“You’re a civilian. You won’t help me if you try to fight my battles for me, Nick. You have to promise me you’ll resist the urge to speak.”

“Or?”

“I’ll have Freddie toss you in the can until the dust settles.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh no?” She leaned in close to his battered face, but not too close to the needle. “Try me.”

The doctor smiled. “I think I’d listen to the lady if I were you—unless you want to be back for more stitches.”

“The lady,” Nick said, never taking his eyes off Sam, “is sadly deluded if she thinks she can order me around like one of her collars.”

“Ohhh,” Sam said. “Listen to him spewing cop talk.” Reaching behind her, she grabbed her cuffs and snapped them on him and the bed rail so fast he never saw it coming.

“What the fuck?” He tugged on the cuffs, clanked them against the metal rail. “Goddamn it, Sam!”

“Ah, you need to stay still unless you want a needle straight through to your brain,” the doctor said.

“I’ll be back to get him after I’ve dealt with my bosses,” Sam said to the doctor. “Keep him quiet until then.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the doctor said, seeming awestruck by her brassiness.

“You’re going to pay for this, Samantha,” Nick growled.

She brushed a kiss over the uninjured side of his forehead. “Be back soon.” Over her shoulder, she added, “Behave.” As she walked away, the furious clatter of cuffs made her smile. “That’ll teach him to screw with me.” Her smile faded when she encountered Lieutenant Stahl’s angry scowl in the waiting room. Realizing she was still braless, she pulled her tattered coat closed and crossed her arms.

Stahl gestured her to a deserted corner. Captain Malone followed them.

“Sergeant,” Stahl said. “I’d like an explanation for what you were doing at the home of a material witness—overnight.”

“Yes, sir, Lieutenant, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“How about we add a rap for insubordination to your growing list of problems?” Stahl retorted.

“Lieutenant,” Captain Malone said, the warning clear in his tone. To Sam, he said, “Your injuries were minor?”

“Yes, sir. Bump on the head, bruised sternum.”

“And your companion?”

Sam gave him a rundown of Nick’s injuries. “Was anyone else hurt?”

“No. The street was deserted. Luckily, it was a weekend.”

Yes, luckily, Sam thought, feeling a tremble ripple through her as she realized how truly lucky she—and Nick—had been. “Has Explosives gotten anything on the car?”

“They’re there now. Our people are bumping heads with Arlington. The chief was on the phone with their chief asking for some latitude when I left.”

“I’m sorry to have caused all this trouble, sir.”

“You start down that path, you’re gonna piss me off.”

“What were you doing with Cappuano?” Stahl asked.