“Right.” McBride twisted her fingers in her lap.

“I know this’ll be uncomfortable for you, Detective, but I need you there to record and witness the conversation. Everything about this has to be by the book. He’s a potential witness.”

“I understand.”

Sam concentrated on breathing her way through the pain that circulated in her gut.

“Are you all right, Lieutenant?”

“Yeah.” In a cold sweat brought on by the pain, she reached for the door handle. “Let’s get this over with.”

Jeannie followed Sam up the stairs and waited while she used her key in the door.

Inside, Sam flipped on a light.

Jeannie released a low whistle. “Wow, nice place.”

“Uh-huh. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.” With a deep breath to calm her nerves and her stomach, Sam started up the stairs. Turning on a light in the hallway, she went to the bedroom doorway and stood there for a long moment watching him sleep and wishing with all her heart that she could spare him from what she was about to do to him.

Moving to the bedside, she leaned down to kiss his cheek. “Nick.” She shook his shoulder. “Nick.”

“Mmm, hey, babe. Back already?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“K.” He gave her hand a tug to bring her into bed with him.

Sam resisted. “Nick.”

His eyes fluttered open.

“I need to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you come downstairs?”

Running his fingers through his hair, he looked up at her. “Why not right here?”

She swallowed hard. “I need it on the record.”

“What the hell, Sam?” he asked, sitting up.

“Please.”

“Fine.” He tossed back the covers and reached for his sweats. “Am I allowed to take a leak first?”

“Yes, but hurry. Detective McBride is downstairs waiting for us.”

He shot her a furious scowl but thankfully didn’t ask any more questions as he headed into the bathroom and closed the door.

Sam went downstairs to find Jeannie wandering around. “He’ll be right down.”

“This place is huge!”

“The guy who lived here before bought the place next door and knocked out walls.”

“Are you living here, too?”

“No. I’m still at my dad’s three doors down.”

“Why?”

“Because—”

“Because she’s not ready,” Nick said, now wearing a T-shirt with his sweats, as he came down the stairs to join them. He slipped an arm around Sam and kissed the top of her head.

She shook him off.

Startled and possibly hurt, Nick stared at her.

“This is Detective Jeannie McBride.”

Nick extended his hand. “Yes, I remember from the party.”

“Nice to see you again, Senator.”

“Please, call me Nick.” He turned to Sam. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Sit,” Sam said, gesturing toward the sofa.

“I’d rather stand. Thanks.”

Hands on her hips, Sam said, “Detective McBride, please record this conversation.”

Nick stared at her. “Sam—”