The Officer's Secret. Debby Giusti

and I didn’t ask for an explanation. Dani and I had been estranged for a few years. I was relieved that we were trying to patch up our differences.”

      “What type of differences?”

      She lowered her gaze and uncrossed her legs. Nate watched her body language. Her refusal to make eye contact was telling.

      Finally she shrugged and tried to smile. “Two women going their separate ways. Dani went into the military. I pursued a career in family counseling.”

      Nate was sure there had been more to the differences than Maggie was willing to admit. “Did Major Bennett invite you to visit this weekend?”

      With a quick shake of her head, she said, “Dani was independent. She had a hard time accepting help.”

      “Yet—” Nate glanced at the small suitcase in the foyer “—you packed a bag and drove here to be with her.”

      “I told Dani she shouldn’t be alone, that I was worried Graham might come back.”

      “And Major Bennett shared your concern about her husband?”

      “She was more upset about something that had happened in Afghanistan. But she didn’t go into the problem. Only that it was serious.”

      Nate raised his brow. “Serious enough to cause her to take her own life?”

      Maggie bristled. “My sister didn’t take her life.”

      Nate wouldn’t state the obvious, which was that, at this early stage in the investigation, nothing indicated foul play.

      “How long ago did you and your sister reconnect?”

      “Dani called last week and asked if we could meet for lunch, which we did, in Alabama.”

      “Not here on post?”

      “That’s right. We met just over the state line in a little town called Hope. There’s a ladies’ tearoom on the square.”

      Nate would have someone check out the tearoom. Not that he thought Maggie was lying, but he wanted to ensure the information was accurate before he passed it up the chain of command.

      “How did your sister seem? Happy? Sad?”

      “She was concerned about her marriage, but she wasn’t depressed, if that’s what you’re asking.”

      “What did you talk about?”

      Maggie shrugged. “Her deployment. Being back in the States.”

      “Her marriage?”

      “Yes, of course. She said marrying Graham had been a mistake.”

      “Did she give a reason?”

      Maggie shook her head.

      “What about growing up? Did you reminisce about the good times?”

      “Sure. We were always close as kids.”

      “But that changed?” he asked.

      “We…we grew apart, as I mentioned.”

      “Looking back to your childhood, what thoughts come to mind?”

      A hint of a smile tugged at Maggie’s lips. “Running barefoot in the backyard.”

      “Sounds as if you and your sister didn’t like shoes.”

      “Only when we were little. Dani had a closet full when we were teens.”

      “But she went barefoot in the house?”

      Maggie wrinkled her brow. “Not that I recall.”

      Nate glanced down at his notes. “Let’s go back to the beginning. What happened after you entered the house?”

      She explained how she had searched the rooms and, finding nothing, had made her way to the attic. “The upstairs was pitch-black. I couldn’t see anything and waved my hand in the air to find the pull cord for the overhead lightbulb.”

      “If you hadn’t been here before, how did you know about the pull cord?”

      Angling her head, she paused, as if weighing her words. “My dad was military,” she said at last. “We lived in similar quarters sixteen years ago.”

      “At Fort Rickman?”

      “That’s right. In this same housing area.”

      “A three-year assignment for your dad?”

      “Yes, but—”

      Maggie clasped her hands then worried her fingers. “My father…” Deep breath. “His tour of duty was cut short.” She looked down as if gathering courage to go on. “Regrettably, my father committed suicide.”

      Not what he had expected to hear. Nate fought to keep his expression neutral as she glanced up at him with troubled eyes.

      “He hanged himself in the attic of our house.” She leaned closer to Nate. “The similarity in the two deaths proves Dani would never have taken her own life.”

      “Because—?”

      Her eyes widened as if the conclusion she had drawn was obvious. “Because Dani did everything to overcome the stigma of his death. That’s why she went into the military. She idolized him. Dani tried to be the son he always wanted. Problem was she tried to prove herself to him, even after his death.” She leaned closer. “Don’t you see, for Dani, suicide wouldn’t have been an option?”

      Unless Major Bennett wanted to prove how much she loved her father by following him into death. Nate kept that thought to himself.

      “You brought up depression earlier. Is there a history of depression or anxiety disorders in your family?”

      “None that I know of.”

      “Tell me about when you were in the attic. You said the light was off?”

      “That’s correct. The moon shone through the window and—” She struggled to find her words.

      His voice softened. “That’s when you saw your sister?”

      She nodded. Tears pooled in her blue-green eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks. Nate tried to remain detached despite his desire to wipe away her pain. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and shoved it into her hand, his fingers touching hers for longer than necessary, as if attempting to pass on support.

      Maggie seemed oblivious to the way his hand burned where it touched hers. What was happening to his ability to remain neutral? He had been around other attractive women…had dated a few along the way…but no one had ever affected him like the woman sitting close to him.

      Nate turned to look over his shoulder as Jamison scurried down the stairs and motioned him into the foyer, providing the reprieve Nate needed. Time to regroup and focus on the internal warning signal that was telling him something unexpected and downright powerful was happening to his status quo.

      “Excuse me for a minute.” He rose from the chair and met the agent in the kitchen.

      “You okay?” Jamison stared at him with narrowed eyes.

      Nate straightened his shoulders. “Yeah, why?”

      “You look troubled.”

      “An officer died tonight. That is troubling.”

      “Of course, it is. The ME is getting ready to release the body. They’ll bring Major Bennett downstairs soon. Might not be good for her sister to watch.”

      Jamison was right. Maggie shouldn’t be around when the body was removed.

      “What did the doc say?” Nate asked.

      “Only that he’ll order a toxicology screen. Drugs and alcohol. As backed up as the lab is at Fort Gillem, I don’t know when we’ll get the