Fatal Deception (2 page)

He’d been elated when Scotty mentioned a baseball camp in the District and suggested he might stay with them while he attended. Nick wanted everything to be perfect for all of them, thus the knot of fear he’d been carrying around. Nothing about their life was ever perfect. Most of the time it was a bloody circus—literally—with Sam hunting down murderers while he campaigned for reelection.

They were lucky to get ten uninterrupted minutes together on a regular day. What business did they have bringing a child into that madness? But what choice did they have? He’d become essential to them, and now Nick could only hope they’d become essential to him too.

“What’s the matter?” Sam asked.

Nick dragged his eyes from the chicken nuggets and turned to her. “Was that work?”

She shook her head. “Tracy had another huge fight with Brooke.” Sam’s sister had been locked in World War III with her teenage daughter for months now. “It keeps getting worse.”

“That’s tough.”

“Trace is a mess.” She reached up to caress his face. “What has you looking so troubled?”

“I was thinking about Scotty.”

“What about him?”

“What if this visit is a disaster? What if we blow our only chance with him?”

Sam stepped closer, placed her hands on his shoulders and looked up at him with potent blue eyes. “It won’t be a disaster. It’ll be reality. He needs to see what our life is really like—the good, the bad, the ugly. There’s no sense sugar-coating it. If he comes to live with us, he needs to know what he’d be getting. He needs to know who he’d be getting.”

Amused and touched by her efforts to bolster his spirits, he said, “And who would he be getting?”

“Two people who’d love him and care for him and support him—always.”

“You’re right. Of course you’re right.”

“I usually am,” she said with a cocky grin that made him laugh.

“I refuse to dignify that with a response for fear of hearing about it for the rest of my life.” Reaching into the freezer, he grabbed a bag of breast tenders and tossed it into the carriage. “Let’s hope we got something he’ll eat. If all else fails, there’s always his favorite—spaghetti.”

“Even we can’t screw that up.”

“Don’t jinx us.”

She took his hand and linked their fingers. “It’ll be great. I promise.”

Since his gorgeous wife was, in fact, often right, Nick chose to believe her. For the first time in days, the knot in his stomach loosened a bit. Maybe, just maybe, it would all be fine.

* * *

After they stashed the groceries at home, Nick went looking for Sam and found her in the study in front of the computer. “Um, excuse me. Day off. Remember?”

“I need to check in, and then I’m all yours.”

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and stopped short when he saw that she’d rearranged his desk—again. “Really, Samantha? Every time?”

The kisses he placed in the most ticklish areas on her neck made her laugh even harder.

He reached around her and pushed the power button on the monitor. “You’re done.” With more kisses to sweeten her up, he said, “What do you think about a trip to Georgetown? I bet our workaholic buddy Shelby is at her shop today. We can stop in and say hello. If she isn’t there, we can grab some lunch and do some window shopping.”

She curled an arm around his neck and brought him down for a real kiss. “Am I only allowed to window shop?”

“Whatever you want, my love.”

“Ohhh, I like the sound of that.”

“Then let’s go.”

They grabbed a cab to the swanky neighborhood where Shelby kept a storefront bridal boutique. “Damn it,” Sam said when she saw the closed sign outside the main door. “It was too much to hope that she’d be open today.”

“Look.” Nick pointed to a pink Mini Cooper parked across the street. “Who else could that belong to?”

“True.”

“Call her. Maybe she’ll see us.”

Sam pulled out her phone and placed the call.

“Did you already blow it with the sexy senator?” Shelby asked when she answered.

“Ha-ha, no, I didn’t already blow it with him,” Sam said with a smile for Nick. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, though. We’re outside your store. Got time for a quick visit?”

“For you? Always!”

Sam slapped the phone closed. “She’s coming.”

A minute later, Shelby appeared at the door to let them in. The tiny blonde, dressed in a pink silk jogging suit, greeted them with hugs and squeals of delight, though her face was puffy and red. “You guys look fabulous! Married life is clearly agreeing with you. Are you here about the replacement dress? Vera promised it by the end of the month. I still can’t believe someone actually slashed a Vera Wang original!”

“What’s wrong, Shelby?” Sam asked. “Have you been crying?”

“Oh no, no. Allergies.” She led them back to her office. “They’re a bitch this time of year.”

Behind Shelby’s back, Sam grimaced at Nick, letting him know she didn’t believe Shelby’s explanation.

When they were seated in pink leather easy chairs and holding glasses of pink lemonade, Shelby clapped her hands and let out another giddy squeal. “It’s so good to see you! I’m thrilled you came by. The dress should be in any time. Unfortunately, we caught Vera in the height of the spring wedding season.”

“Actually, we’re not here about the dress, even though we appreciate your help in replacing it,” Nick said, glancing at Sam. “We have a bit of an ulterior motive.”

“What’s that?” Shelby asked.

“We’re hoping you might know someone who’d be interested in a job.”

“What kind of job?”

“Basically, we need someone to run our lives.” He explained about Scotty coming to stay with them, how they were hoping to adopt him and how they needed someone to see to the day-to-day details. “Do you know anyone who might fit the bill?”

By the time he finished speaking, Shelby had tears running down her face.

Alarmed, Sam looked at him and then at her. “Shelby, what is it?”

“I’m so sorry.” Shelby tried frantically to deal with the tears. “I’m a mess lately. It’s the hormones. They’re making me into a wreck. And the business. I’m trying to figure out what to do, and then here you come and you’re looking for—”

“We’re looking for you,” Sam said, “or someone exactly like you who is ruthlessly organized.”

“And can handle her,” Nick said, pointing a thumb at Sam.

As Sam scowled at her husband, Shelby laughed through her tears. “I should explain. I’ve been trying to have a baby. I know it might seem crazy, but I’m forty-two, and I’m tired of waiting for Mr. Right to show up. I really want a baby, you know?”

Nick reached for Sam’s hand and squeezed. “Yes, we know.” Thinking of the baby they’d lost in February was like reopening a still-raw wound.

“I see happy couples through the most wonderful day of their lives, wishing all the time that one of those happy days might be mine. Before you dropped by, I was sitting here by myself, mired in paperwork, weeping all over the place as I wondered how much longer I can do this. I was going to have to either give up on the baby dream or give up the business, because I can’t continue to work with happy people while I’m crying my eyes out all the time.”

Sam sat up a little straighter. “Does that mean you might—”

“It would be an honor and a privilege to work with you both—and to help take care of your Scotty, who is absolutely adorable.”

“Really?” Nick said. “What about your business?”

Shelby shrugged as if it were no big deal to step away from a successful business. “I have people who could run it for me. I’d keep half an eye on it from a distance.”

“Are you sure about this?” Sam asked.

“Your visit here today was the sign I’ve been waiting for. I need a change, and working with you again would be wonderful. As long as you won’t be put out by some occasional tears.”

“Not at all,” Nick said.

Sam nodded in agreement. “How soon could you start?”

“How about a week from Monday?”

“Wow, that’d be great,” Nick said. “That’s the day after Scotty gets here.”

“I’ll have to deal with the weekend weddings I’ve already committed to for a few months. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course,” Sam said, still not fully sold on this plan of Nick’s, which had fallen into place rather easily. She also wasn’t sure how she felt about being around another fertility-challenged woman when she’d had her own difficulties in that area. “One thing I should mention is the uniform.”

Nick looked at Sam. “What uniform? We never talked about that.”

Forcing a blank look, Sam said, “Absolutely no pink allowed. I’m afraid this is a deal breaker for me.”

Nick and Shelby laughed, as Sam expected them to.

“I can’t believe this has happened,” Shelby said with another squeal. “It’s like an answer to a prayer.”

“For us too,” Nick said as Sam’s phone rang.

“Crap,” she said with a regretful look for him. “It’s dispatch.”

“There goes our day off,” Nick said to Shelby. While Sam was occupied, he talked salary with Shelby.

In a state of shock, Sam listened to the rote recitation of details from dispatch.

Nick glanced up at her. “What is it, babe?”

Her voice was little more than a whisper when she said, “Victoria Kavanaugh has been murdered.”

Chapter Two

“Do you know what happened?” Nick asked as they raced to their Capitol Hill home in a cab, so they could pick up a car.

Sam knew he was thinking of his close friend, White House deputy chief of staff Derek Kavanaugh, and Derek’s gorgeous, vivacious wife.

“Derek came home after weekend meetings at Camp David and found her on the kitchen floor. Hang on a sec.” She held up a finger. “Cruz, we’ve got a homicide.” Sam rattled off the particulars to her partner. “See you there.”

“What about Maeve?” Nick asked of the Kavanaugh’s baby daughter.

“She wasn’t in the house.”

“So she’s...”

“We don’t know. Victoria could’ve left her with someone or—”

“Technically she’s missing then.”

“At the moment.”

“Jesus,” Nick whispered. “Poor Derek.”

Sam stared out the window as the city flashed by in a blur of buildings and people. A thick haze of humidity hung over the District. The locals called this time of year the dog days of summer. When the cab pulled up in front of their house, Nick tossed a bill at the driver. They rushed to his car, which was closer than hers.

“It took months for him to get up the nerve to ask her out,” Nick said as he drove the two blocks to the Kavanaugh’s home.

Sam reached for Nick’s hand and held it between both of hers. “I’m so sorry. She was lovely. I can’t imagine what he must be going through.”

He glanced over at her. “You won’t look at him for this, will you?”

“I’ll have to question him, but if he was with the president when she was killed, I’d say he’s got a pretty solid alibi.”

“And Maeve?”

“Finding her will be our top priority.”

“Is it okay if I call Harry?” he asked of his and Derek’s mutual friend. “Derek would want him there.”

“Sure. I don’t see any problem with that.”

When they alighted from the car, a patrol officer met them on the sidewalk.

“What’ve we got?” Sam asked.

“Lieutenant.” The young officer nodded to Nick. “Mr. Kavanaugh returned home after two days at Camp David to find his wife dead on the kitchen floor. Their thirteen-month-old daughter was missing from the home. He’s been calling the child’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends to see if anyone has her.” The officer gestured to Derek, who was on the phone, pacing back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the house he’d shared with Victoria and their daughter.

“Thank you.” She pointed to Nick. “The senator is with me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They went over to Derek, who visibly crumbled when he saw them coming toward him. He quickly ended his call.

“Someone killed Vic,” he said, incredulous.

“I’m so sorry.” Nick embraced his friend and held him as he sobbed helplessly.

Never comfortable with grief, Sam hung back and let her husband do what he did best while she itched to get inside and get to work. Nick held on to Derek for a long time, speaking softly, assuring him they’d do anything they could for him and Maeve.

“I can’t find Maeve,” Derek said between sobs. “No one has her. Vic said they were having a girls’ weekend while I was working... If only I’d been here. Who could’ve done this?”

“We don’t know yet, Derek,” Sam said. “But I promise you we’ll find out, and we’ll find Maeve.” She assured him despite the sinking feeling in her belly. The child could be anywhere by now. She pushed that depressing thought to the side and forced herself to focus. “I need your help.”

“Whatever I can do,” he said, wiping tears from his face.

“I have to go inside for a few minutes, and then we’ll go downtown to talk.”

“I’m not a suspect, am I? I never could’ve harmed her. She was my life.”

“I was told you have a solid alibi.”

Derek nodded. “I was with the president, the senior staff and the campaign leadership all weekend.”

“Good.” She glanced at Nick. “Stay here until I get back, okay?”

Her husband nodded, knowing she expected him to console Derek the best way he could while she viewed the crime scene.

The patrolman held up the yellow tape for her, and she ducked under it. Inside she went to the kitchen in the back of the house where the District’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lindsey McNamara examined the body. Victoria’s long, dark hair was fanned out on the floor. Bruises covered her face, and her lips were blue. She wore black yoga pants and a yellow T-shirt.

Sam grimaced at the sight of a woman she’d met many times in the months since she’d been with Nick.

Lindsey looked up, her green eyes brimming with compassion. “Beaten to a pulp and manually strangled,” Lindsey said, gesturing to the bruises on Victoria’s neck.

The kitchen bore signs of a struggle, with chairs toppled and broken dishes on the floor.

“Any indication of sexual assault?” Sam asked.

“Not that I can tell from visual inspection. I’ll know more when I get her back to the lab. She put up a fight.” Lindsey held up Victoria’s right hand to show Sam the bruises on her knuckles. “I’m glad she got a few hits in.”