodded eventhough she didn’t have a clue what “white shoe law firm” meant.

“He’d been at workfor several hours when the north tower was hit,” Rook said. “By the time thesecond plane struck the south tower, he was organizing a group of associatesfrom his firm to head downtown to do whatever they could to help out with therescue effort. A year later, he quit the firm, and after ten weeks of OfficerCandidate School at Quantico, he was shipped out to Afghanistan.”

“Marines?”

“The few, theproud—that’s the one. Rory fell for the whole line.”

Zoey started to saymaybe he really believed he was joining a worthy institution, but she wascertain the observation would only upset Rook. “You want to tell me whathappened or should I look it up?”

Rook grunted amirthless laugh. “Good luck with that—looking it up. If you find anything inthe official record, it won’t be true.”

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