Fatal Identity (27 page)

“I'm so glad to hear that.”

Surrounded by Nick's detail, they got off the plane and into one of the ever-present black SUVs for the ride into the city.

She fired off a text to Freddie.
What's going on?

Waiting game. Everyone is in position. WVSP is calling the shots, so we're on standby.

Ugh.

No kidding. Cold up here.

Sam closed her phone but kept it in hand in case there were updates.

“Anything new?” Avery asked.

“Nothing yet.”

“Other than the fact that you have the director's wife in custody, or I suppose that doesn't count as anything.”

“I figured you already knew that, so it would be redundant to mention it.”

“What do you hope to gain by taking her in?”

“Information about her relationship with her husband, among other things.”

“What other things?”

“After what we heard yesterday, you have to ask? We want to know the true nature of her relationship with Jacoby too.”

“What're you suggesting?”

“Nothing. Yet.” As she said the words, another thought occurred to her. How old were Mark and Maura Hamilton when their younger brother became part of their family? What did they remember from that time? She couldn't wait to get back on the job.

Avery clicked away on his phone for a few minutes before sending her an angry glare. “Were you going to tell me that you guys have Jacoby's house in the mountains surrounded?”

“No, I wasn't, because we have jurisdiction over this case, and everywhere we go, you guys show up, acting as if it's actually your case. How do you know about Jacoby?”

“Because he put out the word to the Bureau that he's in need of assistance at his getaway, where he's been on a hunting trip since the weekend.”

“And you buy that shit? You buy that the deputy director of the FBI would go completely off the grid without telling anyone he's doing that? Really?”

“There's probably a perfectly good explanation.”

“How about the fact that the thugs who took Cruz and Josh
told
us Jacoby hired them?”

“And you're taking their word for it?”

“How would they have his private cell phone number if he hadn't hired them?”

“Sam,” Nick said, taking her hand. “Don't get worked up.”

“Look,” Sam said in a calmer tone, “I know you don't want to believe that men you looked up to were involved in something so sinister, but all the evidence is pointing in their direction.”

“Granted, but you and I both know that doesn't mean it's a slam dunk.”

“Never said it was.”

They existed in uneasy silence the rest of the way into the city, where they dropped Avery off at home.

“Thanks for the lift.”

“Avery.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for what you did for me yesterday,” Sam said. “I appreciated it.”

“As did I,” Nick said.

Avery's face was expressionless when he said, “Sure. No problem.”

The door closed and the Secret Service agent who'd gotten out to open it got back in the front seat.

Sam waited until the car was moving again to ask the question she'd been dying to ask since they landed. “So what happened between you two while I was out cold on the plane?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“W
HAT
MAKES
YOU
think anything happened?”

Sam shot him a look. “Because I know you. Spill the beans.”

“We talked about you.”

“Um, you're going to need to elaborate on that.”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it before turning it to press his lips to her palm. “We talked about how amazing you are, how strong and loyal and supportive of your friends and colleagues, how you're tireless in your efforts to get justice for victims of the most violent of crimes, how you're the most incredible wife and mother.”

Stupefied, Sam stared at him. “You did not talk to him about that stuff.”

“Actually, I did talk to him about that and how much I love you and how nothing and no one will
ever
come between us. I was pretty adamant about that last part.”

“Tell me you're joking.”

“I'm dead serious, Samantha. We had a man-to-man conversation, and I think we understand each other a lot better than we did before.”

“What did
he
say?”

“He didn't have much to say other than he agreed with just about everything I said about you. Of course he has no way to know what kind of wife you really are. If he did, well... Let's just be glad he doesn't know what he's never going to get to experience firsthand because he'd be
so
bummed.”

Even though her entire body went hot for reasons that had nothing to do with fever or the flu and everything to do with his ridiculous possessiveness, she couldn't let him know that it turned her on. “I'm going to kill you, and I'm going to make it hurt.”

“Sweetheart, I'm surrounded by Secret Service agents. I'd like to see you try.”

“You're not surrounded by Secret Service when you're sleeping.”

“Ah, duly noted. Will sleep with one eye open from here on out.”

“So basically you had Avery Hill all to yourself for two hours and you tortured him.”

“I wouldn't go so far as to call it
torture
. I'd say it was more of an information session.”

“You're a dead man.”

“You won't kill me. You like the sex too much.”

“It only took one year of marriage to create a monster.”

“You love me.”

“I don't love you having a ‘talk' with Avery.”

“It was a good thing. We cleared the air.”

“What would his side of the story be?”

“I imagine he'd say the same.”

“Let me ask you something.”

“Anything you want.”

She glanced over at him, not sure if it was wise to ask the question that had been on her mind since he appeared in Knoxville the night before. “Why did you come to Tennessee? Was it because I needed you or was it because I was alone in a hotel room with Avery?”

Nick's eyes went wide with surprise and then narrowed with anger. “Are you really asking me that?”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

“I came there,” he said in a tight, furious-sounding tone, “because you were sick and needed me.”

“And not because Avery was taking care of me?”

“That had nothing to do with it.”

Sam remained skeptical but kept her thoughts to herself, as they arrived at home, where they were greeted by Secret Service Barbie, who was working the door. Of course she was.

“Good morning, Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Cappuano.”

“Good morning, Melinda,” Nick said with a polite smile.

Sam swore the woman all but swooned from being on the receiving end of that smile. She was only human, the poor thing. “Maybe I need to have a ‘talk' with her about the greedy way she looks at my husband's sexy ass,” she whispered as he hung their coats in the closet. “I could tell her how big your dick really is. Give her something to fantasize about.”

“Or not.”

Chuckling at his predictable reply, she headed for the stairs, eager to shower and change and get to the hospital to check on Josh.

“Um, where do you think you're going?” Nick asked twenty minutes later when she emerged from her closet dressed and ready to go.

“To the hospital to see Josh.”

“You've been sick, Samantha. You need to take it easy today, or you're going to relapse.”

“I'm fine. I'm only going to the hospital where I'll also get something to eat.” She patted his face and went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “You can go to work. You're off duty.”

He lifted her sweater, which covered the service weapon strapped to her hip. “If you're just going to the hospital, why're you bringing the hardware?”

“Because I never leave home without it, as you well know.” She kissed him again. “I swear I feel fine. Tired and a little achy, but otherwise fine. I need to check in on Josh and get things moving with the Franklin police who are waiting for my okay to tell the Rollingses that he's their son. I can't bear to make them wait another day for that news.”

“Fair enough. Just promise you'll come home as soon as you can.”

“I will. I promise.”

He leaned in to kiss her. “And for the record, I went to Knoxville because I couldn't bear the thought of you feeling so crappy without me there to take care of you. Not for any other reason.”

“That's a pretty good reason. Thanks again for coming. It meant everything to me to have you there.”

“You mean everything to me.” He kissed her once more. “Be careful out there.”

“Always am.”

Sam went outside and was surprised to realize her car was parked in its usual spot, even though she hadn't left it there. Nick must've arranged to get it home from HQ. The keys were in it, which was another benefit of the security afforded by the Secret Service. They did have their uses.

Feeling light-headed and nauseated, she started the car and headed for the checkpoint, taking it slow. She desperately wished she were still in bed, but with so many threads needing to be pulled in the case, she'd never sleep anyway. She may as well do what she could to help out.

On the way to the hospital her phone rang with a call from Detective Watson.

“Good morning,” Sam said.

“What's the status?”

“As far as I know, Josh's condition is unchanged. I'm on my way to the hospital now to see him.”

“I want to tell the Rollingses that we've found him.”

“Will you also tell them that he's gravely injured or who had him all this time?”

“I'll tell them everything I know.”

She could hear the fierce determination in every word he said, and frankly, she didn't blame him. She would feel the same way in his place. Locating a child who'd been missing for thirty years would be cause for huge celebration in the Franklin police department.

“Do I have your okay to proceed?” Watson asked.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“They'll want to come there.”

“We'll do everything we can to accommodate them.”

“Um, pardon the question, but it's my understanding that you're currently suspended. Is that true?”

“Heard about that all the way down there in Tennessee, huh?”

“Everyone has heard about that.”

“I'm suspended for one more day but still actively engaged in the case. I'll personally make sure the Rollings family is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve when they come to my city.”

“Thank you for that. I can't believe I actually get to go tell them this news. If it gets any better than this in a career, I'm not sure when.”

“You've worked hard for a long time to be able to give them this news. I'm only sorry we were unable to keep him safer. We're in the midst of a truly baffling case here with his abduction and his father's murder.”

“Are there any suspects?”

“One and you won't believe who.”

“I'm all ears.”

“The deputy director of the FBI.”

“Holy shit. Really?”

“Yep.”

“Wow, well... I'll let you get back to that mess while I go tell Mr. and Mrs. Rollings that their prayers have been answered.”

“You enjoy that, and let them know that from everything we're being told, he's expected to recover from his injuries.”

“They'll be glad to hear that. I'll be in touch.”

Sam closed her phone and tried to imagine the reaction of the Rollings family to hearing their child had been found. If nothing else came of this nightmare case, at least those poor people would have closure on their son's disappearance. They'd get to meet him and get to know him and perhaps, over time, build a relationship with him.

At GW, she asked for Josh at the reception desk and was directed to the sixth floor. Patrol officers were stationed outside his door, and they seemed surprised to see her in light of the suspension, not that they'd ever ask why she was there.

Because they were required to ask for identification, even if they knew the visitor, she showed them her badge.

“How is he?”

“Doctors are in there now, Lieutenant. As far as we know, there's no change.”

“Help you with something?” a man asked. He was in his thirties with dark hair and intense eyes. In him, Sam saw Troy Hamilton.

“And you are?” she asked even though she already knew.

“Mark Hamilton. This is my brother's room.”

Sam showed him her badge. “Lieutenant Holland, Metro PD.”

“What do you want?”

Okay
, Sam thought,
so that's how we're going to play it?
“I've been involved in your brother's case for days now. I wanted to check on how he's doing.”

“By involved do you mean how you allowed him to be kidnapped at gunpoint and taken hostage?”

“I understand that you're upset, Mr. Hamilton—”

“You don't understand anything. My father has been murdered, my brother has been viciously assaulted and my mother has been arrested. You don't have the first clue how I feel!”

“Could we go somewhere and talk? Please? I have information I think you and your sister would want to know.”

For a second she thought he was going to say no, but then his shoulders sagged and he turned to walk away.

Sam grimaced at the Patrol officers and went after him. They ended up in the waiting room where a woman who bore a striking resemblance to him was bent over her phone.

“Maura, this is Lieutenant Holland from the Metro PD. She says she has info we need to know.”

Maura looked up from her phone, and Sam could tell that Maura recognized her, but she didn't mention it. “What kind of information?”

“The kind that will be difficult to hear.” Sam closed the door and sat across from them.

“More difficult than our father being murdered or our brother being abducted or our mother being arrested?” Maura asked.

Sam had to remember she was dealing with a lawyer in addition to a bereaved daughter. “Yes, possibly.”

“So what is it?” Mark asked.

“Thirty years ago this week, a baby was kidnapped from a hospital in Tennessee.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Maura asked.

“That baby is your brother Josh.” She watched as two intelligent, accomplished people tried to wrap their brains around what she was telling them.

They exchanged glances.

“That can't be true,” Maura said. “Mother had him when we moved back to Virginia. He wasn't even born in Tennessee.”

“Do you remember your mother being pregnant and having a baby?”

“I remember it vividly,” Mark said. “Her belly was huge. I remember being afraid she was going to break open.”

“I remember that too! Her skin was so tight and stretched.”

Sam reeled as she listened to them. So Courtney had been pregnant when she left Knoxville to go home to Virginia? Neither of her friends had mentioned that.

“So there's no way the baby that went missing could be our brother,” Mark said.

“Actually, it is him. We have DNA evidence linking him to the father of the missing baby.”

“Are you insinuating that our parents had something to do with taking that baby?” Maura asked.

“I'm insinuating that they raised a kidnapped baby as their own. What they knew and when they knew it is something we'd all like to know.”

“They couldn't have possibly known he was kidnapped,” Mark said. “My father devoted his entire life to truth and justice and the law. If you go public with these insinuations, we'll sue your ass off, and we'll go after your badge too.”

“Feel free to do whatever you need to do, but this information will be going public probably today when the Rollings family in Tennessee finds out that their prayers have been answered and their son has been found.”

“This can't possibly be true,” Maura said with a whole lot less conviction than she'd had at the beginning of the conversation.

“I'm sorry. I know how difficult it has to be for you to hear this, but it is true, and we believe that Dustin Jacoby killed your father and abducted your brother because he was afraid of what would happen when the truth came out.”

They stared at her as if she had two heads.

“He was my father's
best friend
,” Mark said. “He's like an uncle to us. He would never harm my dad.”

“Look, I get that this is extremely shocking to you, but everything I'm telling you is true. The West Virginia State Police and the Metro PD have Jacoby surrounded at his cabin in the mountains. We have footage that shows him with your brother at a hotel in Beltsville after your brother was abducted at gunpoint and fed a nearly lethal dose of phenobarbital. We have the gunman who orchestrated the abduction telling us that Jacoby hired him and two of his associates to help him kill your father and abduct your brother, who was kidnapped from a family in Tennessee as an infant.” Sam paused, took a moment to look at both of them. “Now, hearing all that, do you
honestly
believe that I could make up a story this crazy?”