Chapter Eleven #2
How she loved him like this, when he was all hers and driving her wild with his hands and lips and cock.
And then he pressed his finger against her back door, making her cry out from the incredible sensations that overtook her body.
When he loved her this way, there was no space left in her mind for thoughts of anything but him and the magic they created together.
Propped over two pillows, she could do nothing but let him have his wicked way with her.
And he was very, very wicked as he alternated strokes of his cock and finger to drive her completely mad.
Then he reached around with his free hand to tease her clit, and that was all it took to make her come again.
This time he joined her, surging into her over and over until he came down on her back, his sweat joining with hers, his unmistakably appealing scent filling the air around her, his love providing the safety she craved.
Nothing bad could touch her as long as he loved her, or so she’d like to think.
His arm encircled her waist as he kissed a trail down her back before he withdrew from her and removed the pillows he’d put under her.
He pulled a blanket up and over her and got up to use the bathroom at the far end of their hideaway.
Or at least it had been a hideaway until they’d had Secret Service all over the house. Now nothing was secret.
The irony of that made her giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Nick asked as he got under the blanket and snuggled up to her.
“How there’re no secrets with the Secret Service around.”
“This is very true.”
“You think they know what we’re doing when we come up here?”
He trailed his finger down her backbone, making her shiver. “I’m sure they suspect.”
“That’s so creepy.”
“Try not to think about it. We have a right to a life in our own home, and we’ll be damned glad to have them if someone tries to get at us or Scotty.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.” Thinking of what could happen to Nick or Scotty was enough to give her nightmares, so she chose not to go there.
“You’ve got to figure we’ve used up our share of bad luck.” He kissed her shoulder and then took a little bite of her skin. “You want to go again?”
“Already?”
He pressed his reawakened erection against her. “Uh-huh.”
“You have to be the randiest vice president in the history of the union.”
“I can live with that distinction as long as I get to be randy with the sexiest second lady in the history of the world.”
How could she say no to that?
Captain Malone pulled up to the Secret Service checkpoint at Ninth Street and gave his name. “I need to see Lieutenant Holland.”
“I’m sorry but Vice President and Mrs. Cappuano are unavailable at this time.”
“It’s urgent police business.”
“We’re under orders that they’re not to be disturbed for anyone other than their son.”
Malone sighed, recognizing a losing battle when he saw one.
He rolled up his window and drove off, calling her cell as he went.
Her voicemail picked up on the second ring.
“Sam, it’s Malone. I’m sorry to bother you when you’re on leave, but I need you to call me the minute you get this message. It’s urgent.”
He ended that call and placed another to Chief Farnsworth, who sounded like he’d been asleep when he said, “Farnsworth.”
“Joe, it’s Jake. Sorry to wake you, but I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“Oh God. More bad news?”
“The worst kind.”
After a heartbeat of a pause, Farnsworth said, “Who?”
“Detective Arnold.”
“Oh no. How?”
“Shot in the face by a person of interest in the knife attacks.”
“Jesus. Did we get the guy?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Have we called in the FBI and the Marshals?”
“Already done.”
“I want all the help we can get, but we’re the lead. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Everyone is gathering at HQ. I thought you’d want to be there.”
“You’re damned right I do. Has Arnold’s family been notified?”
“Sergeant Gonzales has asked to handle that personally. I plan to go with him.”
“You’ll need to do it soon before the press catches wind.
Let’s call in Public Affairs to help deal with the media, and as soon as his family is notified we’ll need the PIO to put it out to NCIC,” Farnsworth said, referring to the National Crime Information Center, which would get the word out to police departments around the country.
“I’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”
“God, Jake, he was only what? Twenty-five?”
“Twenty-seven.”
Another deep sigh echoed through the phone. “Does Sam know?”
“I went by her place to tell her, but the Secret Service stopped me. Apparently, the vice president and his wife are not to be disturbed by anyone other than their son. I left her a voicemail.”
“This is going to screw her up worse than she already is.”
“I had the same thought. And Gonzales is not good at all. Happened right in front of him.”
“We’ll need to notify Cruz and the rest of the squad.”
“I’ll call them in, and I’ll get in touch with Cruz.”
“Thanks, Jake. I’m going to call the mayor, and then I’ll be right in.”
“See you there.”
On the drive to HQ, Malone called Dispatch. “It’s Malone. I need the entire Homicide squad recalled immediately.”
“Captain,” the dispatcher said, “I’m so sorry about Detective Arnold.”
“Thank you. Please don’t mention what’s happened to the detectives when you call them. Ask them to report to HQ immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
He hung up with Dispatch and called Freddie Cruz, who wouldn’t receive the call from Dispatch due to his suspension.
“Yeah, Cruz.” He too sounded like he’d been sleeping.
“It’s Malone.”
“Yes, sir,” Cruz said, apparently now wide awake.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“What kind of bad news?”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this on the phone, but Detective Arnold has been shot and killed in the line of duty.”
“Oh my God. Was anyone else hurt?”
“Thankfully, no, but it happened right in front of Sergeant Gonzales, who’s not taking it well, needless to say.”
“Did we get the shooter?”
“Not yet.”
“I’m out of town, but I’ll leave within the hour to come home. I want to help.”
“You’re suspended, Detective.”
“I’ll work without pay. Please don’t tell me I can’t help.”
“Check in when you get back to town.”
“I’m in Florida. It’ll be sometime tomorrow. Did someone tell Sam?”
“I left a message for her. The Secret Service is guarding the fortress.”
“I’ll call her, too.”
“I’ll talk to you when you get back,” Malone said.
“Will you let me know if there’re any developments?”
“Yeah, I will.”
“Thank you. Will you tell Gonzo… Ah damn, I’ll call him.”
“I’m sure he’d appreciate that. Safe travels.”
Malone pulled into the parking lot at HQ and cut the engine.
For a full minute he sat staring at the morgue entrance, telling himself he needed to go in there and take care of his people.
He needed to reassure them and remind them they still had a job to do in the midst of unspeakable tragedy.
In twenty-two years on the job, he’d unfortunately seen this happen before, and losing a colleague had long-lasting effects on the people who worked closest with the officer.
They were in for a rough couple of months when they’d already had a rough couple of months.
Weary and already overwhelmed by the tasks before him, Malone summoned the fortitude to get out of the car, to go inside, and to deal with everything that had to be done when one of their own went down in the line of duty.