Page 146 of State of Suspense

“Yes, dear.”

A thought occurred to her as they got closer to where they would peel off from the FBI vehicle to head to the hospital. “Do I need to be worried about the Feds taking her somewhere other than our place?”

“Crap,” Freddie said. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Ask for a Patrol escort from the District line,” Sam said.

Freddie got on the phone.

“Tell them to direct the car only to our place. Nowhere else.”

He nodded and passed along her request to the Patrol commander.

“They’re on it.”

“If the Feds kidnap her, they’re gonna be sorry they ever met me.”

Sam texted Shelby to get Avery’s room number.

Is it okay if I stop by for a minute on official business?

He says he’s fine and to come on down.

Sam was deeply relieved to know Avery was doing well and sounding like himself through Shelby. “It’s amazing how things happen, isn’t it?”

“Which things are you referring to?”

“How Avery, who was once the biggest pain in my ass, has turned into such a treasured friend and colleague.”

“That is amazing when you think about how he used to go weak in the knees over you.”

Sam cringed. “He did not.”

“Yes, he did. He was crazy about you. I thought Nick was going to have him killed.”

“That was another lifetime ago.”

“Like two years?”

“Shut up! We got past that, and now…”

“Now you love him like a brother, and it was devastating to hear he’d been shot.”

“Yeah, that. All I could think of was Shelby losing him days after having the baby they both wanted so much.”

“Thank goodness that didn’t happen.”

“For sure.”

At the hospital, Vernon escorted them inside to the fifth floor. They were met by FBI agents who asked for ID, even though they recognized Sam.

“He’s in five thirty-five, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you.”

Another agent was positioned outside Avery’s door.

They showed her their IDs, and she let them into the room. As annoying as the delays were, Sam was glad her friends were being well protected with his shooter still on the loose.

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