“You’re sure this is the best way to handle it?”
“Making a lot of noise hasn’t gotten us anywhere, has it? They’re still going to let him out.”
“So we just say nothing and let it happen?”
“We don’t have any choice. How about we let our happiness be our revenge? He wants what he can never have again. Sooner or later, he’ll figure that out.”
“I’m still worried about him trying to hurt you.”
“And I’m worried about him trying to hurt
you.
In his mind, you’re the only thing standing in the way of what he wants. I’m sure he’s forgotten all about the year we were divorced before you and I got back together. To him, you’re the root of all evil, so you’ll need to be careful too.”
“Hopefully, his stint in jail will have scared him straight and he’ll leave us alone.”
“Hopefully.”
“You don’t think so, though, do you?”
“Who knows? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” She glanced up at him. “Can we please change the subject?”
“Absolutely.”
Following him into the bedroom, Sam told him about the call from Shelby and the appointment for the following evening. “You’ll have to make yourself scarce so you don’t see the dress.”
“I never pictured you as the superstitious type,” he said.
“I’m not usually. But I’ve got one failed marriage behind me. I’m not inviting any bad mojo into this one.”
He sat on the bed and reached out a hand to her. “This one won’t be anything like the first one.”
Taking his hand, Sam sat next to him. “No, it won’t, but you’re still not seeing the dress until March 26.” She leaned over to kiss him. “Nice try, though.”
Hooking an arm around her, he anchored her for another kiss. “Did you get to eat?”
“Wasn’t hungry. You?”
“I had some pizza with the guys.” He nuzzled her neck, nibbled on her earlobe and tugged on her towel. “Wanna go to bed?”
“In a little bit. I’m waiting to hear from Freddie. We’ve got something going down tonight.”
Nick raised his head to meet her eyes. “Shouldn’t you be there?”
She shrugged. “I let them deal with it.”
“Samantha…”
“What? It’s no big deal. I chose to stay here with you.”
His face softened, and he stole another kiss. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”
Hugging her, he said, “I love you. I don’t think I’ve told you that today.”
“Don’t start slacking off before we’re even married,” she said with a teasing grin.
“No chance of that,” he said, bringing his lips down on hers for a kiss that sucked every other thought right out of her head.
Hearing that she had stayed home to take care of him set off a powerful swell of emotion inside Nick. No one had ever loved him the way she did, and her love went a long way toward soothing the hurt he’d carried with him for as long as he could remember.
He wished he had the words to tell her what she meant to him. If he lived forever, he’d probably never find the perfect words.
Cupping her breast, he teased her nipple with his tongue and teeth.
Sam gasped and pushed at him.
“What?” he asked, surprised. She usually loved that.
“Nothing,” she said, but the almost panicked look in her eyes caught his immediate attention.
“What, honey? What’s the matter?” He watched, shocked as she blinked back tears. There was only one issue that could be guaranteed to bring his fearless, gutsy cop to tears every time. “Samantha?”
She looked up at him with those eyes that saw right through him. “I can’t be,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just can’t.”
“Sweetheart, you’re scaring me. What’re you talking about?”
She crossed her arms over her breasts. “The only time they’re that sensitive…”
The realization hit him all at once, and all the air whooshed from his lungs. “Sam…”
“I don’t know! Don’t look at me like that! They told me I can’t…” She broke down into tears and hiccuping sobs. “They said I couldn’t have any more. They told me that. I believed them!”
Overwhelmed with joy and excitement and trepidation, Nick put his arms around her. “How long have you known?” he asked after several quiet minutes.
“I
don’t
know. Not for sure. I’ve just noticed some…signs. And just now, when you did that…”
“This?” He kissed his way from her neck to her breast and twirled his tongue around her nipple before sucking hard on it.
She cried out, her fingers gripping his hair. “
Nick
…”
“Hmmm?”
“I can’t do it. I can’t.”
“Oh, honey, sure you can. I have no doubt.” He kissed a path from oversensitive breasts to belly. Just the
possibility
that she could be carrying his child had him blinking back his own tears.
“I can’t be terrified for nine months. How will I work or do anything but be afraid?”
He rested his face on her belly and wrapped his arms around her. Looking up at her, he said, “You’ll just do what you always do and let the rest take care of itself.”
“What if I am…and then…what if…”
“If the worst happens, we’ll deal with it together and we’ll try again. We’ll never stop trying until we get it right.”
“I’m so scared. I’ve noticed a few signs, but I’ve been afraid to even consider the possibility. The other times, my breasts…They were so sensitive. That’s the only time they’ve ever been like that. It’s almost like confirmation…”
He kissed his way back up her body, from her belly to her lips. “We need to get you in to see Harry.”
“Monday.” Raising her hands to his face, she brought him down for a soft, sweet kiss that shattered his remaining defenses. She owned him. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, nothing he wouldn’t give her, nothing he wouldn’t do to protect her, even if she didn’t want his protection. And now, maybe, a baby too…
“Samantha,” he whispered against her lips as he entered her, “I love you so much.”
“Mmm, me too.” She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him tight against her, and gazed up at him with eyes still shiny with tears but also full of love—for him.
Before she returned to his life, he’d had no idea what he’d been missing. Now she was so much a part of him that he couldn’t imagine a life without her at the center of it. Knowing what she liked, he wanted to pick up the pace, but held back, afraid to do anything to hurt her or the baby.
“Nick…
“What, babe?”
“Faster.”
“We have to be careful, just in case.”
“It’s okay.” She slid her hands down his back. “Really.”
Gripping her hips to hold her still, he pumped into her, giving her what she wanted. His heart raced from exertion and emotion until he thought it would burst from his chest.
As Sam cried out, he felt her nails score his back, which sent him surging into her one last time in a release that seemed ripped from his very soul. Afterward, he fought to catch his breath as her hands soothed his back.
“I can’t believe I scratched you,” she said, laughing.
He rested carefully on top of her, his lips pressed to her neck. “I don’t care.”
“Good thing you’re required to wear a shirt to work.”
“I’ve given them enough to talk about for a while.”
Her fingers combed through his hair, a loving gesture of hers that never failed to stir him. She had given him exactly what he’d needed most, and he hadn’t known he needed it. She just knew.
“Will you do something for me?” she asked.
“Anything. Name it.”
“I have to give this case my full attention until we close it. Can we not talk about the
other thing
until after that? If I let myself get all nutty about it, I won’t be able to focus on anything else. I’ve become an expert at compartmentalizing this stuff so I can function at work.”
“Of course. I understand.”
She rested her head on his chest and released a deep, contented sigh. “You always do.”
He tightened his hold on her and kissed her forehead. “I try.”
Bon Jovi interrupted the peaceful moment when “Livin’ on a Prayer” sounded through the room.
“I need to get that,” she said. “It’s probably Freddie.”
Nick rolled to his side and reached for her phone on the bedside table, handing it to her.
As she took the call, she linked her fingers with his, letting him know she was still right there with him.
Touched by the gesture, he shifted to his side so he could see her.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
Nick watched her process what Freddie was telling her.
“What?” she said, laughing. “They asked for your preferences. I figured you’d
love
a dominatrix. Was I wrong?”
Nick chuckled, imagining Freddie’s indignation.
“She wouldn’t give you
anything
on the organization?” Sam paused, listening. “We’ll let her cool her heels in jail for the night since we’ve still got her on solicitation and prostitution. Maybe she’ll be more forthcoming in the morning. Good work, thanks.”
“Do I even want to know?” Nick asked when she’d ended the call.
“Have you ever heard any references to a high-level call girl ring in the city? We’re talking
highest
level.”
“I’ve heard rumors over the years, but nothing concrete.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Just that it exists but no specifics.”
She shot him a coy look. “Were you ever tempted to dial up a girl?”
He cringed. “
No
.”
Sam laughed at his indignation. “That’s right—you didn’t have to. According to your buddy Harry, you were the ultimate chick magnet.”
Rolling his eyes, he said, “Whatever.”
“You never talk about them, you know.”
“Who? My friends?”
“The women.”
“What women? You’re the only one who’s ever mattered. You know that.”
“So you were a monk for the six years between when we first met and when we got back together?”
“Absolutely. I sat at home and thought about you.”
She poked his ribs. “You’re so full of crap.” Looking over at him, she said, “I was really hoping you’d have the lowdown on the call girls.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I can’t believe you thought I’d know about that. I should probably be insulted.”
“You never heard
anyone
talk about it? I thought guys loved to share the dirty details.”
“Guys talk about a lot of things, but they don’t talk about hookers, especially not in this town where the word ‘hooker’ has the power to end careers.”
“I guess I’ll have to talk to Cook tomorrow. I was hoping to avoid that after our last friendly encounter.”
“What the hell does Cook have to do with it?” Nick asked, his eyes widening. He’d had his own run-ins with the senior senator from Virginia.
“Tillinghast said if anyone would have the skinny, Cook would. He said Cook knows everything that happens on the Hill.”
Nick reached for his phone.
Sam yawned. “Who’re you calling?”
“Someone who knows even more than Cook does about what happens on the Hill.”
“You’re sure they won’t care if we show up there this late?” Sam asked as they approached the Leesburg home of Nick’s adopted parents, retired Senator Graham O’Connor and his wife Laine.
“I’m positive. They’re night owls.”
“This sure is a nicer ride than mine,” she said of Nick’s BMW, which she was driving for the first time.
“I should hope so.”
She made a face at him. “You’re such a snob.”
“Only about cars—and hookers. Only the best will do.”
“Very funny.”
“Connect the dots for me. What does the call girl ring have to do with your case?”
“Regina and Maria were involved as well as another woman from the Capital Cleaning Services, Selina Rameriz. There could be more, but we’ve confirmed those three so far.”
“Wow,” Nick said, “I can’t picture Maria as a call girl. She was so quiet and unassuming.”
“It was all about the money. They sent every dime home.” Sam pulled into the O’Connor’s driveway. “Our theory is they knew they might not have much time here, so they had to make it any way they could before they were sent home. In Selina’s case, she needed the money for her mother’s surgery.” Sam’s phone chimed to indicate a message. “Check that for me, will you?” She handed the phone to Nick.
“Why are you guys drawing pictures of Jack Bartholomew?”
“Who’s that?”
“Chief of staff to the vice president.”
Sam released a low whistle. “When Tillinghast said the top levels of government, he wasn’t kidding.”
“Are you saying
Bartholomew
has something to do with the call girl ring?”
“At the very least, he’s a customer. He attacked and raped Selina Rameriz.”
“You’ve got the wrong guy, Sam. There’s no way he has anything to do with this.”
“Not according to Selina. She worked with the computer artist all afternoon.”
Nick sat back in the seat. “I can’t believe it. This could rock the entire administration.”
Her mind racing, she brought the car to a stop in front of the garage. “How well do you know Bartholomew?”
“Not all that well, but I’ve seen a lot more of him since I took office. The vice president is leading the president’s new accountability and transparency effort, and Bartholomew is the VP’s point man. He’s been in a number of meetings I’ve attended over the last few weeks.”
“If Selina’s account is true, he’s one sick bastard.”
“You think he could be killing these women to shut them up?”
“He fits the profile. All along we’ve said it’s going to be someone who thinks he’s above being caught. He’s left DNA all over the place, so if it is him, we’ve got him nailed.”
“What’re you going to do?”
Sam thought about it for a moment before she opened her phone and called Freddie. “Jack Bartholomew,” she said, “chief of staff to Gooding.”
“Whoa. How do you know?”
“Nick recognizes him. Do a run on him, and get me an address.”
“We’re going to talk to him at home?”
“We’re going to
arrest
him at home.”
“Holy shit,” Nick said.
Sometimes Sam really loved this job. “I don’t care who he is, if he’s running a prostitution ring in my city and murdering women to gain their silence, I’m taking him down.”
“Right there with you, boss.”
“Put someone on Bartholomew for tonight until we can get subpoenas for his DNA and phone records. I don’t want him killing someone else in the meantime. Meet me at HQ at six-thirty. We’ll go together.”
“Got it.”
“Is Selina still working with Jackson to ID some of the other johns?”
“He’s giving it another hour. They’re both running out of steam. I’ve got a house set up for her as soon as they’re done.”
“After that, go home. We’ve got another long one ahead of us tomorrow, and you’ve got a very important evening to prepare for.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” he mumbled.
“See you in the morning.” To Nick she said, “Let’s see what your buddy Graham knows.”
Graham and Laine ushered them into the family room of their comfortable farmhouse where a blazing fire cast an amber glow over the cozy room.
Sam was surprised to see Terry O’Connor jump up from the sofa. “Senator,” he said, adding almost begrudgingly, “Lieutenant.”
The two men shook hands.
“You look great, Terry,” Nick said.
Dressed in sweats and a Georgetown T-shirt, Terry appeared to have lost at least twenty pounds since Sam last saw him, and his eyes seemed clearer than she’d ever seen them—not that he looked at her. Ever since she’d interrogated him as a suspect in his brother’s murder, things had been tense between them. But he was going to be Nick’s deputy chief of staff, so Sam decided to at least make an effort to be cordial. “You really do look terrific,” she said.
“Thanks,” Terry said with only the slightest of glances her way. He ran his fingers through his prematurely gray hair almost as if he needed something to do with his hands.
“What brings you out our way this time of night?” Graham asked.
“Sam’s working on a case I thought you might be able to help her with,” Nick said.
“Whatever I can do—anytime,” Graham said, gesturing for them to sit on the love seat.
“I appreciate that,” Sam said. “Tell me what you know about high-end call girls in Washington.”
Laine gasped, and Terry snickered.
“Well, I ah…” Graham said, sputtering.
“I’m probably better versed on that subject than my dear old dad,” Terry said, looking chagrined.
Laine cast a disparaging glance at her eldest child. “Honestly, Terry.”
“I’m not proud of the way I used to live, Mother, but the truth is, I’ve met my share of call girls.”
Sam handed him a slip of paper. “Have you ever seen this phone number before?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything. If it’s the same outfit I think it is, the number changes all the time.”
“How do customers keep up?”
“Text messages.”
“Do you have any idea who runs the organization?”
“Not specifically, but there’re always rumors and speculation.”
“Humor me.”
“I’ve heard Gooding’s name,” he said, referring to the vice president. And Daniels.”
“The
speaker of the House
?” Nick said, incredulous.
A burst of adrenaline had Sam’s heart pumping hard.
“I’ve also heard Cook’s name in the mix,” Graham said.
The other three stared at him.
“You gotta be kidding me,” Nick said.
Graham shrugged. “I always chalked it up to rumors started by the Republicans.”
“If what you’re telling me is true,” Sam said, “the Republicans are squeaky-clean compared to the Democrats.”
“That’s just what we want to hear,” Graham said, glancing at Nick. “This could be a freaking nightmare for us.”
Sam got a kick out of the way Graham always stuck to the present tense when speaking about politics, as if he still had an oar in the race. She supposed he did with his protégé Nick now holding the office that had once been his.
“I just can’t believe Bob Cook would be involved with call girls,” Laine said. “Millie will kill him.”
“I believe it,” Graham said. “He’s a money-hungry pig.”
“Graham!” Laine said, shocked. “He’s our good friend. How can you say such a thing?”
“Because it’s true, Mother,” Terry said. “With the tight reins the Senate puts on members’ outside income, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that Cook had something like this going on the side.”
“Something that could ruin his career and his marriage?” Laine asked.
“Millie enjoys the lifestyle he provides,” Graham said. “And just because he’s running the ring, doesn’t mean he’s sleeping with the employees.”
“
Right
,” Terry said, dripping with sarcasm. “As if he could resist that kind of temptation.”
“This is so shocking,” Laine said.
“I know I don’t have to tell you that it’s vital to my investigation that none of you repeat a word of this to anyone,” Sam said.
“Of course we wouldn’t, honey,” Laine said. “We’d never do that to a member of our family.”
Nick smiled at Laine who reached over to squeeze his hand.
“Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about,” Sam said.
“Be careful, Sam,” Terry said, surprising her. “If this is true, there’s nothing they won’t do to protect their cash cow
and
their reputations.”
“They’ve already resorted to murder,” she reminded him.
“Which is why they’d think nothing of gunning for a cop. What else do they have to lose?”
“I appreciate the warning, but I can take care of myself.”
“I hear that a lot,” Nick said, grinning. “She thinks she’s bulletproof.”
They spent another half hour talking about wedding plans and catching up on O’Connor family news.
As Sam and Nick got up to leave, Terry stood to shake hands with Nick.
“You ready to start on Monday?” Nick asked.
“I’ll be there.” Terry hesitated, as if there was something else he wanted to say. “I just want you to know…Thinking about the opportunity you’ve given me got me through rehab. It gave me something to look forward to. I haven’t had that in a long time.” His DUI weeks before he’d been due to declare his candidacy for his father’s office had derailed his promising political career, clearing the way for his younger brother John to run for an office he’d never wanted. Terry’s spiral had continued unabated ever since—until recently.
“I’m looking forward to having you on my team,” Nick said. “In fact, I know Christina would love for you to take over the campaign, especially now that she and Tommy have a baby to contend with.”
“She’s having a
baby
?”
“No,” Nick said, laughing, bringing Terry up to speed on how Gonzo came to have a son.
“That’s amazing,” Laine said. “He had no idea about the child?”
“None at all,” Sam said.
“We’re going to stay at the cabin tonight,” Nick said. “Give us a call if you think of anything else that might help the investigation.”
“We will,” Graham said as he and Laine walked them out.
“You’ll be here for dinner on Sunday, right?” Laine asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Nick said, kissing her cheek. “I hope it’s okay that I invited a friend. Don’t worry, though, he won’t eat much. He’s only twelve.”
Laine chuckled. “You know you can invite anyone you want. Any friend of yours is a friend of ours.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “When I see you on Sunday, you can tell me what has you looking so troubled, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he muttered, clearly taken aback by her insight.
Laine turned to Sam. “I want to thank you for putting Patricia in touch with me. We had a lovely visit, and we both felt better afterward.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing.”
Laine reached out to squeeze Sam’s arm. “It was the exact right thing, and I appreciate it.”
“It was nothing,” Sam mumbled.
“We’ll see you on Sunday,” Graham said, hugging them both.
Sam couldn’t stop yawning on the short ride to the cabin John had left to Nick.
“Aren’t you glad now that I made you pack a bag?” Nick asked from the passenger seat.
“Yes, dear.”
“You ought to get used to saying that. I plan to be right most of the time.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever.” Reaching for her cell phone, she pressed speed dial number four.
“Sleeping,” Malone answered, his voice gravely.
“I need you,” Sam said.
“Are you going to take years off my life again?”
“Well, if requesting subpoenas for personal cell records and DNA for the vice president, his chief of staff, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the senior senator from Virginia doesn’t give you heartburn, I’m not sure what will.”
Malone uttered a tortured moan. “You’re screwing with me again, Holland.”
“I wish I was.”
“Speak.”
Sam told him what she knew.
“Because Rameriz identified him, we can justify asking for Bartholomew’s records and DNA, but not the rest,” Malone said. “We’re not going after the vice president, the speaker and a senior senator without more than rumors. Bring Bartholomew in. Maybe you can get him to roll on the others if you make it seem like he’d be going down alone.”
“I guess I’ll take what I can get. Wait until after seven to request the subpoena. I don’t want to tip him off.”
“Is there anything else I can do for you, Lieutenant?”
“We took a suitcase to the lab today. Inside are the clothes Selina Rameriz was wearing when Jack Bartholomew raped her. I need you to put a rush on that report.”
“Consider it done.”
“That’s it for now, Captain. Sleep tight.”
“The death of me, Holland. The living, breathing death.”
Laughing, Sam ended the call. As they were pulling up to the cabin, her phone chimed with a new text.
You don’t do what you’re told. Time to teach you a lesson.
Sam swallowed hard and slapped the phone closed.
“What?” Nick asked.
“Nothing.” Following him into the cabin, Sam was suddenly glad that no one, other than the O’Connors, knew where they were just then.
Nick flipped on a light, illuminating a comfortable living room filled with John O’Connor’s belongings. “I probably need to get around to packing up John’s stuff for his parents.”
“When you’re ready. There’s no rush.”
He picked up a picture of John with his young niece and nephew. “He sure did love those kids.” After studying the photo for a moment, he returned it to the shelf and held out a hand to her. “Let’s go to bed.”
Curling up to him a short time later, Sam thought about the first night she’d spent at the cabin, in the midst of the O’Connor investigation.
With his arm around her, he brushed his lips over her forehead. “What are you thinking about?”
“The first night we spent here.”
“In separate bedrooms.”
“That was back when I was trying to do the right thing by resisting you.”
“Which of course was the exact wrong thing.”
Sam laughed and pressed her lips to his chest and breathed in his endlessly appealing scent. “Very wrong.”