CHAPTER NINE

 

 

The next day, Sunday, rather than accompanying Sam to the penitentiary to speak with Victor Alessandro, they’d decided that Paige would go to the jail to see Riley.

It was early. They needed groceries. Sam had been doing the shopping when she was laid up following surgeries, but after her last surgery, she took back the task, needing to add to the column of things she could still do.

She’d switched the shopping day to Sunday rather than her preferred early Saturday. Sundays tended to be less busy than Saturdays and she didn’t need to navigate through a crowd.

Sam had gone for a run. Leaving a note for him on the kitchen table, Paige left the house.

Not long after, she hooked her cane over the handle of a cart, and using the cart for balance, called up the grocery list on her phone. The produce aisle was closest. Paige went there.

Ginny, Sam’s former wife, was also in the produce aisle bagging tomatoes. Though Paige had never met Ginny, she’d seen photographs of Jonah with his mother. Ginny was a petite blonde with hair she kept short and in fashionable curls.

Here was the woman Sam had once loved enough to marry and have a child with. Paige knew that Sam no longer loved his ex-wife, and the reasons her stomach clutched at the prospect of facing Ginny now had nothing to do with Sam.

Maybe Ginny felt Paige’s gaze on her, because she glanced up. Her blue eyes widened and Paige knew that Ginny had recognized her as well. Paige expected that. She recalled Aldon Doucette’s comment. After the Thames investigation, she doubted there were many in Kirk County who would not recognize her. And Ginny had a very personal reason for knowing who Paige was. Because of Paige, Thames had abducted Jonah.

Paige reached Ginny. “Hello, Ginny.”

Ginny’s hand went to her throat. “What do you want?”

As soon as she was out of the hospital for the first time, Paige had gone to Ginny’s house to speak with her about Jonah’s abduction. Riddled with guilt and remorse that she still felt, Paige had wanted to apologize to Ginny, as if an apology could ever be enough to make up for what Jonah had been through, for what Sam and Ginny had been through.

Sam had told Paige that Thames was the one responsible for hurting Jonah, not Paige, but Thames would never have targeted Jonah if not for Paige.

When Paige had gone to Ginny’s house, Ginny had refused to see her. Paige couldn’t blame the woman and hadn’t made another attempt. But now here they were face-to-face.

“I’d like to apologize for what happened to Jonah.” Feeling emotion surge over Jonah, Paige had to clear her throat to be able to continue. “I know an apology can never make up for Jonah almost losing his life, but I want you to know how much I regret what happened to him because of me. I will never forgive myself for endangering him.”

Ginny’s gaze lowered. Sam had said that Ginny hated confrontation. Paige did not mean for this to be a confrontation. She wasn’t sure what she meant it to be. All she knew was that she had a need to tell the mother of the child she’d almost gotten killed that she was sorry.

When Ginny’s gaze remained lowered and she didn’t respond, Paige said quietly, “I’ll let you get back to your shopping.”

Ginny’s eyes rose to meet Paige’s then and in them Paige saw revulsion.

Ginny said, “What do you expect me to say? That it’s okay you almost got my son killed?”

The words seemed to stick in Ginny’s throat. Her voice went low rather than high in her anger, and there was no mistaking that she was angry. She was visibly shaking from it. Paige didn’t respond. She deserved Ginny’s hatred.

“Well, it will never be okay,” Ginny said. “I read about you in the papers, saw the coverage about you on the news.”

Following her capture by Thames, the media had reported on how Paige had come to be targeted by the serial killer, including her maverick behavior as part of the first squad sent to apprehend him.

“In New York, you endangered your squad. Here, you almost got Jonah killed.” Ginny’s voice broke. “People get hurt around you. I can’t tell Sam what to do, but I’m sorry he chose you to become involved with. His involvement with you means Jonah is involved with you. I wish you had stayed in New York and that Sam had never met you. I wish you weren’t in Sam’s life. I wish my son would never have to see you again.”

Ginny’s eyes filled with tears. They streamed down her cheeks. She had a white-knuckled grip on the cart as if it was the only thing holding her up. She backed away from Paige. In her haste to put distance between herself and Paige, she struck a fruit stand with the cart. Oranges tumbled to the floor. Sobbing now, Ginny abandoned the cart and ran.

 

* * *

 

Paige drove back to Sam’s minus any groceries. Too upset to continue to shop, she’d left her cart alongside Ginny’s.

Sam returned from his run a few moments later and joined her in the kitchen where she stood by the sink, staring out the window. If Sam asked her in that moment what she was focused on so intently, she couldn’t have answered him. The truth was, she was staring but seeing nothing.

“Hey.” He leaned in for a kiss.

She blinked and turned to face him. He was hot and sweaty. His dark hair was matted to his head. He hadn’t shaved. He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She kissed him back, holding him to her for all she was worth.

Her note was still on the table. Rattled as she was, she hadn’t thought to throw it away.

Sam held her a moment longer then released her and picked up the note. He looked around, clearly not seeing any groceries that needed to be shelved. “Didn’t go yet?”

She was not going to tell him about what happened with Ginny at the grocery store. He didn’t need that to worry about.

“I want to see Riley,” she mumbled. “I’m going to change clothes and then get on the road.”

 

* * *

 

Thirty minutes later, Paige was at the jail in the interview room designated for her visit with Riley. He was pacing the length of the small room as he had the last two times she’d seen him. She could feel him straining against his confinement. “How are you? Is there anything I can bring you?”

He didn’t break pace. “No, but thanks.”

Paige leaned against the door, taking her weight off of her bad foot. “Sam wants to confirm that you’re still okay in here.”

Riley stopped. “He doesn’t trust Harmon, huh? No surprise but I’m fine. Nothing’s changed. Tell Sam they still have me in a cell by myself. Have you seen Hailey?”

Paige nodded. “She’s with Mike and his family.”

Riley rubbed the back of his neck. “Mike stopped by and let me know she was staying with him. He said she was okay, but I’m worried about her. I need to get out of here.” Riley resumed pacing. “Where are we at with finding Corbett’s killer?”

“Sam received a report on Corbett from one of our analysts. Nothing that we didn’t already know. We’re running down Corbett’s last steps. He burglarized houses then fenced what he stole.”

Riley made a sound low in his throat. “Shit.”

“We found one of his street friends. Corbett was dealing meth. It looks like small time stuff but Sam is on his way to the penitentiary now to talk to Victor Alessandro. He wants to find out if Corbett had something going on with a local dealer who moved in to take Alessandro’s place. If so, Corbett may have gotten on that dealer’s radar. Have you remembered seeing anything else or anyone else when you entered the alley?”

“No. I was too focused on Corbett, thinking how hurt Hailey was going to be if her brother died.”

“Does the name Skinny Will ring any bells?”

“No. Who is he?”

“Real name is William Ledger. Sam and I met with him last night. He gave us the information about Corbett but claims he’s of no further help to us. That he’s out of that life.”

“You think he was working with Corbett on something that might have led to Corbett’s murder?”

Paige didn’t want to give Riley false hope. “We’re going to check him out but we have no reason to think that. Hailey gave us a list of her brother’s acquaintances.” Paige handed it to him. “Anyone stand out for you?”

Riley ran his thumb over the handwriting in a gesture that looked to Paige like he wanted to touch Hailey, then his light brown brows drew together and he read the list. His mouth pinched. “No. Did you run these?”

Paige nodded. “No one raised any flags. What about a man missing his right hand? We’re looking for him as a possible witness. Ever see Corbett with him or did Corbett mention him?”

Riley gave her back the list. “No.”

The door to the room opened. A uniformed officer appeared in the doorway. “Time’s up, Wingate.”

Riley faced the cop. “Another second.” Riley turned back to Paige. “There is one thing you can do for me.”

“Sure.”

“Can you stop by Mike’s? Tell Hailey I’m fine and not to worry. Tell her I love her and I’ll see her soon.”

“I’ll tell her.”

Riley left with the officer and Paige entered the hall. Chief Harmon was also in the hall. At the sight of her, his lips curled. His nostrils flared as if he’d caught the scent of something foul. He locked gazes with her for a moment then turned his back on her and walked away.

Ass, Paige thought.

“Don’t let him bother you.”

Detectives Millhouse and Orr were now standing beside her. Millhouse was the one who’d spoken.

Paige looked at Millhouse. “I wasn’t.”

Millhouse scratched his jaw. “He’s old school. Does everything by the book. He thinks he’s Matt Dillon out to tame the wild west, or in this case, the old south.”

Orr, Paige noticed, stood tightlipped, eyes on his boss’s retreating figure.

“Millhouse! Orr! Got something for you!”

The shout came from the squad room.

“Duty calls,” Millhouse said.

Orr took his gaze from Harmon’s back and turned to Millhouse. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

Millhouse broke into a jog.

Once Millhouse left, Orr faced Paige. “I can’t stand Harmon any longer. I’m looking to get out of here. I’d like to join the Bureau. Work for your boss, with your squad. Know what I can do to make that happen?”

“You’ll need to talk to Sam about that.”

Orr nodded. “I will.”

 

* * *

Sam gave his gun and phone to the guard seated behind wire mesh at the state penitentiary.

The guard’s gaze lifted, showing crepey skin on his eyelids. “That all of it?”

“Yes,” Sam said.

Sam accepted the claim check for his belongings. Another guard, a burly man with a thick neck, led him through two gates to the interview room where he would meet with Victor Alessandro.

Once they were through the second gate, the guard fell into step with Sam. Sam looked at him. “What’s Alessandro been up to?”

“Walked in here and from day one staked his claim. Had his own crew operating in here while he was on the outside. When he came in, his people acted like God himself had come to them.”

Sam’s eyes narrowed. “How big is their piece of the drug trade in here?”

“Big enough. Caught one guy who wasn’t one of theirs selling, and shanked him in the shower.”

“Alessandro killed him?”

“Had it done. He’s too high up to get his hands dirty.”

Sam’s jaw hardened. While he’d put Alessandro behind bars, he hadn’t put him out of business.

The guard led Sam into the interview room, a room bare except for a table and two chairs on opposite sides of it. A hook was bolted to the wall to which Alessandro would be chained. The fact that he would be chained attested to how dangerous he was.

Sam didn’t take a seat but took up a position against the wall, near the hook. He wanted to draw attention to the fact that Alessandro was chained like an animal. Wanted Alessandro to feel it.

Sam needed to determine if Corbett had pissed off a dealer or tried to start something himself and got in over his head. If anyone would know if someone else had started up in Kirk, Alessandro would.

The guard brought Alessandro in a few minutes later. The man they’d apprehended six months earlier in his designer suit and jewels was now dressed in a prison jump suit. Stripped of his fancy trappings, he looked different. Different, though not physically diminished. Prison life had not withered Alessandro. He’d bulked up. Was obviously building up his body.

Hampered by leg irons, Alessandro shuffled to the table, was seated then secured. His eyes stared at Sam the whole time. Sam kept his own gaze honed on Alessandro.

“I’ll be outside,” the guard said. “Let me know when you’re done, Agent.”

When they were alone, Alessandro said, “Where’s that pretty girl agent?” Alessandro ran his tongue across his lips slowly and cupped himself. “She is one fine piece of ass.”

Sam knew Alessandro wanted to get a reaction out of him and held his temper. “You hurting, Alessandro? Six months is a long time to go without. If you are going without. No marks on your hands. So you haven’t been fighting. Must have got yourself a fuck buddy or twelve.”

Alessandro raised his hands from his crotch and leaned against the back of the chair. “Everyone in here knows who I am, knows to keep their distance.”

“You and your girls keep each other company. But you’re still in here while life on the outside passes you by.”

Alessandro lifted his shackled wrists and pointed at Sam. “Nothing is passing me by.”

Sam scoffed. “Don’t tell me you don’t miss it. The action. The excitement. It’s all over for you being in here. There’s a new man in your town. You’ve been replaced.”

Alessandro’s lip curled. “No one’s replaced me. You’re even stupider than you look if you think that, McKade.” A slow smile spread across Alessandro’s face. “I know why you’re here. One of yours got nabbed for that junkie’s murder. As you’ve pointed out to me again and again, I’m in here. I didn’t do it.”

Sam knew about the prison pipeline and was not surprised that someone as high as Alessandro knew of Corbett’s murder and Riley’s arrest. Sam pushed off the wall. A line down the middle of the table indicated how far Alessandro could reach with the chains. Sam leaned over the table, right to the line, goading Alessandro. “No need to convince me. I know you didn’t do it. Your power on the outside ended when I slapped the cuffs on you. You’re nothing now. Reduced to collecting gossip. You and your girls hiding under each other’s skirts to save your own asses.”

“Fuck you!”

“Yeah. Yeah,” Sam taunted. “Your replacement has nothing to worry about from you.”

Alessandro gave Sam a look of pure hatred. “There is no replacement. No one will ever replace me. Nothing goes on in Kirk County unless I let it go on. You feds are chasing your own asses if you think that isn’t the case.”

Sam straightened. “I’m done here.”

“And just when it was getting fun.” Alessandro smiled. “You’re fishing, McKade. Corbett wasn’t worth the dirt on my shoe. I didn’t order his death.”

Though Sam wished he didn’t, he believed him. He had what he came for. Alessandro and his people had not killed Corbett.

Alessandro stood, stretching the length of the chain. “Kirk County is mine. Don’t doubt that. You think you’re a big man for putting me in here but it isn’t over between us. Watch your back.”

Sam sneered. “I’m shaking. See you around.” Sam raised a brow. “But, no, I won’t. You’re not getting out of here until you’re in a pine box and then I’ll be there to piss on your grave.”

Alessandro jerked against his bonds, but the chain held him. “Fuck you, asshole!”

Sam laughed and went to the door. He knocked once. Over his shoulder he said to Alessandro, “I’m not the one getting my asshole fucked.”

* * *

 

Paige stopped by Mike’s to deliver Riley’s message to Hailey. Rather than assure her, the message seemed to drive home to Hailey the gravity of the situation. Paige left Hailey crying in Rita Nunez’s arms.

First Ginny and now Hailey. Twice today Paige was responsible for reducing someone to tears. A sad truth.

Ivy’s sleepover weekend was over. Paige picked up her sister. Forcing her thoughts from Ginny and Hailey, Paige focused on Ivy.

“How was it?” Paige asked as she raised the platform that held Ivy’s wheelchair and Ivy motored to the back of the van.

“Great.” Ivy smiled wide and launched into speech, regaling Paige with the highlights of the party, finishing with, “I’m starving.”

Ivy’s statement reminded Paige of the botched grocery run. So much for not thinking of Ginny. Paige released a slow breath. There wasn’t much in the house to put together for dinner tonight. “How about Chinese takeout?”

“Love it!” Ivy said.

Sam was home by the time they arrived, their arms loaded with Ivy’s belongings and the bags of food. He took Ivy’s suitcase and went into her room with her to place it where she wanted.

Paige went into the kitchen and began to set the cartons and containers on the table. She glanced up as Sam entered the room.

“Ivy said she needs a couple of minutes and then she’ll be out,” Sam said.

Paige nodded. “How did it go with Alessandro?”

“I don’t believe he had Corbett killed.”

Paige told Sam about her talk with Riley and then going to see Hailey. “Riley’s arraignment is in the morning.” Paige stopped in the act of placing glasses on the table and looked up at Sam. “A preliminary hearing date is going to be set and after the hearing, the way things stand, Riley is going to be remanded for trial.” Paige felt a profound sadness over the escalating situation.

Sam’s eyes filled with resolve. “Someone has to know something. Has to have seen something. We’ll find that someone.”

Paige placed the last glass on the table. “When I was at the station, Detective Orr asked me about working for you. Says he’s not happy working for Harmon. I told him he needs to talk with you about that.”

“Did he say why he’s not happy with Harmon?”

“No.”

“Okay. I’ll hear what he has to say if he approaches me, let him know what he needs to do to apply to the Bureau. After that, we’ll see.”

Ivy wheeled in. “That all looks great!”

Sam smiled at Ivy. “Have at it, sweetie.”

While they ate, Ivy told Sam about the party, peppering him with details. Sam listened intently. When she’d finished both her accounting of the weekend and her food she said, “I’m going to call Chad about that dinner invitation.”

She cleared her plate then stacked it in the dishwasher. The motor on her wheelchair whirred as she made her way from the kitchen. Paige watched her leave.

“She really loves you,” Paige murmured.

Sam winked at her. “That’s because I’m so lovable.”

He’d made a joke of it, but she couldn’t get into the spirit of his teasing. Looking up into his eyes, she gave him what was in her heart. “Completely lovable. The most lovable man.”

Ginny’s words returned to Paige.

I wish you weren’t in Sam’s life. I wish my son would never have to see you again.

The third diagnosis was in. Three strikes.

Paige felt a crushing weight. Thames may have granted Ginny’s wish.

A sense of loss gripped Paige, followed by a fear that grabbed her by the throat at the thought of her life without Sam. She felt water on her cheeks and realized that she was crying.

All trace of humor left Sam. He reached out and brushed her tears with his thumbs. “Baby, what’s this?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her grip so tight she didn’t know how he was still able to breathe.

He wound his arms around her. He kissed her temple. “Paige, talk to me.”

But she couldn’t. Couldn’t tell him that she was afraid this was the beginning of the end for them, and she was seeing—feeling—what her life would be like without him.

His arms were warm around her, his skin hot, and she realized that was because her own had gone ice cold.

“You’re freezing.” He held her tighter.

She reached up and brought his face down to hers, kissing him, mashing her mouth to his. She heard her teeth clack against his, felt the skin inside her lips tear but instead of pulling back, she only pressed harder to him.

He drew back, concerned for her. “Easy.”

But she didn’t want to take it easy. She wanted to hold him to her and never let him go. “Just love me, Sam. Just love me.”

Eyes on hers, he lifted her out of the chair and onto his lap, straddling him. He took her face in his big hands, and kissed her. His tongue filled her mouth, going deep.

Paige molded herself to him, kissing him back with all the love she had for him. She needed to feel all of him. Now. Right now. She took her arms from his waist, yanked the knot of his tie, pulled his shirt from his suit pants. In her desperation, she didn’t take time to undo the shirt. Buttons popped.

She brushed her fingernails against his zipper. He hissed out a breath. She could feel him, hard. He was ready, so ready.

Ivy’s laugh rang out from her bedroom.

Sam must have heard it too. He took his mouth from hers. His gaze was white hot. He was breathing as if he couldn’t get enough air.

Paige couldn’t get enough air either. She’d been breathing his air, her every breath was his breath, and now deprived of him, she gulped to fill her own lungs.

Sam lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. He kicked the door to his room shut then crossed the dark wood floor and placed her on his bed.

She pulled him to her. He braced his arms on either side of her head, placed one knee on the mattress and positioned himself over her. Then his mouth was on hers again, open, hot, wet.

She wanted more. She wanted everything. She wanted to take all he could give her and give him all she had. She unbuttoned his pants and unzipped him. She wrapped both of her hands around him and stroked him. She went on stroking him until Sam yanked down her pants and opened her legs.

“Baby.” He made a low, guttural sound. “I want to make this good for you too. Give me a minute.”

No, she wouldn’t do that. She wanted him as lost in her as she was in him. She brought him to her entrance, and then moved against him, rubbing herself against the tip of his arousal.

“Paige—”

He groaned her name and thrust into her hard and fast, sending her up the mattress to the headboard. His teeth grazed her neck, her shoulder, then her breast. He gripped her ass, lifting her off the bed, and drove harder, deeper inside her.

She arched against him. She dug her fingers into the ridges of muscle in his back, sure that she would leave marks. She wanted to mark him. Something primal had taken over her, fueled by the terror of losing him.

Sam altered the angle of his penetration. Need raw and pure streaked through her, making her shake and thrash. Then she was gasping her release. An instant later, Sam’s muscles tensed and he followed.

He fell against her but when he moved to lift himself off of her, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him in place.

He kissed her brow. “Sweetheart, I’ll crush you.”

“I don’t care.”

She tightened her grip on him. She wanted time to stand still, to stay exactly as they were. But the clock on the nightstand kept ticking.