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“Not exactly weather-appropriate clothing,” frowned Dan.

“Listen, are you here to criticize my clothing or ask me questions? I’ve got things to do, and now I’m going to have to pay Marco extra to stay and finish what he started,” she smirked.

“You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you?” said Jill.

“It’s over-rated. I do what I need to do to keep myself happy, healthy, and comfortable. Adam knew that, and Tim knew that. I made no bones about it.”

“And the fake pregnancy?” asked CJ.

“It wasn’t fake. I was pregnant and then I wasn’t. It wasn’t the right time.” Dan and CJ stared at the woman, then at Jill. She was calm and cool, her face expressionless.

“Screwing around with your husband’s teammate was pretty risky,” said CJ. “Men have been known to kill each other for that offense.” She shrugged, smiling at the threesome.

“It doesn’t even bother you, does it?” said Jill.

“Listen, Adam and I were never going to make it. I needed him to take more ops in danger zones. They pay more,” she said, looking at Dan and CJ as if they didn’t know that. “I want to be the wife of a Special Forces guy, but preferably a commander, general, admiral, something along those lines with more visibility and more money.”

“This isn’t a Shop-N-Stop for military husbands, Alana,” said Jill. “You married two Rangers, both dead, and all fingers are pointing at you right now.” She scoffed, laughing at Jill.

“Puh-lease! Adam died because he was stupid while on a mission. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you. Tim died at your doorstep. Strange, isn’t it?” She smirked at the other woman, pulling her legs up against her chest, her vagina visible to everyone in the room. CJ grabbed a blanket from the back of a chair and tossed it to her.

“Cover up. I don’t want anyone’s leftovers.”

For the first time, Alana blushed. She actually looked embarrassed as she draped the blanket over her legs.

“Look, I don’t know what you want from me. I wasn’t anywhere near either one of them when they died.”

“Did you even love them?” asked Jill. “Adam was a good man. He was a good Ranger with a great reputation.”

“Adam was a fool,” she said flatly. “The only thing he provided for me was a life insurance policy that will make my life more bearable.”

Jill stepped forward and slapped Alana so hard she flattened against the sofa. She had tears in her eyes but refused to shed them, staring at the woman in shock.

“You are a cold-hearted, ruthless bitch. Adam deserved better, and even though I had no love for Tim, so did he. You had something to do with all of this, and I’m going to prove it. When I do, I will come for you personally.” Jill turned on her heels, leaving the house. CJ smiled, nodding at his woman.

“You saw that. She assaulted me.”

“I didn’t see a damn thing,” said Dan. “Neither did Marco, old boy there. Right? Marco?”

“Uh, well, I…”

“Oh, fuck off!” said Alana. “Get out of my house!” CJ looked at the woman and nodded.

“Gladly. The stench of whore is a little much for me.”

CHAPTER NINE

“Mrs. Robicheaux?” asked the woman, stepping into the waiting room.

“That’s me,” she smiled, standing with Brix and Moose.

“You obviously have some very influential connections. Not many people are allowed to see documents of missions this recent. Those files are typically sealed for a certain period of time.”

“I understand, and believe me, I have no desire to make anything public. But I have two Army Rangers dead in the last six months, from the same team married to the same woman.”

“Huh, well, that seems a good enough reason to me. I’ve reserved a conference room for you so that you’ll have peace and quiet.” She opened the door and swung an arm toward the entrance. “I’ll leave you to it.”

She left them alone with the files, both electronic and paper. The first mission was the one that killed Adam Yarrow. Brix immediately looked at the autopsy photos.

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