His eyes got very big. “Could I help figure out what happened to Willie?”

She started the car. “Absolutely. I could use all the help I can get, pal.”

“So you’re not mad that I pretended to be sick so you’d come get me?”

“I’m not mad because you were upset. But I don’t want you doing that when you’re bored. Got me?”

“Yeah, I got ya. I just couldn’t stay there after what happened.”

“I hope that bully Nathan is sweating his balls off worrying that he’s going to get in big trouble when your badass cop mother finds out what he did.”

Scotty snorted with laughter that warmed her heart. “That’s two swearwords in one sentence.”

“Balls is not a swear word.”

“It’s vulgar. Mrs. Littlefield said so.”

His former guardian had instilled some rather rigid values into the kid. Living up to them was proving to be a challenge for Sam. “If Mrs. Littlefield says so it must be true, but in my book, body parts aren’t vulgar.”

They debated the vulgarity of various body parts all the way to HQ, laughing most of the ride. His detail followed behind in one of their signature black SUVs. Sam pulled into the parking lot and took her usual spot. “Stay here for a second, buddy. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Sam got out of the car and walked over to the SUV, rapping on the window with her knuckles.

The window was lowered, revealing a female agent at the wheel and a male agent in the passenger seat. Sam couldn’t remember their names, but their faces were familiar.

“Let me ask you something,” she said.

“Of course, Lieutenant,” the female said.

“How’s it possible that my son manages to get punched in the stomach when he has two federal agents watching his every move?”

“We’ve been trying to keep our distance so he’s able to have somewhat of a normal experience,” the male said. “The incident with the other kid escalated very quickly. We regret that it happened and that we weren’t close enough to stop it.”

Sam could tell by his expression and his tone of voice that he did regret it. They both did. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to jump all over you, but I need to know he’s safe at all times so I can function.”

“We’re sorry we let you down,” the woman said. “It won’t happen again.”

“What’re your names?”

They exchanged nervous glances, no doubt concerned that she was going to report them.

“I’m Toni, and he’s Brice.”

“Thanks for keeping an eye on Scotty, Toni and Brice. He’ll be with me this afternoon. You’re welcome to make yourselves comfortable in our reception area, but I can’t have you in the back where we’re working.”