Page 38 of State of Retribution

“I’m okay.”She started to get up and was pushed back down by numerous hands.“Let me up.I’m fine.”

“We’re sending you home,” Malone said.

“Absolutely not.I have three new bodies in the morgue and work to do.”

“You can pick it up tomorrow,” Farnsworth said.

“I’m not leaving.”She gently pushed Jeannie and her cold compress away and stood.She fought through a massive head rush in the effort to remain upright.“I’m sorry to have caused a scene.As you were, people.”

As she walked out of Jeannie’s office, a visibly upset Freddie came running down the corridor.

“Are you okay?I heard you passed out.”

“I’m fine.Let’s get back to work.”The Stahl meeting was over for her, even if the others planned to continue it.

“What happened?”

“It was hot in there.”

“And that’s all it was?”

“Yep.”

“I knew you shouldn’t have gone to that meeting.”

“Freddie… Please.I love you for caring, but I just passed out in front of a room full of mostly men who already think I’m a distraction around here.Can we please drop it and get back to work?”

“Yeah, of course.Sorry.”

“Don’t be.I’m sorry I worried you.”

“Not the first time.Won’t be the last.It’s not easy being me around here.”

As she laughed, she was full of appreciation for her best friend, her partner, the brother of her heart.News traveled fast at HQ, especially when a high-profile commander fainted during a meeting about the heinous crimes of a disgraced former lieutenant who’d twice tried to kill her.

Before the rest of her squad could swarm her, she held up her hands.“I’m fine.Nothing to see here.Let’s get back to work.”

To Freddie, she said, “I want to call Archie to see if we can talk to his friend.She may be the key to this whole thing.”

“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but are you sure you shouldn’t go home?”

“I’m very sure.I’ll call Archie, and hopefully, we can go over there today.”She went into her office and shut the door, dropping into her desk chair and taking a deep breath that she hoped would help to stop the spinning in her head.

A knock sounded on her door, and before she could tell the visitor to go away, Dr.Trulo stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

“I’m fine.I’m busy.Go away.”

“Is that any way to greet a friend?”

“I don’t want to be fawned over.I was overheated, and now I’m not.All good in the hood.”

“Then why are you pale as a ghost and your hands are shaking?”

“I just need some water.”She picked up one of the half-full discarded bottles on her desk and downed the rest of the water inside.“Much better.”

“Sam.”

“Yes?”

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