“Yeah, I got you. I don’t think she’ll have much of a case. I think all the boys who raped Brooke are dead.”

“Let her come to that conclusion without your assistance.”

“So I’m back on the Springer case?”

“You’re back on it.”

“Excellent. We have a meeting at ten tonight, and I’ll bring everyone up to date.” As soon as she finished the sentence, she realized she’d said too much.

“Why would you have a meeting tonight for a case I’d expressly removed you from?”

“I was checking in with my squad, sir. Like any good commander would when her squad was in the middle of a hot case that had the potential to be emotionally devastating to them.” She laid the shit on superthick hoping it would soothe him.

“Did you hear that sound? It was my head officially exploding.”

Sam held back a laugh that would get her in deeper trouble with him. “If it’s just the same to you, sir, I think I’ll keep Detective Sergeant Gonzales in charge of the Springer investigation, but I’ll be close by to keep Mr. Springer off your ass. Is that okay?”

“You’re actually asking my permission? This is a banner day indeed. For what it’s worth, I agree with your decision regarding Sergeant Gonzales, and I’ll be at the briefing tomorrow morning to show the department’s support of you both.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll see you in the morning.” She stashed the phone in her pocket and turned to face her husband. “How’re you feeling?”

“Fine.”

“Your ribs don’t hurt?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Though she badly wanted to see Brooke and Tracy, she sat in the chair next to him. Under normal circumstances when he wasn’t angry with her, not to mention hurt, she would’ve crawled into his lap for some much-needed comfort. Something told her his lap wasn’t open for business tonight.

“I’m sorry you’re upset about everything. I agree that you have good reason to be. We had plans, and my life, my job and my family has once again gotten in the way of that.”

“I’ve been sitting here thinking about how often that happens.”

“I’m really sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am.”

When he reached for her hand and held it between both of his, Sam felt like she could truly breathe again for the first time since they’d argued earlier. She hadn’t forgotten the little tidbit Darren had tossed in her lap, but she was taking things one crisis at a time.