“You too.” She shut off the lights in the kitchen and living room and went upstairs to the bedroom, expecting to find Nick already in bed. But he wasn’t there or in the adjoining bathroom. Sam smiled when she realized where she would find her husband. Though she was still concerned about his health, she knew by now how convincing he could be when he wanted her. So she took a quick shower, shaved her legs and applied the vanilla-scented lotion that drove him wild, not that she needed any help when it came to driving him wild. He was easily driven where she was concerned, which was one of many reasons she loved him so much.

Her mind refused to shut down, spinning through the events of the day. This was one hell of a time to be hit with a case of this magnitude, with her on suspension, Gonzo spiraling and the Homicide unit already shorthanded due to the loss of Arnold. Those worries had her placing a call to Malone.

“Didn’t I just see you?”

“I’m thinking...”

“Always a dangerous pastime for you, Lieutenant.”

“Ha, ha.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“This huge case falling into our laps at a time when we’re ill prepared to cope with it.”

“Your thoughts match mine.”

She realized he was choosing his words carefully because he was in the car with Hill. “The chief could lift my suspension, and I could serve out the rest after we close this case.”

“Again, your thought process and mine are aligned. I’ll discuss it with him and get back to you in the morning.”

“Great, thanks.” Sam was nearly giddy at the thought of being brought back to deal with the Hamilton investigation, not to mention imagining Ramsey’s reaction to hearing that she was back on the job because she was so essential to the department.

“You can stop your gloating now, Lieutenant,” Malone said with a chuckle.

“Who’s gloating? Have a good night, Captain.”

“You do the same.”

Sam ended the call and did a jig around the bedroom. It sure was nice to be essential to so many people, including her husband, who was getting so lucky tonight, even if she wasn’t convinced he should be exerting himself after being sick. He said he was fine, and she chose to take him at his word.

She crossed the hall to the room she used as a closet and changed into some of the sluttiest lingerie she owned before tying a big, bulky, unsexy, safe-for-Secret-Service-to-see robe over the ensemble.

She stepped into the hallway to find Secret Service Barbie giving her the eye. Eat your heart out, she wanted to say to the other woman. I’m going to get it on with the sexiest vice president in the history of the world right now. Of course she couldn’t actually say that, so instead she said, “Good night, Melinda.”

“Good night, ma’am.”