Silent Witness

Shocked by his thought, by his own needs and yearning for her, Cochrane muttered, “You still need rest, Ellen. Go home and get some.”

Ellen nodded. “Goodnight.” Before she could turn toward the door, his hand reached out and settled on her shoulder. Her eyes widened. Something new burned in his stormy gray gaze as he studied her. He wanted to kiss her! Panic tore through her. The grieving widow in her shied away. The woman emerging from grief wanted what he was offering.

“You have the darnedest effect on me, Ellen.”

“Jim…I’m scared.” The words were so soft that Ellen could barely hear them herself, but they had an impact on Jim. Instantly his hand slid off her shoulder and he took a step away from her. “I mean…” Ellen stepped forward and lifted her hand, sliding it along his strong, uncompromising jaw. To hell with it. She couldn’t live her life always being scared. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed her lips softly against his cheek.

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TO: The Women of ROMvets.

All women who served in our military with pride and who are now authors. I’m pleased to be a part of this vital vet organization. Visit http://www.romvets.com.

Dear Reader,

Having been in the U.S. Navy, I’m familiar with the military. Most of the time, what I saw in the navy made me proud to be a member. At the same time, I was sexually harassed during my service; this trauma took away a lot of the energy that I might have had for my job. No woman should have to endure this kind of pressure or degrading message.

Someday I hope everyone will realize that when men stop harassing women and trying to make them second-class citizens, this world will be a much better place. Any time you put down a gender, you are losing fifty percent of the wonderful possibilities. Women have proved their capabilities in battle on the front as well as behind the lines. I think it’s about time they were given equal respect, don’t you?

Sincerely,

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

June 22

AGENT ELLEN TANNER HOPED she didn’t throw up. A licensed psychotherapist, she realized yet again that she didn’t always have neat, tidy emotions. This was disconcerting to her, but reality.

As she almost ran down the white-tiled hall, Ellen juggled her black briefcase and her bulky knapsack. She ignored the California palm trees outside the window. She was going to be late!

It was the first day on her new job—her new life. Commander Dornier, the commanding officer of JAG in the area, had kept her a little too long on the first floor of the building, regaling her with stories. She’d been assigned to the office of the Judge Advocate General at the San Diego Naval Station. She was to go to a second-floor office in Building 56 and introduce herself to her new JAG cohort, Lieutenant Jim Cochrane.

Ellen discovered the naval station sat on some of Southern California’s most valuable real estate. Too bad Building 56 didn’t afford a view of San Diego Bay, or the fourteen piers that housed every variety of modern naval ship, from Spruance class destroyers, Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers, to state-of-the-art killing machines known as Aegis class cruisers. Aircraft carriers also used the busy facility, which employed forty-five thousand naval and civilian personnel. A two-star admiral was in command of this military beehive of perpetual activity. How would Lieutenant Cochrane react to her? Breathless, Ellen searched for office 204 and tried to control her frazzled emotions. At thirty-two, she realized she had to make the most of this unexpected opportunity. After a hellish and bleak two years, she couldn’t stand the thought of not succeeding at this new job. Gulping, she skidded to a halt in front of room 204. Lifting her hand, her anxiety mingled with hope and dread, Ellen knocked.