“Sergeant, there’s no need for ultimatums. You’ve been through a traumatic thing.”

“Yes, I have, and by tomorrow morning, everyone in the city will know who I’m sleeping with. They’ll know Destiny Johnson meant it when she said she’d get even with me for what happened to her kid. They’ll know I’m no closer to a suspect in the O’Connor case today than I was the day it happened. They’ll know all that, and then they’ll hear that my own command didn’t have enough confidence in me to let me close this case. Where will that leave me?”

“You’re a decorated officer. Soon to be a lieutenant. This is a setback. That’s all it is.”

“On top of another setback. You want me to take command of the detective squad. I won’t have an ounce of authority left if you take this case away from me.”

“Your safety has to be a consideration. They’ve come at you once. They’ll come at you again.”

“Next time, I’ll be ready. I screwed up this time because I didn’t take her seriously. I know better now.”

“I’ve got to talk to the chief about this. He’s having a fucking cow. Gonzo and Arnold have Destiny Johnson in interview right now. Because we’ve had her in lock-up since yesterday, she’s playing dumb on the bombing.”

Freddie came rushing into the Emergency Room, looking pale and panicked. “Oh, thank God,” he said when he saw Sam talking with Malone. “Thank you, Jesus.”

“If you hug me, I’ll have you busted down to patrol,” Sam snarled at him.

Freddie stopped just short of the embrace, bent at the waist and propped his hands on his knees. “I heard it on the radio,” he panted. “Scared the freaking shit out of me.”

“He’s swearing,” Sam commented to Malone. “He only does that in extreme circumstances. I’m honored.”

Freddie tipped his face, met Sam’s eyes. “You almost got blown up. I’m sorry if I don’t find that funny.”

“I’m fine, Cruz,” she said, touched by his concern. “You can relax.”

“What are we doing?” he asked Malone, his eyes hot with anger and passion. “What can I do?”

“Gonzo’s got Destiny in interview,” Sam told him.

“I was thinking on the way over here,” he said, still breathing heavily. “What if it’s not Johnson?”

“How do you mean?” Malone asked.

Freddie stood up straight. “Destiny spews in the paper yesterday, right?”

Sam and the captain nodded.

“So say someone wants to hose up the O’Connor investigation? What’s the fastest way?” Before they could answer, he said, “Take out Sergeant Holland and have the full wrath of the department focused on Johnson. Presto. O’Connor is back burner. Senator or not, no one takes precedence over a dead cop.”