Page 131 of State of Retribution

“This doesn’t change the fact that what Reese is saying about what I did is true.”

“We’ll deal with that later.For now, our priority is putting a case together that’ll take these guys down.Avery Hill will be here at zero eight hundred.I’d like you and your team in that meeting.”

“We’ll be there.Thank you, sir.”

“Sam…”

“I know, Uncle Joe.I know.I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you then.”

It broke her heart to hear him upset over something having to do with her.If she had her way, she’d be the last one on the force to cause trouble for him.Not that she was the one causing the trouble, but she was the subject of it.

She called Freddie back.

“What’d he say?”

“My suspension is lifted, and he wants us in an eight o’clock meeting with Hill.Will you text the others and tell them I want everyone there, including Carlucci and Dominguez?”

“Will do.I’m so glad the suspension is lifted.”

“Me, too.But I’m not out of the woods over Reese.It’s just been postponed.”

“By the time we blow the lid off whatever this is, I have a feeling that no one will be talking about Hector Reese.”

Sam was dozing fitfullywhen Nick got into bed and curled up to her, putting his arm around her.She opened her eyes to look at the clock and saw that it was after three a.m.“What’re you doing up so late?”

“Going over the briefing books for tomorrow.”

“Let me turn over.”

Nick raised his arm to give her room to move.

“Hi.”

He kissed her.“Hi there.Sorry I woke you up.”

“I’m not sorry.”

“You will be in four short hours when we have to get the kids up.”

She slid her leg between his and pulled him in closer with a hand on his backside.

“What is happening?”

“I just wanted you closer.”

“You know I’ll never object to that.”

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“My suspension was lifted.”Sam told him about what’d happened with Conklin and the subsequent call from the chief.“He took a fatal dose of something the minute he realized Malone and Cruz were at his door because he knew why they’d come.”

“What a fucking pussy-ass bitch.”

“That’s quite a mouthful, Mr.President.”

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