“But he would’ve had no way into O’Connor’s apartment,” Freddie said. “Or at least he wouldn’t have had a key.”

“Which keeps him at the bottom of the list, but still a person of interest,” Sam said. “A man in his position could probably get a key if he wanted one badly enough. So how’s it all related? How’s our dead senator related to a break-in at his chief of staff’s house? If we’ve ruled out Johnson, how’s it related to a bombing at the same location?”

“Maybe it isn’t,” Skip said.

All eyes turned to him.

Sam’s brows knitted with confusion. “What do you mean, Dad?”

“Goes back to timing. What else has happened this week?” Before Sam could reply, he said, “In the course of the investigation, you’ve rekindled an old flame.” He glanced at Nick. “Who might be put out by that?”

“We’re both single, so other than my superiors, I can’t think of anyone,” she said, wondering where he was going with this.

“Are you sure?” And then, all at once, she knew exactly what he was talking about—or rather whom. “Peter,” she gasped. “Oh my God.” Curling her fist into her stomach, she had to sit when her legs would have buckled under her.

The room fell silent. Her rancorous divorce, complete with restraining orders and accusations of mental cruelty and emotional abuse, was hardly a secret to any of them.

Nick sat next to her, and Sam didn’t object when his arm slid around her shoulders.

“He was outside the house,” she whispered. “That was him before. He was watching us that night after we had pizza. I felt something, but I blew it off, chalked it up to nerves. I’ll bet he was in your house, too.”

“What would he want there?”

“First rule of combat,” she said softly. “Know your enemy.”

Nick turned to Skip. “What do we do?”

Skip shifted his furious eyes to Gonzo. “Call Malone. Report in, and then pick up Gibson.”

“Yes, sir.” Gonzo signaled to Arnold, his partner, and they left.

“I’m going with you,” Freddie said, following them.

Sam got up and grabbed her coat off a hook by the door. “I just need some, ah, air.” She rushed through the front door.

Nick was right behind her.

She struggled against his efforts to embrace her. “Just leave me alone, will you?”

“The hell I will.” He pulled her in close and tightened his arms around her. “Don’t push me away, Samantha.”

“He was watching us! He was in your house! Because of me!”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t take it on.”

“How can I not? He’s obsessed.” Another thought occurred to her all of a sudden.

“What?”

“The EDs,” she whispered, the ramifications so huge, so monstrous it was almost too much to process.

“You don’t think…”