Read Person of Interest for Free Online Page A

Natalie.”
    Special Agent Kohl was either terribly confused or too much of an optimist. Nothing was okay. All she saw was darkness and heartache.
    Somehow she had to clear her name, but so much was stacked against her. Everett was a special agent on the hunt for a killer. A bull’s-eye was painted on her back, and in spite of his seeming concern for her present well-being, he couldn’t change the mind-set of the powers that be at Fort Rickman.
    With Mason spouting lies about what had happened in Germany, the CID would come to the wrong conclusion. She didn’t have a chance, unless she could uncover evidence that proved Mason’s guilt and convince Everett of her innocence. Would the special agent be a help or a hindrance?
    * * *
    Everett hated being the bearer of bad news, and Natalie appeared to have had her quota today. He’d never seen anyone blanch so quickly or look so fragile.
    Criminals were habitually good actors, but the total shock Natalie seemed to be experiencing was hard to feign. Still, he needed to be cautious.
    He placed the baby in the crib. By the time he had retraced his steps, Natalie’s breathing was more even, and her deathly pallor had changed to a healthier hue.
    He filled a glass with water and added ice.
    “How ’bout a drink?” he offered.
    “Thanks.” She reached for the glass. “I... I can’t believe—”
    Her voice caught. She turned away from his gaze and shook her head. “Denise? It can’t be true.”
    “How long had you known her?”
    “Almost a year. She needed a roommate and placed an ad in the Freemont paper. I responded and moved in the following day.”
    “You were good friends?”
    Natalie took a sip of water and shrugged. “We shared an apartment. Denise worked nights, and I was gone most days to my classes. On the weekends, we each went our separate way.”
    “Was there anyone who wanted to do her harm?”
    “Not that I know of, although she’d been dating a guy for about two months. Their relationship was questionable in my mind.”
    “In what way?”
    “He wanted everything kept private. She wouldn’t even tell me his name.” Natalie glanced up, her expression open and unassuming. “I thought that was strange and not what I would want in a relationship.”
    “Did she know how you felt?”
    “I’d mentioned the importance of trust. She wasn’t one to take advice.”
    “So you knew nothing about him?”
    “Only that they met outside of town, and he never came to our apartment.”
    “Any chance he could have been married?”
    “That’s what I thought, which upset me. Denise was a good person. She came from a great family. I couldn’t understand why she would keep the guy’s identity secret.”
    Natalie took another sip of water before continuing. “Whatever was going on affected Denise. She had changed over the last few weeks. She used to be upbeat and happy. Recently, she’d seemed on edge.”
    “Did she reveal anything about the boyfriend?”
    “Only that he drove fast cars.”
    “More than one?”
    “She mentioned a sports car and a sedan.” Natalie’s eyes widened. “How many cars does Mason drive?”
    Everett didn’t see that coming. “Why do you think he might be the boyfriend?”
    “I’m just searching for a common thread between the two deaths.”
    A common thread that didn’t involve her.
    Everett pulled his cell from his pocket. “I’ll call post and pass the information on to Frank.”
    Natalie grabbed his hand. “Please don’t. The CID will want me to return to post. I’m afraid of what Mason might do.”
    “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
    She bit her lip. “Mason’s opinion will carry weight. He could make up all sorts of stories about our time in Vilseck, all of which would paint me in a bad light. I don’t trust him, and the CID will be more prone to believe one of their own than anything I have to say.”
    Natalie was right about Mason’s statements carrying weight. She was an unknown. He was an established