Sam hated to be the source of trouble for him, but she knew what he would say if he were there. “Nick agrees that Ramsey had it coming after what he said to me, and I have to believe that most rational people would’ve done what I did in the same situation.”

“I guess you’ll find out,” Andy said, holding up his phone so she could see the headline on his screen.

U.S. Attorney Meets with Vice President’s Wife Ahead of Assault Charges. The story was already on the Star’s website. She zoomed in for a closer look and saw that one of Darren’s colleagues had written it.

“How do they already have that?” Kurt asked.

“Ramsey,” Sam said. “He saw me coming in here, knew why I was here and went straight to the media with it.” Sam’s phone rang, and when she saw Freddie’s name on the Caller ID, she said, “I’ve got to take this. Thanks again for coming.”

“Anytime, Sam,” Andy said.

“Keep us posted,” Kurt said as he walked away with Andy.

“What’s the latest?” Sam asked.

“Jeannie and Tyrone went hard at Mrs. Hamilton,” Freddie reported. “They and everyone who watched aren’t sure if she knew that Josh was Taylor Rollings. When they asked how Josh came to be in her custody she clammed up and asked for a lawyer. The guy she wants is in New York and can’t get here until tomorrow, so she’ll be spending the night.”

“And Jacoby?”

“Lawyered up. His guy is in court today, so he’s a guest of the city for the evening too.”

“Excellent, which means they’re all mine when I get back tomorrow.”

He snorted with laughter. “We predicted that’s what you’d say. Since most of us have been working since Sunday, they sent us home until zero seven hundred when we’ll pick it back up.”

Her phone rang with another call, this one from Nick. “Get some sleep, and I’ll see you then,” she said to Freddie. “Thanks for the update.” She hoped she was hitting the right button to take the other call. “Hi, there.”

“Something you want to tell me, babe?”

“It’s good news actually.”

“Not according to the Star.”

“You gonna believe them or me? I was the one in the meeting with Forrester.”

“What’d he say?”

“He’s taking it to a grand jury.”

“So that means...”

“He’s hoping there won’t be an indictment because of who I am and because of who you are.”

Nick’s low whistle echoed through the phone. “Crafty.”

“We thought so too.”

“We?”

“Andy and his friend Kurt, a criminal defense attorney, who came to the meeting with me.”

“How come I didn’t know there was going to be a meeting?”