“I was interviewing Senator and Mrs. O’Connor, probably the last people to see Sinclair alive.”

“What’ve you got?”

She recited the O’Connors’ version of the routine drop off at the hotel. “I sent McBride and Tyrone to the Willard to get the security tapes and interview the staff.”

“She’s back with the tapes. They’re viewing them now. The bellman who was working the door is coming in at noon.”

“Good, tell her to let me know what he has to say. I need you to authorize travel to Miami for myself and Detective Gonzales.”

“Where’s Cruz?”

“Good question.”

“What’s in Miami?”

Sam checked the sofa and saw Nick speaking softly to Christina. She tried not to be bothered by the fact that he had been unable to talk to her but was having no problem unloading on his chief of staff.

“Lieutenant?” Malone said.

Tearing her eyes off the scene on the sofa, Sam said, “Sinclair’s long-time lover. Duncan Quick.”

“He was gay?”

“Yes. He ended a twenty-year relationship with Quick a year ago, and apparently, Quick is still partially in the closet.”

“The confirmation hearings would’ve blown the lid off that.”

“Your thinking parallels mine. I want to see Quick’s reaction to the news that Sinclair’s dead.”

“Approved.”

“We’ll be back tonight.”

“Do we need to be worried about Cruz?”

“Hang on a sec.” She did a quick scroll through her missed calls and pages, but found nothing from Freddie. “No word from him at all this morning. That’s not like him.”

“I’ll send patrol by his apartment.”

“Let me know.” She ended the call and turned to Gonzo. “I’ll meet you outside.”

“Got it.”

Sam approached the duo on the sofa. “Ah, would you mind giving us a minute?” she said to Christina.

“Sure.” She released Nick’s hand and got up.

Sam sat next to him and lifted her hand to brush the hair from his forehead. “I’m going to Florida to talk to Duncan.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t feel right about going. About leaving you.” She rested her forehead on his shoulder.

“I want you to find out who did this.”

“Are you going to work?”

“Yeah. Christina told me the Senate is going to take up John’s bill as its first order of business in the new session.”

“Oh, Nick. That’s great news.”

That he seemed to barely care only added to her growing list of worries.

She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll be back. As soon as I can.”

“I know.”

Reluctantly, she got up and went into the kitchen where Christina was pouring coffee. “You’ll be with him?” Sam asked.

“Every minute.”

Sam glanced at Nick staring off into space in the next room. “This is worse than after John.”

“Yes.”