“Some of them are asking for you, too. People are here from your office, and we received a frantic phone call from your father. He said to tell you he’s on his way.”

“Oh. Okay.” Nick was surprised and touched by his father’s concern. “Is Captain Malone out there?”

“I can check, but you have to rest and take it easy.”

“I need to see him. It’s important.”

“I’ll send him in.”

Malone came into the room a few minutes later. “How’re you doing, Senator?”

“If one more person calls me that tonight, I’m going to lose it. My name is Nick.”

Malone’s solemn expression shifted into a small smile. “Are you okay, Nick?”

“I will be. Sam, on the other hand, I’m worried about.”

“She’s in good hands,” Malone said, but Nick could see the concern etched into the older man’s face.

“When she wakes up, she’ll be freaking out about the Sinclair case. We were on our way here when this happened.” He filled Malone in on Sam’s theory about Diandra possibly paying someone off to take out Julian and mentioned the wire transfer Detective McBride uncovered.

“How does the son’s shooting fit into that?”

“She wasn’t sure yet. She was waiting for ballistics to see if the same gun was used in both shootings. She felt like she was getting close to some answers. We also figured out that Julian had lunch with Senator Ackerman, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, earlier in the day he was killed. Sam was going to talk to him in the morning.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll put Gonzales on that. He’s been a mess since he saw you two in the wreck. This’ll give him something to do with his considerable energy.”

“There was an officer there. Montgomery. He was a big help to us. If there’s anything you can do for him…”

“I’ll make sure he’s recognized.”

“Good,” Nick said, his energy flagging. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them, Malone was gone and Skip Holland had taken his place. “Hey,” Nick said. His voice sounded gravelly, so he cleared his throat.

“How’re you doing?”

“Okay.” He shifted in the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. Pain radiated from his head, ribs and shoulders, briefly taking his breath away.

“You don’t look okay.”

Gritting his teeth, he sucked in a deep breath. “How’s Sam?”

“The same. Celia, Angela and Tracy are with her. I wanted to check on you.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine. I’m sure you want to get back to her.”

“I hear your dad is on his way.”

“So they say.”

“Then I’ll stay until he gets here.”

Chapter 32