Fatal Identity

by Marie Force

  “I’ve never heard you were in a crash,” Cruz said.

  “Was a long time ago. More than twenty years. You never forget it, but you do figure out a way to cope.” He fixed his gaze on Gonzo. “In time.”

  “I’m sensing a theme here,” Gonzo said with a small grin. “I hear what you’re saying—what everyone is saying. I’m not planning any hasty decisions. I’m only thinking more and more about the possibility of doing something else, not acting on it.”

  “I don’t think you’re alone in that after what happened,” Cruz said.

  “What do you know?” Malone asked.

  “Tyrone,” Cruz said somewhat reluctantly. “He’s not taking Arnold’s death well at all—not that any of us are—but he’s... He’s messed up over it.”

  “I’ll ask Trulo to talk to him,” Malone said.

  “I think he already has,” Cruz said. “I shouldn’t even be saying anything because he confided in me, but I’m worried about him.”

  “You absolutely should say something,” Malone said. “We can’t help him if we don’t know he’s having trouble.”

  “Still... I don’t want him to think I came running to you.”

  Malone understood where he was coming from. “I got ya. I’ll keep an eye on him.” He leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “The loss of Arnold was a blow to all of us. I remember vividly how devastated everyone was, myself included, when Steven Coyne was killed in a similar fashion, and I hadn’t worked that closely with him. Everyone felt it, just like we all feel the loss of Arnold. It’s a horrible reminder that we put ourselves on the line every day out there.”

  “And most of the time, no one gives a shit,” Gonzo said.

  “I still believe more people do than don’t, regardless of what the media would have us believe,” Malone said.

  Lieutenant Archelotta appeared in the doorway. “I’ve got your location. He’s in the mountains in West Virginia, and we’ve got him on the footage from the hotel in Beltsville where Josh was found.”

  * * *

  FREDDIE RODE WITH Malone and Gonzo in a department SUV, following the MPD SWAT unit that was deployed to assist the West Virginia State Police. Everyone was tense. They anticipated that Jacoby might fight back and fight back hard. With everything on the line, he had nothing to lose.

  Organizing the operation to go after Jacoby in the mountains had taken a couple of hours and a lot of coordination with West Virginia State Police, which had to be convinced that it was actually in their best interest to help the MPD track down the missing FBI deputy director.

  It also took some doing to keep the Feds out of the loop. The last thing they needed was interference that would allow Jacoby to get away.

  The Virginia State Police had been successful in removing Mrs. Hamilton from her mother’s home and now had her in custody. McBride and Tyrone were on their way to pick her up and bring her to HQ.

  On the tense, quiet ride north, Freddie texted Elin to let her know where he would be for the next couple of hours.

  Why do you have to go?

  Because this is our case and he’s a person of interest.

  I don’t like it.

  Ever since Arnold was killed in cold blood on a city sidewalk, she’d been a lot more nervous about his job. Then he’d been abducted at gunpoint and knocked around, which sent her nerves into the red zone.

  I’ll be fine. Try not to worry. This isn’t our raid. We’re just along for support. I won’t be out in front.

  Not this time anyway, but there’d be plenty of other times when he and his team would be leading the charge. He hoped that she would eventually relax a little but didn’t think it would happen anytime soon.

  The conversation with Malone and Gonzo earlier had brought home how deeply the suffering ran in their small, close group within the Homicide squad. Not only had his death affected each of Arnold’s colleagues profoundly, it was also taking a toll on their loved ones.

  Please be careful. Love you so much. Can’t take any more near-misses.

  Freddie blew out a deep sigh. He hated that he put her through so much and couldn’t imagine what he’d do if it finally became too much for her. How would he go on without her? He couldn’t even bear to think about a life that didn’t include her. Love you too, baby. Don’t worry.

  His phone dinged with a new text from Sam. What’s happening there?

  He filled her in on where they were going and why.

  I’m so pissed to be sitting this one out. Be back soon to help out.

  We’ve got ya covered. No worries. How you feeling?

  Like death.

  Ugh. Sorry. I’ll let you know what happens.

  Please do.

  VA SP has Courtney Hamilton in custody. More to come on that too. And we’ve got Jacoby on the security film from the hotel in Beltsville where Josh was found.

  It’s all coming together. Any word on how Josh is?

  Last I heard he’s the same, but doctors are optimistic that he’ll pull through.

  I’ve got to give Franklin police something in the AM. They’re anxious to tell Taylor’s parents that he’s been located.

  Hopefully we’ll have some good news for them soon.

  Hope so.

  Freddie looked out into the dark of night, thinking of Josh and people in Tennessee that he’d never met, but who were about to get an answer to all their prayers. He could only hope—and pray—that the son they’d missed for so many years would live to be reunited with them.

  * * *

  AFTER THE EXCHANGE with Freddie, Sam put down her phone and tried to fall back to sleep. Though she felt worse than she ever had in her life, she was wide-awake and buzzing with adrenaline after hearing her people were hot on Jacoby’s trail. She’d give anything, well, almost anything, to be with them when they took him in.

  She sat up slowly, her head spinning from even that small movement. The bedside clock read four-thirty.

  “What’re you doing?” Nick asked.

  “I’m coming out of my skin being here when things are going down at home.”

  “You’re sick. Even if you were there, you wouldn’t be working.”

  “Still...can we go home?”

  “Right now?”

  “Didn’t you say the plane is on standby whenever you need it?”

  “Within reason.”

  “Will you check? Please?”

  Sighing, he got out of bed, turned on a light, pulled on a pair of sweats and went to the door.

  Sam heard the low murmur of voices but couldn’t make out any specifics of what was being said.

  The door closed and Nick came over to sit on the bed. “They’ll see what they can do.”

  “Thank you.”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’re sure you feel up to traveling?”

  “I never feel up to traveling, but I’m losing my mind, in addition to my lunch, being here. I want to go home.”

  Nick reached for the cup of ice water he’d put on the bedside table earlier. “Drink. Stay hydrated so you don’t end up in the hospital like I did.”

  She did as he asked, her stomach gurgling in protest at the cold liquid. For a second, she feared the water would come right back up. But it stayed down. The battle let her know she wasn’t as over the flu as she’d like to be. She sank into the pile of pillows, breathing through the nausea. “This sucks balls.”

  “Yeah, it really does. I can’t remember ever feeling worse in my life.”

  “Because you’re superman. You never get sick.”

  “Whatever you say, babe.”

  A soft knock on the door had him crossing the room for an update. “Thanks so much, Brant. We’ll be ready.” He closed the door and turned to face her. “Wheels up in one hour.
”

  “Thank God.” Then she thought of Avery. “Um, what do we do about, um, Avery?”

  “What about him?”

  Sam rolled her eyes at the testy way he said that. “Would it be possible to offer my colleague, who was so amazingly helpful to me when I was sick, a ride back to D.C.?”

  “Yes, it would be possible. Do you want me to call his room and see if he’s interested in joining us?”

  “It’s very nice of you to offer, but I’ll call him.” She found his name on her list of contacts and placed the call.

  “Hill.”

  “It’s me. Sam.”

  “How’re you feeling?”

  “Better. We’re going home. You want to hitch a ride with us?”

  After a long pause, he said, “Um, sure. I need to return the rental car, though.”

  In consultation with Nick, they discussed logistics and agreed that they’d pick him up at the terminal in forty minutes.

  “See you then,” Avery said before the line went dead.

  “Look at us,” Nick said as he put on jeans and a sweater. “One big happy family.”

  “There may be hope for you two yet.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.” He came around the bed to help her up, holding her until she got her bearings. “Take it slow. You were really sick last night, and you’re going to feel weak and dizzy for another day or two.” He placed his hand flat against her forehead. “You’re still warmer than you should be too.”

  “I’m okay.” She kissed his cheek and went to find her suitcase. By the time she brushed her hair and teeth and put on some clothes, she was completely drained of energy. A dizzy spell had her gripping the bathroom sink so she wouldn’t fall.

  Nick’s arms came around her from behind. “Easy, baby.”

  She rested against him, letting him hold her up when it was too much to do it herself. Sam slept through most of the ride to the airport in the pearly dawn light and woke when they stopped to pick up Avery. The Secret Service handled everything with their usual dispatch and they were loaded onto Air Force Two a short time later.

  Sam insisted on walking up the stairs to the plane herself, which, in hindsight, was a mistake.

  Nick belted her into her seat and sat next to her.

  Avery sat across the aisle from them.

  Though she kept her eyes closed, Sam heard the stewards offering food and beverages and Nick encouraging Avery to have whatever he wanted. Both men ordered breakfast and coffee. Nick asked for ginger ale and water for her.

  Sam hoped she could handle the smell of the food.

  That was the last thought she had before the wheels touching down at Andrews Air Force Base jarred her out of a sound sleep.

  “Welcome back, babe.” Nick offered a glass of ice water, and she took a greedy drink.

  “I can’t believe I slept through an entire flight. I need to get sick more often if that’s what it takes to sleep when I fly.”

  “You’ve got a little more color in your cheeks than you had earlier.”

  “I actually feel better.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  Surrounded by Nick’s detail, they got off the plane and into one of the ever-present black SUVs for the ride into the city.

  She fired off a text to Freddie. What’s going on?

  Waiting game. Everyone is in position. WVSP is calling the shots, so we’re on standby.

  Ugh.

  No kidding. Cold up here.

  Sam closed her phone but kept it in hand in case there were updates.

  “Anything new?” Avery asked.

  “Nothing yet.”

  “Other than the fact that you have the director’s wife in custody, or I suppose that doesn’t count as anything.”

  “I figured you already knew that, so it would be redundant to mention it.”

  “What do you hope to gain by taking her in?”

  “Information about her relationship with her husband, among other things.”

  “What other things?”

  “After what we heard yesterday, you have to ask? We want to know the true nature of her relationship with Jacoby too.”

  “What’re you suggesting?”

  “Nothing. Yet.” As she said the words, another thought occurred to her. How old were Mark and Maura Hamilton when their younger brother became part of their family? What did they remember from that time? She couldn’t wait to get back on the job.

  Avery clicked away on his phone for a few minutes before sending her an angry glare. “Were you going to tell me that you guys have Jacoby’s house in the mountains surrounded?”

  “No, I wasn’t, because we have jurisdiction over this case, and everywhere we go, you guys show up, acting as if it’s actually your case. How do you know about Jacoby?”

  “Because he put out the word to the Bureau that he’s in need of assistance at his getaway, where he’s been on a hunting trip since the weekend.”

  “And you buy that shit? You buy that the deputy director of the FBI would go completely off the grid without telling anyone he’s doing that? Really?”

  “There’s probably a perfectly good explanation.”

  “How about the fact that the thugs who took Cruz and Josh told us Jacoby hired them?”

  “And you’re taking their word for it?”

  “How would they have his private cell phone number if he hadn’t hired them?”

  “Sam,” Nick said, taking her hand. “Don’t get worked up.”

  “Look,” Sam said in a calmer tone, “I know you don’t want to believe that men you looked up to were involved in something so sinister, but all the evidence is pointing in their direction.”

  “Granted, but you and I both know that doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk.”

  “Never said it was.”

  They existed in uneasy silence the rest of the way into the city, where they dropped Avery off at home.

  “Thanks for the lift.”

  “Avery.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks for what you did for me yesterday,” Sam said. “I appreciated it.”

  “As did I,” Nick said.

  Avery’s face was expressionless when he said, “Sure. No problem.”

  The door closed and the Secret Service agent who’d gotten out to open it got back in the front seat.

  Sam waited until the car was moving again to ask the question she’d been dying to ask since they landed. “So what happened between you two while I was out cold on the plane?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “WHAT MAKES YOU think anything happened?”

  Sam shot him a look. “Because I know you. Spill the beans.”

  “We talked about you.”

  “Um, you’re going to need to elaborate on that.”

  He took her hand and kissed the back of it before turning it to press his lips to her palm. “We talked about how amazing you are, how strong and loyal and supportive of your friends and colleagues, how you’re tireless in your efforts to get justice for victims of the most violent of crimes, how you’re the most incredible wife and mother.”

  Stupefied, Sam stared at him. “You did not talk to him about that stuff.”

  “Actually, I did talk to him about that and how much I love you and how nothing and no one will ever come between us. I was pretty adamant about that last part.”

  “Tell me you’re joking.”

  “I’m dead serious, Samantha. We had a man-to-man conversation, and I think we understand each other a lot better than we did before.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He didn’t have much to say other than he agreed with just about everything I said about you. Of course he has no way
to know what kind of wife you really are. If he did, well... Let’s just be glad he doesn’t know what he’s never going to get to experience firsthand because he’d be so bummed.”

  Even though her entire body went hot for reasons that had nothing to do with fever or the flu and everything to do with his ridiculous possessiveness, she couldn’t let him know that it turned her on. “I’m going to kill you, and I’m going to make it hurt.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m surrounded by Secret Service agents. I’d like to see you try.”

  “You’re not surrounded by Secret Service when you’re sleeping.”

  “Ah, duly noted. Will sleep with one eye open from here on out.”

  “So basically you had Avery Hill all to yourself for two hours and you tortured him.”

  “I wouldn’t go so far as to call it torture. I’d say it was more of an information session.”

  “You’re a dead man.”

  “You won’t kill me. You like the sex too much.”

  “It only took one year of marriage to create a monster.”

  “You love me.”

  “I don’t love you having a ‘talk’ with Avery.”

  “It was a good thing. We cleared the air.”

  “What would his side of the story be?”

  “I imagine he’d say the same.”

  “Let me ask you something.”

  “Anything you want.”

  She glanced over at him, not sure if it was wise to ask the question that had been on her mind since he appeared in Knoxville the night before. “Why did you come to Tennessee? Was it because I needed you or was it because I was alone in a hotel room with Avery?”

  Nick’s eyes went wide with surprise and then narrowed with anger. “Are you really asking me that?”

  “Yeah, I guess I am.”