Sam bent to kiss his forehead. “Anything in the news? I didn’t get a chance to look at the paper.” In light of recent events, the statement would’ve made her giggle if her throat hadn’t been throbbing.

“Did you hear about Lexicore and the Thai factory?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Nick owned stock in Lex, and had to dump it at a huge loss yesterday.”

“Ah shit. That’s a bummer, but he doesn’t need that sticking to him in the homestretch of the election.”

“He’s hoping it doesn’t screw things up.”

“Did he get off on the trip okay?”

“Early this morning.”

“Are you going to tell me what just happened?”

“Do I have to?” Sam dropped into a chair and told him what had transpired the day before with Stahl. As she spoke, she watched her dad’s usually genial expression harden with anger.

“So he blames you for the whole thing even though he was the one stupid enough to make the call at all, let alone make it from inside HQ?”

“That’s the gist.”

“And now he’ll face an attempted murder charge on top of everything else.”

“At least he’ll never get bail after the stunt he pulled this morning.”

“There is that.” He glanced at her neck. “Take off the scarf. Let me see.”

“No need. I’m fine.”

“I didn’t ask.”

Sam reluctantly unwound the scarf from around her neck.

Skip winced. “Looks like it hurts.”

“Doesn’t feel great, but I’ll live. I gotta get to work. They’re going to want a statement about what happened with Stahl. Not to mention I’ve got one murdered ballplayer and another missing.”

“Who’s missing?”

“Lind, but we don’t know yet if he’s actually missing or off the grid licking his wounds. Apparently, that’s his pattern.”

“You sound frustrated, baby girl.”

“I am. We need something to go on, and there’s very little beyond the chaos in Willie’s personal life. No one’s jumping out at me as an obvious suspect.” She got up, repositioned the scarf and leaned in to kiss her dad, surprised when he winced. “What?”

“Weird tingle in my leg.”

“You’re feeling something in your leg?” He’d been paralyzed from the neck down in an unsolved shooting almost three years earlier. To her knowledge, the only place he’d retained sensation was in his right hand.

“I don’t know what it is.”

“But it’s something. Have you talked to the doctor?”

“I’m seeing him next week.”

“What do you think it means?”

“I couldn’t tell you. It’s damned uncomfortable though. Like a bad case of pins and needles.”

“Oh my God, Dad! You can’t wait a week to get that checked!”

“Get what checked?” Sam’s stepmother Celia asked as she came into the kitchen.

“Dad’s got pins and needles in his leg.”