Fatal Reckoning (Fatal #14)(71)

Nick came into the kitchen. “What’s up?”

“That was Freddie checking in.”

“Anything new?”

“Other than Deputy Chief Conklin being arrested for lying about his whereabouts on the day of my father’s shooting?”

Nick released a gasp. “Seriously?”

“Yep. We’ve got a paramedic who can put him on G Street and says he gave Conklin my dad’s messenger bag that day to return to the family. We never received it.”

“Holy shit. Samantha… You must be reeling.”

“I am. All this time, we’ve been looking for answers that were right in our own ranks. It’s hard to believe. And PS I’m not supposed to be telling even you about this.”

“No worries. I’d never repeat it to anyone. Why do you have that calculating look about you?” He refilled his glass with a small amount of whiskey, which sometimes helped him sleep. Nothing worked consistently to overcome his insomnia.

“They’re keeping me far away from this for obvious reasons, so I’m thinking of ways I can assist in the investigation without actually assisting in the investigation.”

“Ah, and for some reason, that makes perfect sense to me.”

“Because you speak me. You get it.”

“Yes, I do, and I know how hard it has to be for you to take a backseat right when things are heating up.”

“It’s excruciating.”

“But necessary. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Doesn’t mean I like it, though.”

“I know, babe.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and brought her head to rest on his chest.

“Freddie said people are talking about how Conklin’s involvement in my dad’s case could bring down the chief.”

“How so?”

“He’s responsible for whatever happens on his watch. The fact that his top deputy withheld this info for four years isn’t going to reflect well on him.”

“It’s not like he knew about it. Skip was one of his closest friends. He would’ve been all over it if he’d known.”

“In the court of public opinion, good intentions often don’t matter.”

“Well, that would truly suck if Joe lost his job because of this.”

“I can’t imagine the department without him at the helm. He’s the best chief we’ve ever had. Most everyone thinks so. Not to mention I’d be completely screwed without him to run interference for me.” Sam couldn’t bear to think about that unsettling scenario.

“Try not to go there until you have to. Nothing will happen overnight.”

“I can’t help thinking about the fallout if Conklin was involved with my dad’s shooting in some way. It’ll be ugly for the department, for Uncle Joe, for me. Hell, it may even be ugly for you.”

“Don’t worry about me. You’ve got enough to think about without taking that on.”

“I’ve already caused you enough trouble by taking in the twins. I don’t want to cause you any more heartburn.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I love your kind of heartburn.”

Sam laughed. “You’re not right.”

“If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.”

“Now you sound like a corny country song.” She glanced at him. “But you made me laugh, and I needed that, so thanks.”

“That’s what I’m here for. Let’s get these kiddos in bed and spend some time in the loft. I think we both need a getaway.”

“I’m all for that.”

More than an hour later, they’d overseen baths and bedtime stories for the twins and tucked Scotty in with orders to shut off his light within thirty minutes.

“I need a shower and then I’ll be up.”

Nick kissed her cheek. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

With anticipation of time alone with her sexy husband driving her, Sam rushed through the shower and applied the lavender-and-vanilla-scented lotion he loved so much. Wearing a robe, she stepped into the hallway and was relieved to find that the agent who normally stood watch outside Scotty’s door was not there. Nick probably told him to take a break because Sam hated the agents knowing that they were stealing away to their private oasis upstairs. Best husband ever.

She took the stairs two at a time, reaching the top to find Nick sitting on the end of the double lounge chair waiting for her, naked as a jaybird and fully aroused. Laughing, she shed her robe and dropped to her knees between his spread legs. “Excellent presentation.”

“I thought you might appreciate that. I really hoped it was you coming up the stairs.”

She laughed again. “I appreciate you.”

“Mmm.” He leaned forward to nuzzle her neck. “I appreciate you and the scented lotion that turns me on. We can’t ever run out of that.”

“We should buy stock in the company.”

“I’ll do that tomorrow.”

“Only you could make me laugh and forget about the madness swirling around me.”

He combed his fingers through her hair. “I like to hear you laugh. It’s one of my favorite things, especially when I know you don’t have much to laugh about at the moment.”