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Well, that explained why he seemed in pain, but she didn’t like that he knew Owens. “Were you and Owens friends?”
“No.”
She looked up from her notes. There’d been no hesitation in his answer, and his eyes had solidified into ice chips. His expression was no longer blank. There was active dislike there. Not only were he and Owens not friends, but she was also pretty sure Landry hated the dead man.
Her unease with the situation grew. Something was off about the whole thing, especially since the dead man was a fellow Guardsman. “So, you knew Owens and recognized the boat from a picture in his locker,” she summarized. Then what happened.”
“I realized that the shadow by the anchor chain was a dead body.”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, “Why? Why all of a sudden did you know it was a body?”
His face hardened. He didn’t like answering these questions. She was sure of it.
“Because it just clicked. Sometimes it’s like that. I see something and can’t figure out what it is, but with new intel, the image becomes clearer in my mind.”
It was a reasonable explanation. “So, after you thought about it a bit, you realized that Owens was dead and hanging off the anchor chain.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“No? Isn’t that what you just said?” She watched him closely.
“I said I identified the shadow to be a dead body. I had no idea it was Owens. Could have been anyone.”
She made a few more notes. At this point, she wasn’t sure what to ask Landry. There was obviously history between him and Owens. Was it better to ask him what it was or to investigate it first and then hit him with it later if it was relevant? She’d give him the opportunity to add anything and then go from there.
Rutledge appeared. “Hey.” He nodded at Landry. “I’ll start with some of the other members of the unit.”
She nodded to him but focused her gaze on Landry. “Tell me, is there anything else you think is relevant or that I should know?”
Landry waited for Rutledge to walk away toward his teammates before answering. He caught her gaze again. “Nothing. We waited for theWallyto arrive, and then with the proper gear on, two Guardsmen brought up Owens. When they brought his body on deck, I positively identified him and then waited for your arrival.”
She wanted to press him, but he wasn’t likely to break. Standing him in the hot sun wasn’t winning her any points with him either. On the other hand, maybe she could make him lose his temper and say something. There was more going on between him and the dead guy. Whatever it was would come out, but it was better if Landry told her in his own words because then she could gauge the level of animosity between them.
“So, let’s run through this one more time.” When she looked up at him, she knew she’d made a mistake. He had a glint in his eye as if he knew exactly what she was trying to do. He wasn’t going to break. If anything, he was going to say even less this time.Well, fuck.Why was it always the hot ones that were so much damn trouble?
CHAPTERFIVE
She could make him run through his story as many times as she liked while they stood there baking in the hot sun. It didn’t matter to him. He wasn’t going to change anything, nor would he add more details. They’d discussed as a team what they should say regarding seeing Owens last night at the drug swap. It was decided that mentioning it at this point wasn’t a good move. Cain ran Dane through the story and made a few adjustments so they didn’t raise any more alarm bells than necessary. They didn’t have any real information, and Cain felt CGIS could find out for themselves. The less they were told, the more they’d have to dig into Owens' life, and wasn’t that what everyone wanted?
Dane couldn’t help wondering if it was also because it might make him look like a suspect. He had a history with Owens. He’d spotted the boat. He’d found the body. It was as if someone was painting him into the picture no matter what he did. Better to keep that information to himself. Plus, if she wanted to know about what happened between him and Owens, then she could read the file. He didn’t have to volunteer anything. It wasn’t fucking relevant.
He answered her questions but volunteered nothing and studied her as he did so. She was about average height but that was the only average thing about her. She was beautiful. She had a nice curvy figure, but it was obvious she kept herself in good shape. Her cargo pants hugged her ass and her polo shirt stretched taut over her chest. Long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail made her appear youthful. Hazel eyes peered out at him from under the brim of her Minnesota Twins baseball hat. Big, intelligent eyes that currently said she didn’t believe him. Well, tough shit because he was telling her the truth. Mostly.
“And you’re sure you have nothing to add?”
“Nothing,” he agreed.
Except he’d like to take her to dinner or a movie. More to the point, he’d like to take her to bed, but it all seemed a bit forward to ask here. He absently wondered what she smelled like. Citrus, he decided, would be her smell. He smiled grimly, trying to focus his thoughts again.
She made another note in her big binder thing and then turned and started across the deck of the cutter. Her long ponytail was swinging back and forth as she walked. He had the urge to pull it like a kid in school. Her hips also moved back and forth with a mesmerizing sway.Stupid. Don’t be distracted by her. She’d use it against him. That’s what CGIS did. Used stupid shit against him.
Still, it was a fine ass.
He went back and stood in a small pool of shade as the two special agents interviewed the rest of the team. An hour later, they were allowed to go. He and the others followed Cain across the deck, and then they boarded the RHIB, which had been floating nearby.
“Cain,” he said in a quiet voice just before they took off, “I need to talk to you when we get back to base.”
Cain’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he just tipped up his chin.
