Fatal Justice Read Free

that’ll come with it.”
    “That’s sweet of you to say.” She finally cracked a grin as they walked toward the elevator. “Do you know how many police lieutenants there are in this country?”
    “Maybe a couple thousand plus one more today?” he said, perplexed by the question.
    “That’s about right. Guess how many U.S. senators there are?”
    “That one I know—exactly one hundred. What’s your point?”
    “No point. I was just doing the math.”
    In the elevator, he backed her up against the wall. “Your big day was every bit as big as mine.”
    “No, it wasn’t ,” she said, her hands resting on his chest. “I got the mayor. You got the president .”
    “Big whoop. He came out of respect for John and because he’s an old friend of Graham’s.”
    “He came because he wants to court the newest Democratic senator.”
    Nick shrugged. “None of this is going to change me, Sam. I swear. I’m the same guy you woke up with this morning. I’m the same guy you’re going to sleep with tonight. I promise.”
    “Making a lot of assumptions, aren’t you?” She tossed a saucy grin over her shoulder as she stepped off the elevator ahead of him.
    “No assumptions.” He took her hand and fought her efforts to break free of him as they stepped into his crowded office. “Just stating the facts, Lieutenant.”
    “You’d better go talk to the president.”
    “Come with me.”
    “You go ahead. I’ll be right over there.” She pointed to where her father, Celia, Tracy, Angela and their families had congregated, outside of what used to be Nick’s office.
    Ignoring that, he tightened his grip on her hand and moved toward the president. As she reluctantly followed him he could feel her tension, but he refused to allow her to put distance between them. That was not going to happen.
    “Mr. President,” Nick said, extending his free hand. “I can’t thank you enough for being here.”
    “My pleasure, Senator,” President Nelson said. Turning his attention to Sam, he added, “And it’s nice to see you again, Sergeant.”
    “Actually,” Nick said, sliding an arm around Sam’s waist, “it’s Lieutenant. As of about two hours ago.”
    “Well, congratulations to both of you.”
    “Thank you,” Sam said.
    “We have to be going,” President Nelson said, “but I look forward to working with you. If I can do anything for you, my door’s always open.”
    “Likewise, sir,” Nick said.
    “We’ll be hosting a state dinner for the prime minister of Canada in a couple of weeks,” the president added. “I hope you both can make it.”
    Nick felt Sam stiffen. “We’d be honored,” he said.
    President and Mrs. Nelson left a few minutes later. While Nick and Sam visited with his father’s family, Trevor approached them again.
    “I’m sorry to interrupt, Senator, but several reporters are waiting for you in the conference room.”
    “Would you please excuse me?” Nick said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
    He left Sam with his family and followed Trevor. Over the next thirty minutes, he made it clear to the press that his top priority was ensuring passage of the immigration bill that had been scheduled for a vote by the full Senate on the day John was found murdered.
    “Will you be a co-sponsor?” a reporter from The Hill asked.
    “Senator O’Connor’s name will remain on the bill as a co-sponsor with Senator Martin. My office will work with Senator Martin’s staff to get the bill on the floor for a vote.”
    “Have you been apprised of your committee assignments yet?” asked a reporter from the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
    “No, but I imagine I’ll take Senator O’Connor’s assignments since I’m only here for a year.”
    “Your relationship with Lieutenant Holland has gotten a lot of attention lately—”
    “I’m not going to discuss that.”
    “The public is interested.”
    “My personal life is of no consequence to my duties as a United States senator. Let’s keep the