Page 217 of State of Suspense

Nick scooped up the twins and kissed their faces as they shrieked with delight.

Scotty came to hug Sam. “They’re bonkers tonight.”

“Who made them that way?” Brenda asked, giving Scotty a pat on the head.

Scotty flashed a sheepish grin. “I may or may not have riled them up.”

“Then you can deal with them at bedtime,” Nick said.

“No way. My job is after-school entertainment. Bedtime is all you, Pops.”

Sam, who was pleasantly surprised by how nice it felt to come home to her mother after a long day, kept an arm around Scotty. “He’s going to be our lawyer.”

“I have no doubt.”

“Don’t talk about me, ladies. I can hear you.”

“Who’s ready for dinner?” Nick asked.

A loud chorus of “me” had him sending them downstairs to wash up.

“Can you join us, Brenda?” Nick asked. “Sometimes Celia begs off in favor of peace and quiet in her suite after an afternoon on duty.”

Brenda laughed. “I don’t blame her, but I’d love to if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“We’d love to have you,” Sam said.

“How’d it go just now?” Brenda asked.

“Really well. Nick told her to get lost. It was hot as you-know-what.”

Nick sputtered. “Samantha! That’s your mother.”

“She can handle it.”

“I love when he calls you Samantha. No one gets away with that.”

“I know, right? Hot AF.”

“I’m outta here.” Nick spun around and went downstairs, leaving them laughing.

“He’s all right?”

“Remarkably so.”

“That’s good. I’ve heard from your sisters how it goes when he sees her.”

“You should’ve heard that from me. I’m sorry you didn’t. And I want you to know that when I came home to you just now, I liked it. Felt like old times.”

Brenda hugged her. “For me, too. Thank you for asking me to fill in for Celia.”

“You should come help her when she gets back. There’s plenty of chaos to go around.”

“I’d love that.”

“Then we’ll make it happen.”

Sunday dawned cool and cloudy with rain in the forecast for the afternoon. Sam hoped it held off until they’d pulled off a successful mission and had Peckham in custody. It was still dark when she stepped outside to go to work at six fifteen.

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