“Yes, sir,” he mumbled, stalking off to his cubicle.

“Thanks for the assist,” Sam said to Malone. Viewing the empty pit, she looked up at him. “I could use a partner. You game?”

His eyes lit up. “On a real case? Me?”

“If you can stand leaving your desk for an hour or two.”

“I’m in. Meet you outside in ten.”

“Make it five. Crime scene is waiting on us.” On the way to the parking lot, Sam called Nick. “Hey,” she said when he answered, “no reduction in rank.”

“Oh, good,” he said, releasing a long deep breath. “That’s good.”

He sounded so relieved that she laughed. “Yes, it is.”

“I don’t know if I could’ve lived with being responsible for you getting busted down to detective.”

“We would’ve coped.”

“I’m glad we don’t have to.”

“So am I. What’re you doing?”

“Reading committee reports. That seems to be all I’ve done since I took office.”

“Ah, the exciting life of a U.S. senator.”

“Nonstop glamour. What’s up over there?”

“I’m on my way to investigate a shooting at Julian’s nephew’s house.”

“Oh, no. Which one?”

“Devon.”

“Jesus. Is he dead?”

“No, but his roommate is. Devon’s on the way to GW.”

“I hope he’s okay. Julian adored him. He was so thrilled when Dev decided to go to law school.”

“Did you know Devon?”

“I never met either of his nephews. Because of Julian’s rift with their parents, he kept his relationship with them quiet.”

“But you knew he saw them?”

“He talked about them all the time, so I just assumed he did. This is all so unbelievable.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re still upset about losing him.”

“And now this. Do you think the two shootings are related?”

“I’m working under the assumption that they are.”

“Which eliminates a lot of other suspects.”

“Not entirely. This could be intended to throw us off the trail.”

“True. I guess this means you’ll be working late again.”

“Right you are. I’ll see you when I see you.”

He paused, as if there was something else he wanted to say.

“Everything all right?” she asked.

“Yeah. We can talk later.”

“Or not,” she said, her tone rife with suggestion.

He laughed. “Be careful out there, Lieutenant.”

“I always am.”

Chapter 26

Furious at being exiled, Freddie paced the sidewalk and waited for Elin to arrive. He hated being helpless and at the mercy of others. But since his car had a standard transmission, he couldn’t drive until his shoulder healed. Right now, it hurt like a bastard, which meant he was due for another pain pill.

Elin pulled up in her sleek black Acura and leaned over to open the door for him.

“I can get it myself,” he snapped.

“Yeah, nice to see you, too.”