Marie Force - Fatal Identity

“Thanks so much for coming, Lindsey.” Sam walked her to the door. “Let me know the second you have anything.”

“You know I will. Even with a rush it’ll be a few days.” Lindsey glanced at Brant guarding the door and lowered her voice. “I don’t know what you’re up to here, Sam, but you need to be careful. I heard Forrester is seriously considering assault charges.”

“So I’ve been told. And don’t worry. I’m being careful. This isn’t an official MPD case. He asked me for a favor. That’s all it is.”

“You’ve involved me, which involves the department.”

“No one knows that but you and me.”

“Be careful.”

“I hear you.”

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I have anything.”

“Thanks again, Lindsey.”

Sam returned to the sofa and sat next to Josh. “So here’s what I’m thinking. I’m going to reach out to law enforcement in Williamson County as a professional courtesy. I’ll tell them what I know so far and that we’ve taken DNA. I’ll strongly suggest they refrain from contacting the family until we know for sure there’s a match. That way if you’re not a match, we haven’t raised their hopes for no reason.”

“What do I do in the meantime?”

“We’re going to put you in a hotel with police protection until we know what we’re dealing with.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“If I didn’t think it was, I’d never ask you to do it.” Sam chose her words wisely. “If this turns out to be true, you’re sitting on a powder keg because of who raised you. If he was complicit in this, it’ll be the biggest BFD in the history of BFDs. You got me?”

“Yeah.” Arms on knees, he dropped his head and sighed. When he looked up at her, she saw his anguish. “You don’t really think he’d harm me or anything, do you?”

“If you’d asked me this morning if Director Hamilton had possibly raised a child kidnapped from another family, I would’ve said no way. And I remain ninety-nine percent skeptical that’ll turn out to be true. But if the one percent pans out...I have no idea what’ll happen, and I want to ensure your safety.”

He ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

“The choice is definitely yours, Josh. If you don’t want to be under police protection, you don’t have to be. But if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t take any chances, especially since it’s only a matter of time before that photo goes viral.”

“You really think that’ll happen?”

“People are always interested in missing kids.”

“I wish I hadn’t seen it.”

Sam leaned in to put her hand on his arm. “If it turns out to be true, will you still feel that way?”

“I don’t know how to feel about any of this. Before I saw that picture, it never occurred to me that something like this was even possible. Now... Well, now I’m wondering if my whole life has been a lie. Did they just pretend to care about me when they were lying to me the whole time?”

“You’ll know soon enough, and until then, I recommend you let us keep you safe.”

“You and who else?”

“My partner, Detective Freddie Cruz. I trust him implicitly. You’ll be in very good hands with him, and as soon as we have the DNA results, we’ll get you some answers.”

“Fine. Okay. I’ll go with your partner.”

“I think that’s the wisest choice, especially since this place is overrun with the flu.”

“And you’ll let me know what’s going on?”

“I’ll be in touch with you the second we have anything concrete. I promise.”

With his face set in a grim expression, he nodded, seeming pacified for now. Sam entered his phone number into her contacts and gave him her number in case he needed her for anything. Freddie arrived a short time later, and Sam introduced him to Josh.

Josh shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I guess we’re going to be roommates for the next few days.”

“Looks that way,” Freddie said. “You like the Skins?”

“Of course I do. Born and raised right here in D.C.”

“It’s Cowboys weekend, so at least we have something fun to watch.”

“I’ll spring for the beer.” Sam handed her credit card to Freddie. “Put the room on that too.”

“Your personal card? Will they let me do that?”

“Have them call me if you need to.”

“I could use my department card.”

She shook her head. “I’m keeping this separate for the time being. I’ll work out the expense side of it later.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Not right now, I’m not. Check in with me later.”

“Will do.”

CHAPTER FOUR

AFTER THEY LEFT, Sam went upstairs to look in on Scotty and Nick. They were both sleeping soundly, so she went downstairs to get something to eat while she could. Shelby had left a big salad and a pot of meatballs on the stove, so Sam had some of both along with a glass of water when she’d much rather have had a diet cola.

While she ate, she picked over the details of the case Josh had dropped into her lap. Though she probably should’ve technically declined to help him in light of her suspension, there were no rules she knew of that dictated personal favors outside of work. And technically, it wasn’t even an actual case, so she wasn’t violating the terms of her suspension.

Calling Lindsey might’ve crossed the line, but Lindsey’s connections with the lab would ensure a speedier turnaround than they would’ve gotten from an outside doctor. With the possibility of Director Hamilton’s involvement or culpability, she needed to do things by the book. At some point, the chain of custody on the DNA might matter, and who would care then that Sam had technically been suspended when she requested the swab?

You’re justifying yourself, baby girl. Sam smiled at the sound of Skip Holland’s voice in her head. Thinking of him made her want to talk to him, so she called down the street to see what he was up to.

“Hi, honey,” her stepmother said. “How’re you?”

“We’ve been struck by the flu over here. First Nick, then Scotty.”

“Oh no, are they okay?”

“They’re asleep for the moment, but they’ve both thrown up.”

“Poor guys. I’ll make some soup for when they feel up to eating again.”

“I’m sure they’d appreciate that it came from you rather than me.”

Celia laughed. “Probably.”

“Is Dad up for a chat?”

“He sure is. Let me get him for you.”

“What happened at the hearing?” Skip asked.

“Hello to you too.”

“Spill it.”

Sam smiled at his sauciness. She expected nothing less from him. “Suspended for four days and a thousand-dollar donation to the widows and kids.”

“That ain’t bad, all things considered.”

“I guess. I hear Forrester is considering assault charges, but I’m not worrying about that until it happens.”

“You should worry. He’s got a valid case, and you know it.”

“Maybe so, but I’d do it again. And don’t tell me I’m better than him and should’ve risen above it. I heard you the other ninety times you’ve said that.”

“It’s true.”

“I’ve got bigger fish to fry with both my guys down with the flu.”

“Aw, crap, that’s too bad. Wish I could come help you take care of them.”

“You’re far better off over there away from the germ pit. I sent Shelby home to get her out of here.”

“Probably for the best in her condition.”

“So I caught an interesting new case today. Or a potential case.”

“How’s that possible when you’re suspended?”

Sam filled him in on Josh Hamilton’s story and his connection to Director Hamilton.

Skip’s low whistle came through the phone loud and clear. “Are you shitting me?”