Page 64 of Critical Doubt

"I don't believe either one committed suicide," she said.

"I spoke to Chief Tanner. He's convinced that's exactly what happened."

"Well, I'm not."

He let out a frustrated breath. "Why do you always need to cause trouble?"

"A better question would be why do I need to get to the truth? And I can answer that question. Because the truth matters. It matters to Abby and to Tyler. It matters to Ryker and the other guys on the team. I would think you, of all people, would understand that."

He stared back at her, a glint of what looked like admiration in his eyes. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

"Fine. You're going to do what you want to do anyway."

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I have meetings this week with the design team."

"This week? You stay here in Bethesda? What about your job at Fort Benning?"

"I've cut that back so that I can spend more time here, developing new weapons that will help our troops."

"And Colonel Vance is involved as well?"

"Yes. He brought me in."

"And then you brought Mason in?"

"I set him up to have a conversation with Vance. They figured out the rest themselves."

"Why didn't Mason ask Vance himself?" Ryker interrupted. "We all worked with Vance in Afghanistan."

"Mason thought my word would carry some weight, and he was desperate. Since his injuries, he'd had difficulty finding a good job. Anyway, it's all working out for everyone involved." He paused. "Are you here to tell Mason about Todd? He already knows. I spoke to him earlier."

"What did he say?" she asked.

"What could he say? He was in shock. He couldn't believe it. Another one of his best friends is dead." His gaze narrowed. "I know you think you're after some hidden truth, but Mason has been struggling a lot, and he has another surgery to go through tomorrow. He doesn't need to get swept up in your crazy theory."

"I'm afraid he doesn't get a choice," she said. "I believe that Mason and Ryker might be in danger, as well as Hank Morgan, the other remaining member of the team."

"You think Paul and Todd were killed?" her father asked, doubt written in every line of his face.

"It's a possibility."

"It's ludicrous. I've always known you have a big imagination, Savannah, but that is a stretch, even for you."

"How would you know anything about my imagination?" she challenged.

"I was there for the early years of your life."

"Well, I'm not imagining anything."

"Savannah, stop," Ryker said sharply.

She looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You don't have to defend yourself to him. You know what you're doing. That's all that matters." Ryker turned his anger on her father. "And what the hell is wrong with you? Savannah is your daughter. Why do you talk to her like she's your enemy?"

"You don't know anything—" her father began.