Fatal Deception (14 page)

“Thanks for coming out,” Derek said flatly. “I know how busy you are.”

“It’s no problem.”

“Um, Derek,” Sam said, “it’s really important that you not tell anyone—even your parents—what we’ve uncovered about Victoria. If this is part of a larger scheme, we don’t want to tip our hand that we’re on to them.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll call you later,” Nick said. “And you know how to reach me if you need to. Any time. Day or night.”

“Thanks, Nick.” Derek stretched out on the sofa and covered his face with his hands.

Nick tipped his head toward the door, indicating they should go.

“I feel bad leaving him like that,” Sam said.

“I do too,” Nick said.

“I’m sure he wants us to go figure out what the hell is going on,” Hill said.

“I’ll give you a lift back to the city,” Nick said to Sam.

She glanced at Hill, torn between what she should do and what she wanted to do. “Oh, um, well...”

“Go on ahead,” Hill said. “I’m going to look into who did the security clearance update when Derek married Victoria. I’ll meet you back at HQ.”

“Sounds good,” Sam said. When they were ensconced in Nick’s cozy BMW, she said, “You might’ve asked rather than told me I was going with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t need you acting all...husbandly...in front of my colleagues.”

Nick snorted out a laugh. “I am your husband, and I shall act accordingly for the rest of my life.”

“Not in front of the people I work with!”

“I hate to point out that you don’t actually work with Hill, thank God.”

“Nick! That’s not the point!”

Chuckling, he reached over to cover her hand with his and resisted her attempts to push him away. “I’m sorry if I went about it the wrong way, but I won’t apologize for wanting to spend whatever time I can with you, especially when you’re injured, in pain and trying to hide it from me.”

Oh, she hated when he said stuff like that right when she was working up a good mad! “Don’t try to charm your way out of this.”

“Why not? It usually works.”

Because she could no more resist his charm than she could a box of chocolates when it was put right in front of her, she linked her fingers with his, tipped her head back and closed her eyes. The pain was making its presence known, giving her a sick, queasy feeling that dulled her usually sharp senses. “I hated having to do that to Derek.”

“I know, babe.”

“Whenever he thinks about the moment he learned she wasn’t who he thought, he’s going to remember it was me who told him.”

“He knows you’re doing your job.”

“Sometimes I hate my job.”

“I always hate your job.”

That made her laugh, which helped. Being with him always helped.

“But you’re so good at it,” he added. “What you did today in that store was nothing short of amazing. You saved a lot of lives—your own included.”

As always, receiving compliments, even from him, made her twitchy. “I was glad I was there. It worked out well.”

“For everyone but the gunman and your face.”

“I’m sorry this happened today of all days, but don’t worry. I’ll be there tonight with bells on.”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t feel up to it. I’d totally understand.”

“I’m going, and that’s the end of it.”

When Nick’s cell phone rang, Sam released his hand so he could retrieve it from his coat pocket. He handed it to her. “See who it is.”

She glanced at the caller ID and smiled. “Scotty.” They’d bought him a phone so he could call them any time he wanted. “Hi, buddy,” she said.

“Sam! Oh my God! I saw the video! Are you okay?”

She hated the worry she heard in his voice. It hadn’t occurred to her to call him, but with hindsight, she realized she should have. “I’m totally fine. Where did you hear about the video?”

“I heard people talking about it at swimming camp, and when I got home, Mrs. L and I watched it on the computer. You were so awesome. Mrs. L thought so too. She said you were like Wonder Woman.”

“Aww, thanks. It was kind of crazy, but all’s well that ends well.”

“Did it hurt when he hit you with the gun? Duh, that’s a dumb question, huh?”

Sam laughed. “It didn’t feel great, but they stitched me up, and I’m back to work.”

“Are you with Nick?”

“Yep, he’s giving me a lift. You want to talk to him?”

“In a second. Can you keep a really big secret?”

“Dude, are seriously asking me that?”

Scotty snorted out a laugh that sounded an awful lot like the way Nick often laughed at her. “Sorry. Of course you can. That’s kinda your job, right?”

“Duh.”

Nick flashed her a grin, as he was no doubt enjoying her side of the conversation with the boy they both adored.

“So what’s the big—”

“Don’t say it! I don’t want him to hear!”

“All right already. Sheesh!”

“Senator O’Connor invited me to the fundraiser tonight. Mrs. L is going to drive me up to Ashburn. We’re leaving in a little while. I wasn’t going to tell you guys, but I figured since you were hurt and stuff, you might not go.”

“I am for sure,” she said, more determined than ever now that she knew he would be there. “That’s a good one. He’ll be thrilled.”

“Don’t make him wonder what we’re talking about.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, thoroughly charmed. “We’re looking forward to this weekend—and the next three weeks.”

“I am too. Counting down the days!”

Sam smiled and rested a hand on Nick’s leg. “Do you want to talk to Nick?”

“Sure, if he can.”

“He’s always got time for you. We both do. I hope you know that.”

“I do. That’s cool, Sam. Seriously.”

“Can’t wait to see you.”

“You too.”

She handed the phone to her husband and leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder while he conducted an animated conversation with Scotty, more than half of it centered on Red Sox stats as well as talk of the Washington Nationals and their incredible season.

“Do you mean Willie Vasquez?” Nick asked.

Sam recognized the name of the Nationals’ star center fielder.

“He’s coming to your camp? Wow, that’s great. I might have to call in sick to work that day and go to camp with you.” Nick paused and laughed at whatever Scotty said in response. “All right, pal. I’ll see you Sunday. Can’t wait.”

Sam took the phone from him and returned it to his suit pocket before resuming her position on his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne.

“He’s so excited about the camp and spending three weeks with us,” Nick said. “I hope he decides to stay forever.”

“I think he’ll get there eventually, babe,” Sam said. “You can’t blame him for being afraid to make such a huge change.”

“I don’t blame him for that. Not one bit. We’re asking him to change his whole life.”

“We’ll make him feel so at home with us that he’ll never want to leave.”

“That’s the goal. Now tell me, what’ll I be thrilled about?”

“I’m not at liberty to disclose that information.”

“I don’t like you two ganging up on me.”

“Now you know how I feel when you guys do it to me.”

As they encountered bumper-to-bumper traffic on Route 66, he raised his arm and put it around her. “Close your eyes for a few minutes. I can tell you’re running on fumes.”

“Don’t act like you know me so well.”

“It’s not an act.”

Laughing, she nudged him with her elbow.

“Behave yourself while I’m driving and take a snooze. We’re going to be here awhile.”

As her eyes burned closed, Sam’s mind raced with the details of the case, the fundraiser, Scotty’s impending visit, the conversation she needed to have with McBride and Tyrone about the Fitzgerald case, and then the conversation they all needed to have with her dad about that situation. Her brain was as tired as the rest of her by the time she gave in and let the darkness take her away from it all.

Chapter Ten

“Babe, wake up. We’re at HQ.”

“Not yet,” she muttered, snuggling closer to him.

He tightened his arm around her and let out a tortured-sounding groan. “You know I’d much rather be with you, but I’ve got to get to the Hill. I’m running late thanks to the hideous traffic.”

Reluctantly, Sam sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, gasping when she connected with her injured face. How had she managed to forget about that? She shook off the cobwebs and turned to him. “Thanks for the lift.”

He studied her with those sharp hazel eyes that never missed a thing where she was concerned. “Feel any better after the nap?”

“I’m sure I will when I wake up.” She took a look around and noticed they were at the morgue entrance. “Was the main entrance crawling with reporters?”

“Crawling is the right word. Hundreds of them. I knew you wouldn’t be up for that.”

“I’ve already had my encounter with them for today.” She leaned in to kiss him and gasped when her face throbbed with pain. “Thanks for thinking of that and delivering me to safety.”

“Any time. Take it easy on yourself this afternoon. You took quite a hit this morning, even if you’re trying to play it down.”

“I’d tell you not to worry—”

“But that would be a waste of time.”

“I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Yes, you will.”

Sam braved the pain and treated herself to one last lingering kiss.

“That was mean.”

She grinned at him as best she could with only half her face working. “See ya, Senator.” Now fully awake and firing on all cylinders, she got out of the car and jogged through the sizzling heat into the cool dankness of the morgue.

Lindsey McNamara was coming down the hallway toward Sam. “Hey,” she said, grimacing when she caught sight of Sam’s injured face. “Double ouch.”

“No biggie. Looks worse than it is. Anything new for me?”

Lindsey shook her head, making her ponytail swing back and forth. “Not yet. I’m leaning on the lab to get me something on the DNA we found under Victoria’s nails.”

“Good. Thanks.” Sam started off down the corridor.

“So I’ll see you tonight? At the fundraiser?”

Sam turned back to her. “You’re going?”

Lindsey’s face turned bright red. “Terry asked me to go with him. I hope that’s okay.”

“Sure it is,” Sam said, annoyed as always when her world collided with her husband’s. With two of her people dating two of his people, it happened far too often. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“No reason. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”

“It’s a free country,” Sam said, immediately regretting the snotty comment. “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to figure out how all this works.”

“All what?”

“My job, his job, how they connect, how you connect with Terry and how Gonzo connects with Christina. It’s all kinda...messy.”

Lindsey laughed. “I hate to break it to you, Sam, but life is messy.”

“Tell me about it. Gotta get back to it. See you later on.”

In the lobby, she ran into Chief Farnsworth and Captain Malone. The god of productivity had totally abandoned her today.

“How’d it go with Kavanaugh?” the chief asked.

“About how you’d expect. He’s in total denial that she lied about everything. You can’t convince him that she didn’t love him and their life. Nick confirms that nothing about them ever seemed fake or contrived.” Sam paused as a thought came to her. “Perhaps she was hired to infiltrate Nelson’s campaign and administration, but maybe she fell in love for real. Maybe that’s what got her killed.”

“That’s as good a motive as any I’ve heard so far,” Farnsworth said.

“We’ll look into it.”

“How’s the face?” Malone asked.

“As gorgeous as ever,” Sam said, sticking her chin out for emphasis. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“Absolutely,” Malone deadpanned. “The recent work you’ve had done is a huge improvement.”

Farnsworth choked back a laugh.

“Very funny.”

“On the not-so-funny side of the house,” the chief said, sobering, “Melissa Woodmansee has filed suit against the department alleging police brutality.”

Shock radiated through Sam. That the murdering bitch would have the gall to sue them was infuriating. “It was a clean shot,” Sam said. “If Cruz hadn’t blown the detonator out of her hand, she would’ve killed us all.”

“No one is quibbling with that part of it. The suit is focused on your actions to use her injury to get her to confess to the murders.”

“I kept her from bleeding to death until the EMTs got there!”

Farnsworth raised an eyebrow. “And maybe you enjoyed stepping on her bloody stump and extracting information in exchange for pain meds?”

“Hell, yes, I did! I’d do it again. Why would we have put her out of her misery when she had information we needed to close the case?”

“Tell it to the judge,” a new voice said.

Sam spun around to find her nemesis, Lt. Stahl, smiling sweetly at her. The sight of him made her want to barf. “In trouble again, Lieutenant? Tsk, tsk, tsk. It sure seems to follow you around.”

“Screw you, Stahl.”

His face turned the murderous shade of purple that usually accompanied one of their conversations. He turned to Farnsworth and Malone. “You’re going to let her talk to a superior officer that way?” Stahl never missed a chance to remind Sam he had more time in rank than she did.

“Get back to work,” the chief barked.

With a hateful look for Sam, he waddled off to find the rock he lived under.

“I thought you were trying to get rid of him?” Sam asked the chief.

“Trying is the key word. He’s refusing to take early retirement.”

“Because he’s got nothing better to do than bother me.”

“Forget about him. The general counsel will be in touch about the lawsuit and will want to depose you and your team.”

“Fine. Whatever. See if you can postpone that until after we close the Kavanaugh case.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“What’ve you done with Agent Hill?” Malone asked.

“He had to do some FBI thing. Nick was at Kavanaugh’s parents’ house, so he gave me a ride back to town.”

“Good,” Farnsworth said. “I was afraid you were going to tell me you buried the body and hid the shovel.”