Page 95 of State of Suspense

“Is he implicated in the Forrester murder?”

“What did he tell you?”

“Who shot your friend Hill?”

“Who killed Forrester?”

“Was it the same guy?”

Vernon hustled them into the SUV.

“Other than that mess,” Sam said to Vernon, using her chin to gesture to the media, “what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Why?”

“You look extra vigilant.”

“A USA was murdered, and an FBI agent was shot. You’re meeting with the AG, which has the media going wild. Calls for extra vigilance.”

“I guess so.”

“Any word on Agent Hill?”

“He’s in surgery and expected to survive.” Sam thought about her next move and decided she wanted to see Shelby, even if just for a minute. “Let’s stop at GW on the way to Gaithersburg.” It wasn’t technically on the way, but she couldn’t stay away when one of her closest friends needed all the support she could get.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sam would’ve scowled at him for calling her that, but the door closed before she could. He couldn’t help himself. While Vernon drove them to the hospital, Sam called Malone.

“How’d it go with Cox?”

“Not great.” She filled him in on what’d transpired. “Needless to say, he’s not happy with me, but I still feel like he’s not telling me everything he knows.”

“What’s your next move where he’s concerned?”

“I don’t have one. I doubt he’d willingly speak to me again. We had media outside Justice when we were leaving. One of them asked if the same shooter did Forrester and Hill.”

“We’ll get to work on the ballistics once we have Avery’s bullet.”

“Thanks, Cap. That feels like a long shot, but we have to cross the T’s. Next stop is to talk to Forrester’s neighbor.”

“Let me know how that goes.”

“Will do.” She closed her phone. “I feel guilty about the hospital stop.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Freddie said. “He wouldn’t care.”

“He told me to stay focused on the case, and he’s right. That’s what I need to do, especially when I have to leave early today.”

“If Avery’s shooting turns out to be somehow related to Forrester’s, then you’re focusing on the case by going to the hospital.”

Sam spun in her seat to stare at him.

“What?” he asked.

“It’s official.”

“What is?”

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