Oath of Honor

her expression took on the kind of intense focus Wes recognized from

the field when an engagement was imminent.

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Lucinda Washburn was about to tell her the real reason she’d been

hired. Everything else was reasonable, but that about-to-do-battle glint

in Lucinda’s eyes said there was more.

“Need-to-know, Captain,” Lucinda said softly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We have a security breach, as yet unidentified, but we suspect

the individual has intimate access to the president. You’ll be with those

closest to him every day.”

“I’m not a security agent, I’m a doctor.”

Lucinda smiled. “And as such, a trained observer.”

Wes asked, “Who are the likely suspects?”

Lucinda drew a long breath and listed the limited pool of individuals

with close, continuous access to the president. Evyn Daniels was one

of them. Wes thought back to the hours they’d spent together the night

before. If she’d had this information then, maybe she wouldn’t have

suggested dinner, even though she couldn’t imagine Evyn betraying her

country. But then, she didn’t really know her at all. All she had to go on

were nebulous feelings, and feelings had no place in her job.

“I’ll be read in on any security updates?” Wes asked.

“Yes—need-to-know.” Lucinda stood, indicating the interview

was over. “Questions?”

“No, ma’am. I do have a request.”

“Go ahead,” Lucinda said, a note of curiosity in her tone.

“I’d like to see the autopsy file on Dr. O’Shaughnessy.”

Lucinda’s jaw tightened. “You’ll have that today, Captain. As soon

as the last of the paperwork is completed.”

“Thank you.”

Lucinda Washburn leaned across her desk and pushed a button on

her phone. A voice came over the speaker. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Would you please let the agents know Captain Masters is

ready?”

“Certainly.”

Lucinda turned. “We’ll get the polygraph out of the way, and that

should be the end of the formalities.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Wes rose. “As I said, I’ll be reviewing the president’s

chart today. I would like to examine him at his earliest convenience.”

“Really?” Lucinda studied her. “Why? Everything is in his

records.”

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“That may be, but if I’m going to be his doctor, I need to perform

a baseline physical examination and make my own assessment.”

“You don’t trust your predecessor?”

“I don’t know him,” Wes said. “But in any case, I wouldn’t presume

to take care of someone I had never examined. It’s not good medicine.”

She hesitated, seeing the consternation in Lucinda Washburn’s eyes.

She imagined the president was incredibly busy, and finding time to

meet with her would probably be incredibly inconvenient. “In my

experience, high-profile patients often get poor care. Physicians and

everyone else involved are reluctant to inconvenience them. Things

get overlooked. That’s not fair to any patient, but it certainly is not

appropriate for the president of the United States. In light of everything

you’ve told me, it’s imperative I judge his status for myself.”

“I understand. I’ll see that it’s scheduled as soon as possible.”

Lucinda extended her hand and Wes took it. “Welcome to the House,

Captain.”

• 65 •

RADCLYfFE

chapter eight

Evyn hadn’t slept much in the last few days, and she needed a

coffee refill to keep her focused during the routine after-review

of the wedding detail and the rest of the uneventful morning briefing.

Trying not to look distracted, she sloshed milk into her Starbucks

venti cup, added the always-good coffee the valets kept fresh in their

command center, and settled back at the conference table with the other

members of the day shift. She wasn’t herself and couldn’t figure out

what was off. Usually a brisk shower, a fast fantasy, and a hard orgasm

cleared her head for the day, but this morning, she’d opened her eyes

and immediately replayed the evening with Wes—and the details that

came to mind had nothing to do with the job. She kept stumbling over

the way Wes concentrated on her when they talked, as if they had all

night, the way Wes smiled at something Evyn said, her eyes glowing.

And her mouth—God, she had a killer mouth—full lips, broad smile, a

tiny lift on the right side that gave her a hot, sexy, rakish look. Evyn’s

stomach tightened into a hard knot and a quick pulse beat between her

thighs. She sucked in a breath. Whoa. Bad timing—where was that rush

two hours ago when she could have taken care of it? She slugged her

coffee, burned her tongue, and choked.

When she looked over, Gary was staring at her with laughter in

his eyes. She tossed him a get bent look, and he smothered a grin. He

always claimed he could read her mind, but she assured him he was

wrong, remarking if he could, he’d be walking around with a perpetual

boner and he should be so lucky.

Agents rose and started to leave the room, the midnight shift

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Oath Of hOnOr

heading home and the rest to their posts. Evyn grabbed her black trench

coat and coffee.

“Evyn,” Tom Turner said. “Hang on a minute, will you.”