Fatal Identity

by Marie Force

  “Brant is paid to trust those feelings,” Sam said with a sigh. “I really fucked this up. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing, babe. This is your home too and you can invite anyone you want to come here.”

  “I shouldn’t have brought my work home with me. If it wasn’t for this goddamned suspension, I wouldn’t have had to.”

  “How bad was the scene at Hamilton’s house?”

  “Golf-club-to-the-face bad.”

  “Jesus. How could someone get at him? Didn’t he have security?”

  “Nope.”

  “He was arrogant to think he didn’t need it.”

  “Like someone else you know?”

  “Your words, not mine,” he said with a laugh.

  “I’m almost home. Do me a favor and send Scotty up to bed?”

  “Yeah, will do. He’s yawning his head off anyway. See you in a few.”

  She closed her phone and stashed it in her coat pocket as she pulled up to the security checkpoint and opened the window. “I’ve got some of my colleagues on the way over. MPD Chief Farnsworth, Captain Malone and FBI Special Agent Avery Hill. They’re all on my visitor list, so please let them through.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Scowling at that dreaded word, she accelerated through the checkpoint to her parking space. As she took the ramp to the front door, she tried to decide how best to approach Josh. Tell him now when it was just the two of them or wait for the others. Because she had only a split second to make that call, she decided to tell him now and let him know the others were on their way to talk to him.

  The agent on duty opened the door and nodded to her. “Evening, ma’am.”

  “Evening.” Sam wondered what they truly thought of the way she came and went as she pleased. It was probably better if she didn’t know their thoughts about her. Tossing her coat over the back of the first chair she encountered, she went over to where Josh sat by himself, game controller in hand, clicking away.

  “Hey,” she said as she sat with him. “Could you pause that for a second?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nick come downstairs and head for the kitchen. Brant stepped out of the home office and followed Nick. Sam had no doubt they both had eyes on her as she talked to Josh.

  “What’s up?” Josh asked. The room had gone oddly silent without the screech of tires or manic game noise.

  “I’m afraid I have some news that may be upsetting to hear.”

  “The DNA isn’t a match?”

  “No, it’s not that, although the results are back, and I’ll be sending them to the detective in charge of the kidnapping in the morning.”

  “Then what?”

  “Your father has been murdered.” She watched him carefully, gauging his reaction.

  His brows furrowed, but his expression otherwise remained passive. “Murdered,” he said slowly. “How? Where?”

  “He was bludgeoned at home.” She purposely omitted the weapon used in the killing. For now, only the killer and the police—and Nick, who wouldn’t breathe a word of it—had that information, and she planned to keep it that way. That tidbit could come in handy later.

  Josh expelled a deep breath that sounded a lot like relief to her. “He’s dead? He’s really dead?”

  “Yes.”

  Propping his elbows on his knees, he bent his head and his shoulders began to shake. At first she thought he was crying, but then she realized he was laughing.

  “You think it’s funny that your father was murdered?”

  “Yeah, kinda, in light of who he was. Nice to know he was human after all.”

  “Josh, I’ve got to be honest with you. This isn’t looking all that great for you. You were missing for a couple hours this afternoon, around the time the medical examiner estimates your father was murdered. There was no sign of forced entry, which leads us to believe he knew the person who attacked him or the person had access to the house. And when I told you the man who raised you was murdered, you laughed. Can you see how this might be a problem for you?”

  His eyes went wide with what looked like shock. “You think I killed him?”

  “I think you had opportunity and possible motive, which are two factors we look at closely in homicide investigations.”

  “Let me save you some time and trouble. I didn’t do it.”

  “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those words, I’d be rich.”

  “This time, they’re actually true. I wanted nothing to do with him. That house was the last place you’d ever find me. Ask anyone who knows me. I haven’t been there in years. I had nothing to do with him being murdered, but I’m not sorry he’s dead. He was a narcissistic asshole who made my life a living hell. You won’t see me crying at his funeral.”

  Strangely enough, Sam believed him, but they’d still have to establish his whereabouts for the missing hours to eliminate him as a suspect. “I need to get in touch with your mother. Can you tell me where she might be?”

  “I take it she wasn’t at home?”

  “There was no one there but your father.”

  “I don’t know where she is. I haven’t talked to her in a couple of weeks.”

  “Would you mind calling her now?”

  As he reached for his phone on the coffee table, the Secret Service admitted Farnsworth, Malone and Hill.

  “Don’t tell her your father is dead. We’ll take care of that. I just need to know where she is.”

  While he made the call, Sam got up to greet the others. “He says it wasn’t him, he hasn’t been to the house in years and won’t cry at the funeral. I asked him to reach out to his mother, which he’s doing now.”

  Listening to his side of the conversation, Sam deduced that his mother was relieved to hear from him.

  “I don’t know what medication he was talking about,” Josh said. “I’m not on anything.” After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know, but who ever knows with him? What’re you up to?” He listened. “Is she okay?” Another pause. “It’s going around. I know some other people who’ve had it.” He wrapped up the call, telling his mother to tell his grandmother he hoped she felt better and saying he’d call again soon. “Love you too.”

  Josh looked up at Sam. “She’s at my grandmother’s in Chantilly. My grandmother is sick. It sounds like she has the same thing your family had.”

  “Did she say how long she’s been there?” Sam asked.

  “You can’t honestly think she had anything to do with my father’s murder.”

  “I didn’t say anything about her having something to do with it. I asked if she said how long she’s been there.”

  “No, she didn’t, but I got the sense she’s been there awhile. My grandmother is pretty sick.”

  “Do you know your grandmother’s address off the top of your head?”

  He eyed her for a long moment before he rattled off the address.

  Sam wrote it down in her notebook.

  “Mr. Hamilton, I’m Chief Farnsworth with the MPD. I’ve made arrangements for you to be escorted home now that the perceived threat to your safety has been neutralized.”

  Josh glanced at Sam and then at the chief. “Perceived? There was nothing perceived about it, and when word gets out that he’s dead, his henchmen will be looking for me.”

  “I think it’s possible you’ve been watching too much television,” Farnsworth said. “You were afraid of your father. Lieutenant Holland went to extraordinary lengths to keep you safe, and now your father is no longer a threat. We believe it’s safe for you to return to your own home at this time, providing you remain local and available during our investigation.”

  “I disagree.” He stood and turned to face the chief. “Lieutenant Holland told me the DNA results are back. I’d like to know those results before
I go home.”

  “And we’d like to know exactly where you were after you left the hotel this afternoon,” Malone said.

  “I told Lieutenant Holland. I walked around. I ended up in Rock Creek Park and took a fall, which is why my coat was dirty and torn when I got here.”

  “Rock Creek Park isn’t exactly around the corner from Arlington,” Avery said.

  “I walked for a long time. I was scared he was going to find me, so I went to the park. I thought I could hide there until I figured out what to do next. I’d left my wallet in the hotel, so my options were limited.”

  “Did you see anyone? Talk to anyone?”

  Josh shook his head. “I didn’t talk to anyone. I just walked.”

  “Take a seat and let us make a plan,” Sam said.

  Seeming resigned, he returned to his seat on the sofa, the controller in hand, but the game remained frozen on pause, like his life since Friday.

  She turned to her commanders. “What do you want to do?”

  * * *

  IN THE KITCHEN, Nick kept an eye on the goings-on in the other room. He trusted Sam’s instincts about people implicitly, but he didn’t like having Josh Hamilton in his house and neither did the Secret Service. After hearing about the APB that had been issued for Hamilton earlier in the day, Brant had gone so far as to ask when he would be leaving.

  When Nick’s cell phone rang, he withdrew it from his pocket to check the caller ID, and took the call from Christina, his former chief of staff. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you when you’re sick. I’m trying to get in touch with Sam, but her phone is going to voicemail.”

  “No worries. I’m much better, and she’s dealing with something for work right now.”

  “Oh, um, I don’t know what to do.”

  She sounded as if she were about to break down.

  “What’s wrong, Chris?”

  “Tommy... He—he’s asleep, really asleep, for the first time since AJ was killed. I took his phone out of the room so he wouldn’t be disturbed. I just got out of the shower and noticed that he’d missed a recall to work. He’s going to be furious, especially with Sam suspended, but I can’t bring myself to wake him. He needs the sleep so badly.” Her voice caught on a sob.

  “I’ll tell Sam, and she’ll smooth it with the brass. She’s working the case, so let him sleep.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly, her sobs echoing through the phone.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m trying to be. It’s been rough. Really, really rough.”

  “What can I do for you? Name it. Anything.”

  “You’re sweet to offer, but I’ve talked him into counseling. I’m pinning all my hopes on that. We have an appointment tomorrow with Trulo.”

  “That’s a good first step. He helped Sam a lot after what happened with Stahl. I don’t know that she would’ve found her way back to work without Trulo.”

  “I’m worried about him, Nick. He’s wrecked.”

  “It’s going to take some time, but he’ll get through it. He’s tough.”

  “Usually, yes, but this... I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “If you need us, you know where we are. Always.”

  She blew out a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  “Do you need some company? I could come sit with you or help with Alex or something.”

  “You can’t just come over the way you used to, but it’s nice of you to offer.”

  “I can come, and I will if it would help.”

  “I thought you were on lockdown with the flu.”

  “I know how to escape if need be.”

  She laughed. “I love you for offering, but you stay home and get better. I’ll be okay.”

  “Call me tomorrow? Let me know how you guys are doing?”

  “I will. Thanks again, Nick. Tell Sam to call me if she needs to.”

  “You got it.”

  Sam came into the kitchen as Nick was ending the call with Christina. “We’re trying to relocate Josh. I wanted you to know.”

  “That was Christina. She said Tommy is sleeping—really sleeping for the first time since AJ died—and she took his phone out of the bedroom. That’s why he missed the recall. She was freaking out that she might’ve done the wrong thing.”

  “No, she didn’t,” Sam said with a sigh. “It’s good that he’s sleeping. I’ll let Malone know.”

  “Can I tell her it’s okay?”

  “Yeah, do that.”

  He fired off a quick text to Christina, conveying Sam’s message.

  She wrote right back. Thank you both. xo.

  “She also said she’s talked Gonzo into seeing Trulo. They have an appointment tomorrow.”

  “That’s good news. Let’s hope it helps.”

  Nick put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “What’s up with the case?”

  “We’re figuring that out now.” She looked up at him. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Totally fine.”

  “That’s not possible. You were in the hospital yesterday.”

  Tipping her chin up, he kissed her. “I. Am. Totally. Fine.” Raising his brows, he added, “And ready to get back to normal around here.”

  She smiled. “Message received. Let me see what’s what out there.”

  “Could I say something you might not want to hear?”

  “Um, I guess?”

  “You’re suspended. That means technically, this case isn’t your problem.”

  “Technically, you’re right, but I’m invested, and I want to help, especially with Gonzo out for who knows how long.”

  “I understand, but I need my wife. You cleared my schedule for the next few days. You’re suspended. You know what this means, right?”

  “Ummm—”

  “It means you’re mine. All mine. For days.”

  “I thought that was our plan when we go to Bora Bora.”

  “So you’re saying no to unexpected bonus days?”

  “Definitely not saying no. I’m saying let me figure out a few things and get back to you.”

  “You know where to find me.”

  “Yes, I do.” She patted his face and kissed him. “Go to bed. You need your rest.”

  “That’s not what I need.”

  “I’m going to have to dial it back in year two if this is how you’re going to behave when you hear the word no.”

  “You’re not dialing back anything. We’re perfect exactly the way we are.”

  Smiling up at him, she said, “You’ve got to let go so I can get rid of the people in our living room.”

  He dropped the arm he had around her. “Make it snappy,” he said, punctuating his words with a light slap to her ass that had her looking over her shoulder at him, eyes ablaze. God, he loved when she looked at him that way. Yes, he knew he was being pushy and maybe a little obnoxious, but they were always so insanely busy. They had to take full advantage of every chance they got to spend time together.

  He watched her go through the kitchen door and caught the way Hill’s gaze immediately shifted to her when she entered the room. Nick wanted to poke the guy’s eyes out of his head so he would stop looking at her that way. Until Sam had come back into his life, Nick would’ve said he didn’t have a jealous bone in his body. But Hill’s obvious attraction to Sam made Nick crazy, and it infuriated him on Shelby’s behalf. What right did Hill have to look at Sam the way he did when he had an amazing woman like Shelby waiting for him at home?

  Nick was well aware that none of these thoughts were particularly dignified or vice presidential, but when his precious wife was involved, dignity was the least of his concerns. Resigned to waiting for her, he left the kitchen and went into the l
iving room.

  “Mr. Vice President,” Malone said with a cheeky grin, knowing how much Nick hated to be called that in his own home. “Nice to see you up and about. You had us worried.”

  Nick shook hands with Sam’s captain and chief, pointedly ignoring the third man in the room. “Thanks for the concern.”

  “You’re feeling better?” Farnsworth asked.

  “Much,” he said, sending a meaningful glance to Sam.

  “Sorry to overtake your home,” Farnsworth said. “We’ll be out of your hair shortly.”

  “Take your time.” Nick kissed his wife’s cheek. “You know where to find me when you’re done.”

  The glower she directed his way nearly made him laugh out loud, knowing how much she despised overt displays of affection in front of other people, especially other people who happened to be her bosses. Fuck it. What did he care if they saw how much he loved her? He had no desire to hide that from anyone, least of all the FBI agent who had taken an interest in his phone the minute Nick came into the room.

  Nick had no doubt he would pay for that kiss later. He couldn’t wait.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “WE’VE ARRANGED A safe house for Josh until we figure out the next steps in the investigation,” Malone said after Nick went upstairs. They spoke in low voices so Josh couldn’t hear them.

  Sam would deal with her husband and his habit of staking his claim on her in front of Hill after everyone left. “Who’s going to see the director’s wife?”

  “I will,” Hill said.

  “We’re coming with you,” Farnsworth said of himself and Malone.

  “That’s fine,” Hill replied. “I need to speak to my deputy director and make him aware of what’s happened. He’ll assume command of the Bureau until a permanent director can be named, so he needs to know what’s going on.”

  “Make the call,” Farnsworth said, “but let him know the MPD is leading the investigation into Hamilton’s death and will keep the Bureau apprised as a courtesy.”

  Sam loved the way the chief cut through the bullshit to establish jurisdiction. The Feds would want in on it, but that wasn’t happening. She also loved the way Avery’s golden eyes flashed with anger that he wisely kept under wraps.