Fatal Consequences Read Free

downtown.”
    He glanced up at her, his face filled with despair. “Am I under arrest?”
    “Not at this time. However, we need to clear up a few things and until we do, we’ll need to retain you.”
    “Do I need a lawyer?”
    “That’s entirely up to you, but I’d recommend that you cooperate as much as possible at this point so we can figure out what happened to Regina. I have the authority to retain you for twenty-four hours without charging you. In that time, I’m required to produce enough evidence to charge you with a crime. If I fail to do that, I’ll release you. Do you understand?”
    Nodding, he ran a trembling hand through his silky dark hair. “I want to find the person who did this to her.” He glanced up at Sam. “Will it be all over the media that you’re retaining me?
    “We’ll do our best to keep it quiet for now, but I can only do so much. It’s a safe bet that the media will catch wind of your involvement. Even if we don’t file charges, you found the woman who cleans your office dead in her apartment.”
    Sam looked at Nick. His handsome face was set in an unreadable expression, but she had no doubt he was reliving the worst day of his life—when he’d found his boss and best friend dead in his apartment.
    Releasing a resigned sigh, Henry stood up. “Would it be possible to call my wife? I have to talk to her before this is all over the news.”
    “I’ll need to take a statement from you first, but after that I’ll see what I can do.”
    Out of deference to his position and friendship with Nick, Sam didn’t cuff Lightfeather, even though she rarely transported anyone without handcuffs. Once they had Henry settled in the backseat of the car, Nick rested his hand on Sam’s arm to stop her.
    She looked up to find him looking troubled. “What is it?”
    “It may be nothing.”
    “Or it may be everything. Just tell me, and I’ll figure out which it is.”
    “I think they might’ve been involved.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Remember I told you I’d seen him in his office, looking relaxed and very casual at odd hours?”
    Sam nodded.
    “One time, recently, she was there with him. I stopped by his office on my way out late one night. The two of them were having a glass of wine. She was wearing the cleaning crew uniform, but she was sitting on his sofa with her feet up. They seemed to be having a grand old time. When I came in, she got this really guilty look on her face and darted out of there like I’d caught them naked or something.”
    “What did he say?”
    “He shrugged it off and said she looked like she needed a drink.”
    “Did he look like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing?”
    Nick thought about that for a minute and then shook his head. “He was his usual cool, collected self.”
    “So why do you think they were involved?”
    “I only saw them unguarded for a minute, but there was something going on—something more than a glass of wine. I’m sure of it.”
    “I might need you to make a formal statement about what you saw that night. Would you be willing?”
    He winced. “Could we wait and see if you need it?”
    Sam studied that handsome, earnest face she loved so much. He’d been through the wringer lately with two close friends murdered in the scope of weeks. She’d do anything she could to spare him more pain. “Yeah, we can do that. Want me to drop you off at home before I go to HQ? Could be a long night.”
    “I’ll hang with you in case you need me.”
    Sam smiled. “I always need you.”
    “That’s why I’m sticking with you.” He stole a quick kiss and laughed at her reaction. She hated his public displays of affection, especially when other cops were around, which of course was why he loved to do it.
    “Give me a minute to report in to Malone.” She drew her cell phone from her coat pocket. The frigid air stole the breath from her lungs as she paced the sidewalk and waited for her mentor, Detective Captain