“Knowing how much you look up to him, I can’t imagine how you must feel after hearing their suspicions.”

Avery tightened his grip on the wheel. “Everyone in the Bureau looks up to him. He’s a god to us. It’s not true. There’s just no way it’s true.”

“I’m sorry you’re upset.”

He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the shock of what he’d been told by Sam and Malone. Today was his day to spend with Shelby, and she deserved his complete focus. If there was anything he knew for certain it was that Troy Hamilton could take care of himself. He’d find a way to deflect these accusations away from himself and the Bureau.

“You want to get something to eat?” he asked.

“I’m more tired than hungry. I was thinking about a nap.”

Knowing she tired easily in her second trimester, he said, “Whatever you want.”

She took hold of his hand and kissed the back of it. “I was hoping you might join me for a rest.”

Which was code for afternoon nooky. Under normal circumstances, Avery was on board for any kind of nooky she wanted, but today... “Sure, honey.”

“Are you okay, Avery?”

“I’m...” He’d been about to say he was fine, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t fine at all. “I’m on edge about what this is going to mean for Hamilton and the Bureau. I’m sorry. Today is our day. No more work.”

“I understand why you’re upset. If you need to go to the office, we can postpone our plans for another day.”

Avery thought about that for a minute. “Thanks, but there’s really nothing I can do. It’s not like we have an active case to pursue or anything. This is the weirdest situation I’ve ever encountered, and that’s saying something in my line of work. Sam has Josh under protective custody—”

“I thought she was suspended.”

“She was—or is—but that’s not stopping her. Her captain was at her dad’s, so he’s aware that she’s involved. Apparently, Josh was willing to talk to her and only her, which made it necessary for them to involve her.”

“It’s ridiculous that they suspended her anyway.”

“She did assault a fellow officer.”

“Who asked for exactly what he got.”

“You don’t hear me arguing.”

Shelby looked over at him. “Do you think the U.S. Attorney will actually charge her for assault?”

“Hard to say. He’s in a tough spot on this one in light of who she is to the department and the country.”

“Can you imagine the second lady being charged with assault?”

“No, I can’t, and I’d be surprised if the administration isn’t leaning on Forrester to go easy on her.”

“Nick would never condone that.”

“It’s probably coming from above him.”