Material Witness by Lisa Mondello, L. A. Mondello Page A

what she was asking
of him? “You have that much faith in me?”
    “Yes.”
    Kevin's wry chuckle had Jake turning
his attention away from Cassie. “Before you two go working something cozy out
together, let me see what Tate has up her sleeve, okay? She's due here any
minute and if my memory serves me right, she just hates anyone else running her
show.”
    Jake waited until Kevin closed the
door behind him before speaking again. In the dead silence of the room, the
walls began to close in on them. Cassie nearly jumped out of her chair when the
heater kicked on in the room, humming as a hot gust of wind blew out of the
blower. Thrust with it was the scent of lemon and ammonia, as if the room had been
recently cleaned with industrial cleaning liquid.
    Cassie hugged herself as if she were
cold despite the sudden blast of heat filling the room. “You don't seem like
you have a whole lot of faith in this Agent Tate.”
    “I have my reasons, but they have
nothing to do with you or this case. She has an excellent reputation with the
Bureau. She'll see to it you're comfortable wherever they take you.”
    “And that's it?”
    Jake took in her accusing expression.
“What?”
    “You just pass me off now?”
    “That's not the way this works. You
should know… Haven’t you researched the FBI for one of your books? A federal
agent was killed last night during an ongoing federal investigation. They’re in
charge.”
    “I can refuse protective custody.”
    Jake shook his head, not even wanting
to think of the possibility of Cassie out there on her own with Fagnelio still
loose. “You'd be foolish not to cooperate. They’ll be reasonable, but if you’re
not, they can make your life hell. And they will. I’ve seen them do it.”
    “Someone leaked my name to the press
last night. The only people who knew I was involved were officers working here
in this building and the FBI. I didn’t do it. And you’re the only one I believe
didn’t do it. That leaves everyone else outside that door or who was involved
with this case.”
    “Cassie—”
    “This is my life, Jake. Mine. I want
to decide. You’re the only one I trust.”
    Jake gave her a half grin. “That’s
funny.”
    “What is?”
    “Last night you accused me of knowing
nothing about you except your aliases. And yet you know nothing about me.”
    Her small chin protruded slightly,
her sable eyes were infinitely deep and round with resolute trust. In him.
    “I know you protected me last night.
That's good enough for me.”
    Jake nodded, his head swimming. It
wasn't uncommon for victims of crime to look up to the officers who protect and
serve the community. But Cassie Alvarez was forgetting one important detail
about last night. One he didn't think he'd ever forget. She was the one who
saved his life, not the other way around.
    “I appreciate your faith in me, but
I’m not what you need right now.”
    Cassie shook her head, her dark
chocolate curls moving to and fro over her shoulders. “You couldn't be more
wrong, Detective Santos.”
    He watched her gracefully step closer
to him, stopping by the side of the table. There was just enough distance to
keep him from touching her if he reached out.
    Cassie's lips tipped up to one side.
“You're exactly what I need.”
    # # #
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Jake rubbed the tight spot in the
center of his chest where his air constricted. Bertie was right. He had a soft
spot for lost women.
    Of course, his sister wasn't one of
them, as she so frequently reminded her younger brother. Nosiree. In
fact, every single Santos woman had a strong mind of her own and knew how to
use it. And Jake had plenty of experience dealing with strong-willed women,
having grown up surrounded by five older sisters.
    Cassie looked up at him, her eyes
holding a determined fire and a vulnerable innocence that closed around him
like a vise. He had a feeling, despite the delicate position she'd been thrust
into, she wasn't going to back down without a