“Oh damn.”

“It won’t come to anything. Everyone who was there can attest that it was either him or the woman he was holding hostage. We chose to save her. It was a no-brainer.”

“What about Gigi shooting Jaycee? Will that be a no-brainer, too?”

“I really hope so.”

“Me, too. I’ll be back in the morning. Elin wants to go to work and get back to normal, so that’s what we’re doing.”

“I’ll see you then and remind her I’m here if she wants to talk.”

“She appreciated that offer earlier. I don’t think she’s ready to talk about it yet, even to me.”

“She’ll get there. It’ll take some time.”

“That’s what I hear. Thanks for the support. It helps.”

“Any time. I’m almost back to HQ. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you then—and don’t worry about this thing with Nick. You guys are as solid as it gets. He’ll get over it.”

“I sure hope so.”

“He will.”

“Thanks. See you.”

Sam closed her phone and tried to find her calm to get back into work mode after the upsetting encounter with Nick. But there was no calm to be had when things were unsettled with him. They were so rarely out of sync that it came as a shock to her entire system to realize he was seriously—and legitimately—furious with her.

She made a quick call to Avery.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s up?”

“Sorry to call so late.”

“It’s fine.”

“So, this thing with Nick’s mom. Any chance I can call you off the scent?”

“I’ve got field agents in Ohio who’ve dedicated hundreds of hours to what’s turning out to be a very big deal. Calling them off now would be almost impossible—and it would be a bigger stink than the indictment if it got out that you made this phone call in the first place.”

Sam’s heart sank at hearing that. “Nick wasn’t president when I asked you to investigate her, and now… The timing is horrible for him.”

“I’m sorry about that, Sam. I really am, but this train left the station quite some time ago, and there’s no getting it back.”

“I thought you might say that. What kind of charges is she looking at?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss an active investigation—and it’s in your best interest to be able to say you had no idea of the particulars. I’m sure you understand.”

“I do.”

“I’m sorry if this will cause heartburn for you guys, especially right now, but you were right to point me in her direction. That’s all I can say.”

Sam felt sicker by the minute. “Understood. Have a good night, Avery.”

“You do the same.”

There was no chance she’d have a good night as long as Nick was upset with her.

“We can go to the main entrance at this hour,” Sam said to Vernon.

“Sounds good.”

They pulled up to the curb a few minutes later, and Vernon held the door for Sam.