NICK BROKE THE KISS, laughing, and Sam joined him, wincing when the wounds on her head protested.
“You people are unbelievable,” Scotty said.
“What’s the problem?” Skip asked as he followed his grandson into the room.
“Them.” Scotty gestured to the bed. “They are the problem. Leave them alone for five minutes, and they end up making out. They’re setting a terrible example for their impressionable son. At this rate, I’ll be a father by eighteen.”
“No, you won’t,” Nick said emphatically. As the product of teenage parents, that was a hot-button issue for him.
“They are married,” Celia said when she joined them. “They should be allowed to kiss whenever they want, especially after they waited so long to find each other again.”
“Stop making excuses for them,” Scotty said. “They’re unseemly. And yes, that’s one of our vocabulary words this week. My parents are unseemly. See? I can even use it in a sentence.”
Sam and Nick rocked with laughter.
Their kid was too damned much, and she loved him. “Come here and see me.” She held out a hand to him.
“Get the guy out of your bed, and I’ll come see you.”
“I’m sorry,” she said to Nick. “But my kid needs me so you have to go. Thanks for the good time. I’ll call you the next time the kid isn’t around.”
“You do that.” Nick kissed her again before he got up to cede his spot to Scotty.
“Buzzkiller,” he muttered to his son.
“Horndog,” Scotty shot back.
Sam let out a squeak of outrage. “Scotty! Where did you hear that?”
“Duh,” he said. “School. That’s what you get for sending me there.”
“That’s twenty bucks in the swear jar.”
“Take it off your tab.”
Sam scowled at her son. “Apologize to your father. That’s not a nice thing to say.”
“Is it not true?”
“Scott Dunlap Cappuano.”
“She’s pulling out the big guns, bud,” Skip said. “I’d go ahead and apologize and get it over with.”
“Sorry, Dad.”
“That’s okay, buddy. It is kinda true.”
“Nick!”
“What? How is that any different than you telling him it’s okay to hate algebra?”
“It’s way different! All normal people hate algebra!”
“Um, no, that’s not actually true,” Nick said.
Scotty folded his arms and shook his head. “You guys suck at this.” To Celia, he said, “Is there a class or something they can take before they totally mess me up?”
Celia laughed so hard she couldn’t reply, so she shook her head.
“I think you’re stuck with them, pal,” Skip said. “I’ll do what I can to offset the damage.”
“Thank God for you, Gramps.”
Skip’s eyes went soft with emotion, the way they always did when Scotty called him that.
They were, Sam thought, exactly what she needed to keep her from going insane at being pulled off the case at such a critical juncture.
Freddie poked his head in. “Is it safe to come into the lion’s den?”
“I think we’ve declawed her for now,” Nick said. “But you know her. The claws grow back quick.”
“Keep talking,” Sam said to her husband. “You’ll pay for this in ways I’m not allowed to mention in front of the boy. It would be unseemly.”
“Ugh,” Scotty said. “Disgusting.”
“Glad to see everything’s normal around here,” Freddie said as he approached Sam’s bed.
“Everything is not normal. We have homicidal animals taking people out in our city, and I’m stuck here when I need to be out there looking for them. Tell everyone to get over here in thirty minutes. We need to regroup. Call Avery and Jesse Best and everyone.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He left the room to see to her orders.
“Scotty needs to go home and get ready for school tomorrow,” Sam said.
“I shouldn’t have to go to school when my mom is in the hospital.”
“Nice try,” Sam said, “but you’re going to school.”
“I’ll speak to his detail about getting him home,” Nick said.
“Tracy offered to stay with him,” Sam said of her eldest sister, who’d been there earlier with their other sister, Angela.
“I’ll call her.” Nick bent over the rail to kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry about anything.”
“Right,” Sam said. “What in the world do I have to be worried about?”
“Not a thing,” he said, flashing that irresistible smile.
“Come here and see me,” Sam said to her son.
He sat next to her on the bed.
Sam took hold of his hand. “I’m sorry if I scared you, and I’m sorry about the kissing. And the swearing.”
“It’s okay. You had a staple gun pointed at your head. I’d probably swear too.”
Chuckling, she said, “Give me a hug, and make it a good one. I’m stuck here all night.”
He leaned into her embrace and stayed there while she kissed him and stroked his hair. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. “Even if you’re unseemly.”
Smiling, Sam said, “Try to get some sleep, and don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
“Believe me, I can tell.”
She gave his hair a playful tug, and then released him. “Be good for Tracy. She’ll tell me if you give her any grief.”
“No, she won’t,” he said with a smug grin. “She’s on my side.”
“That’s what you think. Get going.”
“I’ll call to check on you in the morning,” he said. “If you don’t want to do further psychological harm to your son, answer the phone.”
“You got it.”
After Scotty left the room, Skip wheeled his chair closer to her bed. “That kid of yours is a character.”
“Isn’t he something? He cracks me up. I just hope we aren’t doing permanent damage with all the crazy crap that goes on in our lives.”
“Nah, you’re teaching him how to roll with the punches. He’ll be able to handle anything after dealing with you two.”
“Gee, thanks. I think there was a compliment in there somewhere.”
“Take it as the highest of compliments. You’re showing him an example of a loving marriage and the highest commitment to public service.”
Touched by her dad’s words of praise, Sam went for levity. “And I’m teaching him to swear like a sailor.”
“That’s probably my fault. Where do you think you learned it?”
Sam laughed. “It’s in my DNA.”
“Indeed, it is, baby girl. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me too. I just wish I’d gotten them before I got broadsided.”
“You’ll get them. It’s only a matter of time.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. How many more people will have to die before we find them?” She ached thinking of little Vanessa Marchand—and her poor father.
When Freddie came back into the room, Sam said, “What do we know about Trey Marchand?”
Gonzo came in right behind him. “I did a full run on him. No priors, no record of any kind. He works in the Caps front office. The Star is reporting that the team is taking care of everything he needs, including funeral expenses.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” Sam felt better to know he had no criminal record and that he was being supported after his unimaginable loss.
Nick came back into the room. “Scotty is on the way home, and Brant told me the hospital has been overtaken by media. They had to call in extra security to deal with it.”
“That’s just great,” Sam muttered.
“You guys are too popular for your own good,” Gonzo said.
Nick sat next to her on the bed and took her hand, giving it a squeeze that let her know she wasn’t alone in this. Thank God they had each other to cling to as they waded through the swamp full of gators that their life had become in the last few years.
“Dad, can you stay until everyone gets here? We could use your help.”
“As long as my date doesn’t mind staying, I’m all yours.”
“Fine by me,” Celia said. “Whatever you need, Sam.”
Within thirty minutes, her hospital room was filled to the gills with law enforcement officers.
Sam pointed to Jeannie. “Let’s hear what you’ve got.”
“I’ve run the financials of Captain Wallack, Sergeant Offenbach and the latest victims. Nothing unusual popped for any of them. It’s interesting to note there’s been no activity on any of Wallack’s accounts in the two weeks since he went missing.”
“Where are we in that investigation?”
“Early stages,” Malone said. “But we have six detectives assigned to it.”
“Have we figured out what Offenbach was doing in Atlantic City?” Sam asked.
“We believe he was involved in an extramarital affair.”
“Seriously? Doesn’t he have, like, five kids or something?”
“And a sixth on the way,” Malone said, his expression grim.
“Please tell me he isn’t fooling around with someone connected to the department.”
“I haven’t heard yet who she is. IAB is handling it from here,” he said, referring to Internal Affairs.
“Wow,” Sam said. “People get themselves into some deep shit.”
“From what I’ve heard, you should be prepared for some of the shitstorm to come your way,” Gonzo said. “He’s apparently furious that you’re looking in-house for shooters.”
“Let him be furious,” Sam said. “I was doing my freaking job. If he’d been where he was supposed to be with his dick zipped into his pants, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Our lieutenant also has a way with words,” Freddie said to Green, who smiled.
“I see that.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” Sam snapped.
“Don’t mind her,” Nick said. “She’s cranky. No one is safe.”
“Including you,” Sam said, elbowing him in the ribs. “What about the homegrown terrorist element that your team was investigating, Avery?”
“We haven’t uncovered any chatter or anything that would indicate we’ve got a new local cell looking to make a mark.”
“Jesse? Is your team making any headway?”
“Not yet. We’re doing everything we normally do, but I don’t have anything new to report.”
“Ugh,” Sam said, tearing at her hair and then immediately regretting it when her injury protested. “We’ve got absolutely nothing new and a city being held hostage by these sons of bitches.” She took a deep breath, looking for her mojo.
Skip cleared his throat. “If I may...”
“Please,” Sam said.
“It’s time to go old-school. Get out on the streets, drive around, watch for them. They’re probably puffed up with adrenaline, high on their own successes. They’ll be looking to strike again. The more eyes you have in the field, the greater your chances of stopping them before they can hit again.”
“He’s right,” Sam said. “We need our entire squad working the streets. Split up and fan out. They were cruising through downtown when I saw them earlier, which means they aren’t afraid of getting caught. Find them.”
Muttering “Yes, ma’am,” they filed out of the room.
“Do you feel better now?” Nick asked.
“No. I have an awful feeling that this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.”
* * *
NICK INSISTED ON staying with her, and Sam slept fitfully in his arms, dreaming of a red SUV with a gun in the window, taking out innocent people. Nurses came in to check on her, waking her each time they took her blood pressure or ran a thermometer over her forehead. Closer to dawn, she woke to the sound of her cell phone ringing and was disoriented until she remembered where she was and why.
“I’ll grab it.” Nick got up to find her phone and brought it to her.
Freddie’s number lit up the caller ID. “What’s up?”
“We’ve had reports of a woman abducted by two men in a red SUV that matched the description of the one we’re looking for.”
“Where was she taken?”
“Coming out of the Metro station at Federal Triangle.”
“Right in the heart of the city. These guys are brazen, I’ll give them that.”
“They have been from the beginning.”
“What do we know about the woman?”
“Not much yet. We got a call from a passing motorist who saw it go down and thought something was wrong. Archie pulled film from the area, and it was an obvious abduction.”
“They’ve changed up their MO.”
“That’s how it seems.”
“What do we think the chances are that she’ll get through this alive?”
“Based on their past track record? Slim. We’ve got every officer in the city looking for them.”
“How can we find out who she is so we can track her phone?”
“We’re working on that and debating whether to release the film of the abduction to the media so we can get some help from the public.”
“Do it! Why the hell wouldn’t we?”
“We’re just waiting for the approval from higher up.”
“You want me to call the chief?”
“No need. Malone is talking to him now.”
“Ugh, this case is making me crazy!”
“We all feel that way. We’re doing everything we can.”
“Okay. Thanks for calling and keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
Sam slapped the phone closed, her mind spinning with the implications of this latest development.
“What’s going on?” Nick asked.
“They snatched a woman right off the sidewalk outside the Federal Triangle station.”
“They’re sure it’s the same guys?”
“Yeah.”
Nick reached for her, and as she let him draw her into his embrace, she felt strange accepting comfort when another woman was stuck with monsters somewhere in her city. Imagining what she might be enduring had Sam trembling with impotence and outrage.
“Easy, baby,” he said softly. “Take a deep breath.”
“I can’t stand this. Why can’t we find them and stop them?”
“You will.” He stroked a hand over her hair. “You’ll find them, and you’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.”
“But how many more innocent people will they hurt before we catch them?”
“You’ve got every law enforcement officer in the area looking for them. Sooner or later, they’re going to screw up. My bet is on sooner. They’re getting even more brazen, and that’ll trip them up.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right, Samantha. You should know that by now.”
She smiled up at him, profoundly grateful for his steadying presence in a world gone mad. Her phone chimed with a text from Freddie.
Green light on releasing the video of the abduction. Hoping someone recognizes her. Fast.
Sam blew out a deep breath. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“Get me the hell out of here. It’s doing me far more harm than good being stuck here when I’m needed out there. I’m totally fine. I promise.” When he didn’t reply for a long moment, she added, “Please, Nick.”
“Okay.” He kissed her forehead and got up from the bed. “Let me talk to the nurses.”
“If we ask, they’ll say no.” Sam pulled the pulse monitor off her finger and unwrapped the blood pressure cuff from her arm. “Where’re the clothes Tracy brought me?”
“In the closet.”
Before he could tell her it wasn’t a good idea, she found the clothes and got dressed, trying to ignore the throbbing pain coming from her head wounds. Thankfully, Tracy had packed shorts and a lightweight top that would be perfect for working the streets on another scorching day. Her sister had even thought of deodorant and face moisturizer as well as hair and toothbrushes. After ten minutes in the bathroom, Sam felt ready to face whatever might transpire during the day ahead.
As she emerged from the bathroom, a nurse came in to check on her and stopped short at the sight of her dressed. “What’s going on?”
“I have to go back to work.”
“But you’re supposed to be resting and recovering from your injuries.”
“I’ve done that. Now I have to go back to work.”
“But—”
“I think it would be in her best interest to allow her to leave,” Nick said. “Being here is making her worse instead of better.”
The nurse, being only human, stared at him, and then blinked, seeming to snap out of her daze and remember what she was supposed to be doing.
Sam had to fight the urge to laugh. Her sexy husband had that effect on women.
“I’ll, um, get the discharge paperwork.”
“If it’s not here in five minutes, I’ll leave without signing it,” Sam said.
“I’ll be right back.”
After she left the room, Sam said, “Way to use your powers, Mr. Vice President.”
“What powers?”
“Your ability to render all women stupid in the head when you speak directly to them.”
“Shut up. That is not true.”
“Ah, yes, it is. Exhibit A, the nurse who was going to fight me leaving until she got caught up in your sexy web and was rendered speechless—and powerless to do anything other than what you asked of her.”
“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes even as his face flushed with color, the way it always did when she commented on his supreme hotness. “I got you out of here. Isn’t that what matters?”
Sam went to him, resting her hand on his chest. “I appreciate you using your powers on my behalf, when I know you’d rather I stayed here.”
“Of course, I would. You’re leaving here to go chase down murderers. I hate that.”
“I know you do.” She leaned her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. “And it means everything to me that you never stand in the way of letting me do what I need to.”
“Just because I don’t get in the way of it doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”
“I know.” She looked up at him. “The fact that you don’t even though you want to makes you the perfect husband for me.”
“Even when I throw you under the bus in the E.R.?” he asked with a glint of humor in his gorgeous hazel eyes.
“Even then.”
He kissed her, and then rested his forehead against hers. They stayed that way, wrapped up in their own little world, until the nurse returned.
“Oh, pardon me,” she said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t.” Sam released her hold on Nick. “Where do I sign?”