It was only Sam’s presence that kept her calm and sane during that long evening. Other cops came and went. As the hours stretched on, only Sam stayed next to her on the couch, his hand clasping hers in a silent gesture of support. She could see that he was tired, but he didn’t leave her. He stayed right beside her as the night wore on toward ten o’clock.
And he was there when the neurosurgeon came out to inform them that Robert had died on the operating table.
Nina took the blow in numb silence. She was too stunned to shed any tears, to say much more than “Thank you for trying.” She scarcely realized Sam had his arm around her. Only when she sagged against him did she feel his support, steadying her.
“I’m going to take you home,” he said softly. “There’s nothing more you can do here.”
Mutely she nodded. He helped her to her feet and guided her toward the exit. They were halfway across the room when a voice called, “Miss Cormier? I need to ask you some more questions.”
Nina turned and looked at the rodent-faced man who’d just spoken to her. She couldn’t remember his name, but she knew he was a cop; he’d been in and out of the waiting room all evening. Now he was studying her closely, and she didn’t like the look in his eyes.
“Not now, Yeats,” said Sam, nudging her to the exit. “It’s a bad time.”
“It’s the best time to ask questions,” said the other cop. “Right after the event.”
“She’s already told me she knew nothing about it.”
“She hasn’t told me.” Yeats turned his gaze back to Nina. “Miss Cormier, I’m with Homicide. Your fiancé never regained consciousness, so we couldn’t question him. That’s why I need to talk to you. Where were you this afternoon?”
Bewildered, Nina shook her head. “I was at my father’s house. I didn’t know about it until…”
“Until I told her,” filled in Sam.
“You did, Navarro?”
“I went straight from the crime scene to her father’s house. Nina was there. You can ask Daniella Cormier to confirm it.”
“I will.” Yeats’s gaze was still fixed on Nina. “I understand you and Dr. Bledsoe just called off the engagement. And you were in the process of moving out of his house.”
Softly Nina said, “Yes.”
“I imagine you must have been pretty hurt. Did you ever consider, oh…+getting back at him?”
Horrified by his implication, she gave a violent shake of her head. “You don’t really think that—that I had something to do with this?”
“Did you?”
Sam stepped between them. “That’s enough, Yeats.”
“What are you, Navarro? Her lawyer?”
“She doesn’t have to answer these questions.”
“Yes, she does. Maybe not tonight. But she does have to answer questions.”
Sam took Nina’s arm and propelled her toward the exit.
“Watch it, Navarro!” Yeats yelled as they left the room. “You’re on thin ice!”
Though Sam didn’t answer, Nina could sense his fury just by the way he gripped her arm all the way to the parking lot.
When they were back in his car, she said, quietly, “Thank you, Sam.”
“For what?”
“For getting me away from that awful man.”
“Eventually, you will have to talk to him. Yeats may be a pain in the butt, but he has a job to do.”
And so do you, she thought with a twinge of sadness. She turned to look out the window. He was the cop again, always the cop, trying to solve the puzzle. She was merely one of the pieces.
“You’re going to have to talk to him tomorrow,” said Sam. “Just a warning—he can be a tough interrogator.”
“There’s nothing I have to tell him. I was at my father’s house. You know that. And Daniella will confirm it.”
“No one can knock your alibi. But murder doesn’t have to be done in person. Killers can be hired.”
She turned to him with a look of disbelief. “You don’t think I’d—”
“I’m just saying that’s the logic Yeats will use. When someone gets murdered, the number one suspect is always the spouse or lover. You and Bledsoe just broke up. And it happened in the most public and painful way possible. It doesn’t take a giant leap of logic to come up with murderous intent on your part.”
“I’m not a murderer. You know I’m not!”
He didn’t answer. He just went on driving as though he had not registered a word.
“Navarro, did you hear me? I’m not a murderer!”
“I heard you.”
“Then why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Because I think something else just came up.”
Only then did she notice that he was frowning at the rearview mirror. He picked up his car phone and dialed. “Gillis?” he said. “Do me a favor. Find out if Yeats has a tail on Nina Cormier. Yeah, right now. I’m in the car. Call me back.” He hung up.
Nina turned and looked out the rear window, at a pair of headlights behind them. “Is someone following us?”
“I’m not sure. I do know that car pulled out behind ours when we left the hospital. And it’s been there ever since.”
“Your buddy in Homicide must really think I’m dangerous if he’s having me followed.”
“He’s just keeping tabs on his suspect.”
Me, she thought, and sank back against the seat, grateful that the darkness hid her face. Am I your suspect as well?
He drove calmly, making no sudden moves to alarm whoever was in the car behind them. In that tense stillness, the ringing of the phone was startling.
He picked up the receiver. “Navarro.” There was a pause, then he said, “You’re sure?” Again he glanced in the mirror. “I’m at Congress and Braeburn, heading west. There’s a dark truck—looks like a Jeep Cherokee—right behind me. I’ll swing around, make a pass by Houlton. If you can be ready and waiting, we’ll sandwich this guy. Don’t scare him off. For now, just move in close enough to get a good look. Okay, I’m making my turn now. I’ll be there in five minutes.” He hung up and shot Nina a tense glance. “You pick up what’s happening?”
“What is happening?”
“That’s not a cop behind us.”
She looked back at the headlights. Not a cop. “Then who is it?”
“We’re going to find out. Now listen good. In a minute I’ll want you down near the floor. Not yet—I don’t want to make him suspicious. But when Gillis pulls in behind him, things could get exciting. Are you ready for this?”
“I don’t think I have much of a choice…”
He made his turn. Not too fast—a casual change of direction to make it seem as if he’d just decided on a different route.
The other car made the turn as well.
Sam turned again, back onto Congress Street. They were headed east now, going back the way they’d come. The pair of headlights was still behind them. At 10:30 on a Sunday, traffic was light and it was easy to spot their pursuer.
“There’s