Page 186 of State of Retribution

“Yes, you sure are.We’ll see you in the morning.”

Nick took hold of her hand as they went downstairs together.“Greatest kids ever and date night with my best girl.Life is good.”

“Sure is, except for the part about having to clean out our old house.”She made a frowny face.“The fun never ends.”

“It’ll be fun because we get to do it together.”

“Yes, it will.Thank you for the reminder that all we need is each other to have fun.”

He patted her ass.“Since when do you need a reminder of that?”

“After this week, my brain is barely functioning.”

The media coverage of the whole mess had been relentless, and they weren’t letting go of the Hector Reese story.They’d determined that the so-called reporter who’d reached out with questions about the Fitzgerald case was probably either Offenbach or Ramsey, disguising their voice.Thankfully, the media hadn’t caught wind of that story.Not yet, anyway.The fact that Ramsey and Offenbach knew about it thanks to that fucking rat Conklin meant it might still become public, which meant she’d also continue to worry about it.That was probably their goal.

In consultation with Jeannie, the chief and Malone, they’d agreed to “play dumb” if that happened.“We have no idea what you’re talking about.That never happened.”Or something to that effect.

Malone believed if the two men had the full details, they would’ve taken it to the media the way they’d done with the Reese case.Conklin must’ve told them only that Skip—and later Sam and Jeannie—had cut someone a break in a murder case and hadn’t tied it to the Tyler Fitzgerald case, Steven Coyne’s widow, Alice Fitzgerald, or the family she’d had with her second husband.The last thing in the world Sam wanted was for Alice to be put through another ordeal when she’d already had more than her share after losing her first husband and then her young son to murder.

As they were loaded into The Beast for the ride to Ninth Street, Sam was determined to push the crap out of her mind to enjoy a few hours alone with her love.

When Memphis Roseopened her eyes, she had no idea where she was and was surprised to see Jesse sitting by her side, looking distraught.When she tried to move, her right leg wasn’t having it.A blast of pain made her gasp.

“Easy,” he said.“Don’t try to move around.They want you to stay still.”

“What happened?”Her mouth was so dry, it was hard to speak.

“You got shot in the thigh.”

She had no memory of anything after being in the woods with Jesse and their team, looking for Offenbach.“Hurts.”

He smoothed the hair back from her forehead.“I know, baby.”

Did he call mebaby?What is happening?“Is there water?”

“Yeah, right here.”He held the straw for the best sip of cold water she’d ever taken.

“Did we get him?”

“We did.”

“Anyone killed?”

He shook his head.“An FBI agent got hit in the vest.Busted a rib, but he’s okay.”

“What about the perp?”

“Taken alive.”

“Good.”

“Yeah, he deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life, especially for shooting you.”

“You look rough.Are you okay?”

“I’m better now.”

“How come?”

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