His phone dinged with a new text from Sam. What’s happening there?

He filled her in on where they were going and why.

I’m so pissed to be sitting this one out. Be back soon to help out.

We’ve got ya covered. No worries. How you feeling?

Like death.

Ugh. Sorry. I’ll let you know what happens.

Please do.

VA SP has Courtney Hamilton in custody. More to come on that too. And we’ve got Jacoby on the security film from the hotel in Beltsville where Josh was found.

It’s all coming together. Any word on how Josh is?

Last I heard he’s the same, but doctors are optimistic that he’ll pull through.

I’ve got to give Franklin police something in the AM. They’re anxious to tell Taylor’s parents that he’s been located.

Hopefully we’ll have some good news for them soon.

Hope so.

Freddie looked out into the dark of night, thinking of Josh and people in Tennessee that he’d never met, but who were about to get an answer to all their prayers. He could only hope—and pray—that the son they’d missed for so many years would live to be reunited with them.

* * *

AFTER THE EXCHANGE with Freddie, Sam put down her phone and tried to fall back to sleep. Though she felt worse than she ever had in her life, she was wide-awake and buzzing with adrenaline after hearing her people were hot on Jacoby’s trail. She’d give anything, well, almost anything, to be with them when they took him in.

She sat up slowly, her head spinning from even that small movement. The bedside clock read four-thirty.

“What’re you doing?” Nick asked.

“I’m coming out of my skin being here when things are going down at home.”

“You’re sick. Even if you were there, you wouldn’t be working.”

“Still...can we go home?”

“Right now?”

“Didn’t you say the plane is on standby whenever you need it?”

“Within reason.”

“Will you check? Please?”

Sighing, he got out of bed, turned on a light, pulled on a pair of sweats and went to the door.

Sam heard the low murmur of voices but couldn’t make out any specifics of what was being said.

The door closed and Nick came over to sit on the bed. “They’ll see what they can do.”

“Thank you.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’re sure you feel up to traveling?”

“I never feel up to traveling, but I’m losing my mind, in addition to my lunch, being here. I want to go home.”

Nick reached for the cup of ice water he’d put on the bedside table earlier. “Drink. Stay hydrated so you don’t end up in the hospital like I did.”