Page 74 of State of Retribution

“You got it.”

She returned to the pit, where her day-shift detectives were turning things over to the night shift.

Dominguez, petite and dark-haired, came over to Sam and stopped short of hugging her.

“I’m okay.”

Carlucci, who was tall and blonde, squeezed Sam’s shoulder.“That’s a fucking relief.Scared the shit out of us, LT.”

“Sorry about that.If you guys are good to go, I’m getting out of here.I need to touch the grass at home.”

“Go on ahead,” Carlucci said.“We’ll call you if there’re any updates to report.”

“Thank you all,” she said to include the others.“See you in the morning.”

Before leaving her office, she picked up the file Jesse Best had left and tucked it under her arm.

As she walked with Vernon to the morgue exit a few minutes later, she said, “I’d like to see Jimmy.Can we swing by there on the way home?”

“Probably not without causing a circus.”

She stopped short of the exit door and turned to face Vernon, who looked exhausted and stressed.“I’d really like to see him—and Liz.He saved my life today.Is there a way to sneak me in?”

“That might take some time to coordinate.”

“Could I go home while that happens?”

“Sure, we can do that.”

“I’m sorry to ask you to stay later after such a rough day.”

“No worries.I want to see him, too.”

“How are you doing?”

He seemed surprised she’d ask that.

“I know how horrible it feels to have my partner get shot on the job,” Sam said.

“I… I feel responsible for him, you know?”

“I do know, but he wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.”

“Hard not to.What was I thinking, walking away from you guys?”

“You were doing your job, even if that doesn’t make you feel any better in a case like this.”

“No, it doesn’t.I’m also in for a grilling with my brass about how this could’ve happened.”

“It happened in an instant, as these things do, which I’ll attest to, and so will Freddie.”

“I appreciate the support.”

“Of course.”

“They may take us off your detail.”

“That’ll happen over my dead body.”

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