Sam’s scowl answered for her. She’d handle this her way, and if Nick didn’t like it, that was too damned bad. She wasn’t about to start telling him how to run his career. “Are Gonzo and Arnold here yet?”

“They caught a sexual assault first thing. They’re at the George Washington E.R. taking a statement from the victim.”

“Send them in the minute they get here. I want to know what they’ve got on Clarence Reese so far. I worked his name into conversation with my dad and got zilch. If he had contact with Reese, he doesn’t remember it.”

“Frustrating.”

“To say the least. I just keep asking myself—why would Reese have all that stuff about the shooting if he wasn’t involved somehow? Let’s see what Gonzo and Arnold found out, and then we’ll hit it ourselves this afternoon. I want to talk to Reese’s mother and brother.”

“You’re the boss, L.T.”

“It’s going to be kind of weird around here until I figure things out. I’d understand if you wanted to partner with someone else—”

He held up his hand to stop her. “I’m all set with the partner I have.”

“I’m planning to work some second and third shifts in the next few weeks to touch base with everyone. You don’t want to do that.”

“I’ll work when my partner works.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Are you sucking up?”

“Always.”

Taking another long look at him, she sized him up. “What’s with you? You’re all spiffed up today.”

“Nothing,” he said, but he blushed.

Sam stood up and walked around the desk for a closer look. Standing almost eye to eye with him, she turned on her most intimidating expression. “Tell me the truth—did you hook up with that Ginger chick from Nick’s office?”

“No!”

Sniffing, she realized he was wearing cologne. “Something’s up.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stepped back from her. “Just because you’re Little Miss Romance these days doesn’t mean the rest of us are, too.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Who said anything about romance?”

“I’ve got work to do,” he huffed, his GQ-handsome face turning red again.

Oh yes, something was definitely up.

“Let me know when you’re ready to head out,” he said as he beat feet to the safety of his cubicle in the detectives’ pit.

“You’ll be the first to know.”

She watched him go, noting the pressed khakis and the untucked striped dress shirt that were wildly out of character for her denim-wearing, T-shirt-clad partner. Does my little boy have a girlfriend? Scratching at her chin, she decided to keep a very close eye on young Freddie.

Returning to her desk, she read and re-read the IAB summons. With a sigh, she put her aching head down on folded arms.