Page 66 of State of Suspense

Sam laughed. “How’s Shelby?”

“Exhausted but thrilled.” He did a double take when he noticed the bandage on her arm and cut on her face. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

Avery glanced at Freddie, who shrugged.

“I, uh, wondered if I might have a word in private?”

“Sure.”

Freddie ducked out and closed the office door behind him.

“What’s up?”

Avery took a seat in front of her desk. “I’m ethically torn.”

“How so?”

“I want to show you a private all-hands message that came through secure channels to all Justice employees.”

“Like, everyone?”

“Yes.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Sixth one I’ve ever gotten.”

“Who was it from?”

“Cox.”

The telltale tingle attacked her backbone. “Can you share it?”

“Absolutely not, but I can show it to you if you swear to never tell anyone it came from me.”

“I swear.”

Avery handed over his phone.

Sam read the all-hands message from Reginald Cox to every employee at Justice, encouraging them to do everything in their power to assist in the investigation into U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester’s murder. “If you know something, say something,” Cox had written. “It behooves us all to assist law enforcement in quickly resolving the senseless murder of our colleague. If you have information about USA Forrester’s murder, please report it to a supervisor immediately.”

Sam read the message twice, becoming more perplexed the second time. “Is he insinuating an inside job?”

“That’s how I read it.”

“I don’t understand. Who does he think would know something?”

“No idea, but the implication was clear to me and my team that he thinks it came from within the department—or he wants people to think that.”

“Is it possible he wants someone like you to do exactly what you’re doing now by showing that to me and hoping I’ll pick up that direction?”

“I thought of that and can’t rule it out.”

“What is happening?”

“I wish I knew.”

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