“We’ll see if you’re still saying that in an hour,” Sam said in a dry tone that made them laugh. “Listen, here’s the deal, I laid the guy out. He said something extremely shitty to me, and I let him have it. The blow knocked him down the stairs, and he suffered a concussion and broken wrist. I just ran into him outside, and he’s still pissed. If he’s been here, clearly he’s putting the pressure on the USA to charge me.”

“What did he say?” Kurt asked.

Sam sighed, hating to relive anything having to do with the hideous incident with Stahl that had led to her current predicament. “He asked me if I’d had a nice vacation after I came back from the thing with Stahl. I told him to fuck off and he said he was sorry that Stahl hadn’t taken the starch out of me, or something equally offensive. I didn’t think. I just acted. I punched him and I walked away. Next thing I knew I heard he was in the hospital.”

“Well,” Kurt said, “it’s definitely an assault but with extenuating circumstances. Let’s see what the USA has to say.”

They took the elevator to Forrester’s office, where Sam was given VIP treatment, right down to the offer of a beverage.

“I’d love some water, please,” she said since they were offering.

Andy and Kurt settled on coffee, which they enjoyed while they waited for Forrester to join them. He came in a short time later, moving swiftly into the room. Tall with silver hair and shrewd blue eyes, he projected an air of confidence that Sam appreciated when they were on the same side of a case. Today his confidence only added to her nerves.

“Lieutenant,” he said, shaking her hand when she stood to greet him.

“Good to see you, Tom.”

“Likewise,” he said, his New York accent coming through loud and clear in the single word.

“This is Andy Simone and Kurt Hager, my attorneys.”

He shook hands with both of them. “Pleasure.” Forrester took the fourth seat in the grouping of chairs and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Heck of a bind you’ve put me in, Sam.”

“I realize that.”

“Your colleague is pissed, and rightfully so.”

“I understand.”

“I assume you’re aware of the circumstances under which Detective Ramsey was assaulted,” Kurt said.

“I am,” Forrester replied, “and his choice of words was indeed unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate,” Sam said with an ironic laugh. “That’s one way of putting it.”