Oh, so seldom does fate cast our enemy into our hands, to do with as we will ― DONNA LEON

"Good evening, Mr. Knight. Mr. Talwell informed us of the situation. I'm Detective John Riley and my team is here to sweep the place for prints and evidence." His eyes took in Claire's body, the room's contents and occupants in a sweepingly impassive gaze.

This guy would make one hell of a poker player.

"But I'd like to ask you and your... lady, here some questions before you leave." He proceeded when no response was received from either of them.

The middle-aged detective was dressed in gray trousers and a black shirt. With his police-issued Glock jammed in his shoulder holster beneath an overused and comfortable-looking leather jacket, he looked at her with a sharp but noncommittal gaze. His weather-beaten but arresting face was highlighted by his clever brown eyes and a sharp, flattened nose. The rest of his team entered the room and started to photograph and sweep the room for evidence.

"Detective Riley, the lady is Ms. Catrina Banning. She works for the U.S. Government and is here to act as a consultant and liaise between my company and the Military. I'll answer any questions you have and would appreciate it if you could keep this investigation as discreet as possible."

"Of Course, Mr. Knight. We will be as discreet as possible and in return, you will be as cooperative as I expect."

The underlying condition of tit-for-tat behavior expected from Alex by the cop would be almost funny, if not for the situation. Alex did not react well to threats.

"Detective, I think that the panic entailed after this news breaks and the utter efficiency of my lawyers to make this horrific circumstance, even more of a legal nightmare, would be detrimental to your efforts in finding whoever committed this heinous crime, wouldn't it? So what do you say, we each do our job and keep this as civil as possible?"

Taken aback by the clear threat wrapped under a pretty speech, Detective Riley looked on in amazement with a grudging respect for Alex.

"I only suggested that we should come to an understanding, to resolve this as swiftly and efficiently as possible."

"Sure, you did," Alex replied dryly.

Removing a black notebook and pencil from inside his jacket, the Detective looked coolly at Alex and her.

"I assume the deceased was an employee, but let's start with her name and what was she doing here so late?"

It was another forty-five minutes before Alex and she were allowed to leave. Jerry Talwell, Knight Inc's Security In-charge had already informed the detective about Katherine finding Claire's body first. After being told that she would be available for questioning the next day, the detective was none too happy about the delay. He accepted the excuse of Katherine being too shocked to find the body of her friend and colleague and relented to continue the questioning later.

As they exited the room, Alex made for his office to ostensibly review through his copy of the security footage. Cat stopped him with her fingers curling above his forearms over his shirt. The hot feel of his skin through the material burned her and she dropped her hand instantly. Not missing her telling reaction, she looked up to notice his eyes gleaming wearily.

"You didn't answer me."

"I don't have to."

"But you will."

"And why is that?"

"Because if you don't, I'll assume the worst and then you'll be hard put to change my mind."

"Really, so what's the worst that you can imagine?"

"That you and Claire had a thing that didn't end well, so-"

"-I killed her in a fit of rage," he completed her statement scornfully. By this point, they were both standing in front of his office and he jerked Cat inside by pulling on her arms.

"When would I have had the time to do that? You heard the detective confirm it had been only a couple of hours since it happened. I was with you the whole afternoon. So, let me just stop that overactive imagination of yours right away, Ms. Banning. I'm not in the habit of sleeping with my employees and then throwing them away, just like so much trash, nor do I run away from whatever makes me uncomfortable."

"I didn't mean to imply that you had anything to do with her death."

"Didn't you?"

Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously as he gripped her arms harder and pulled Cat even closer. She didn't cry out or even flinch at the small hurt.

"I just meant to say that you were looking at her like...she was more than your secretary."

"I don't condone senseless crime. She is-was only my secretary. A good, hard-working girl who was probably killed for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Her family and friends are going to feel unbearable pain when I tell them that their daughter is-" He sighed and turned his back to Cat.

She ached for him as Alex released her to stand near the windows behind his desk. Rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, he looked worn out.

"Maybe you could tell someone else to do it?"

"She was my secretary and that makes her my responsibility. Claire's family deserves to hear about their daughter's death from me, at the very least." His voice was hoarse and she'd noticed a troubled gleam in his eyes before he turned away. Cat just felt compelled to wipe it out.

She went to stand next to him and before she could think about it, Cat wrapped her arms around Alex and pressed her head to his chest. Sensing a moment of hesitation, she squeezed his waist and Alex slowly put his arms around her back. He stroked her hair away from her back, pushing it to one side and rested his cheek on her head.