Chapter Twenty-Three #2
On the radio she heard the doors to the store burst open, followed shortly after by multiple reports of all clear.
“Damn it,” she said with a sigh. “I was so sure he’d be there.”
“Someone’s been living here,” Nickleson said. “There’re clothes and blankets and a food stash, but he’s not here now.”
“Let’s get CSU in there,” Conklin said.
“I guess we’re good to go home,” Sam said to Conklin, frustrated that they’d been unable to find him before the inauguration. “Call me if anything pops overnight.”
“I believe you’re off-duty until Wednesday, Lieutenant,” Conklin said with a teasing smile that had Sam glaring at the deputy chief.
“Have your fun, sir.”
“Thank you, I will. I’ll wave to you on the reviewing stand.”
“Watch for my middle finger.”
Conklin took off laughing, and Sam noticed Gonzo standing alone on the sidewalk, staring at the store, which was now lit up. Sam told Freddie to go on home.
“Good luck with everything tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Keep me posted on all of this. I’ll have my phone, so text me.”
“Will do.”
Sam walked over to Gonzo.
“Never occurred to me for one second that there was really a T-shirt shop,” Gonzo said. “I should’ve thought of that. It’s brilliant. Hiding in plain sight in the legit business while running his sordid trafficking sideline.”
“It never occurred to any of us that the shop was legit, Gonzo.”
He continued to stare, unblinking.
“Come with me.” She took him by the arm. Her dad would already be in bed at this hour, but she had no doubt he’d be happy to talk to Gonzo no matter the time.
“Where am I going?”
“Just get in the car.” Sam held the passenger door for him and slammed it shut when he was settled.
As Sam drove to Capitol Hill, she hoped she was doing the right thing by forcing him to have this conversation.
At the checkpoint on Ninth Street, Sam was stopped by the Secret Service when they saw she had a passenger. “Show them your badge.”
Gonzo retrieved his badge from his pocket and showed it to the agent on duty.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Have a nice evening.”
“You, too.” Sam parked the car in front of her house.
“Why are you bringing me home with you?”
“Come with me, and I’ll tell you.” She could tell she surprised him when she directed him to her father’s home rather than her own.
“Sam, it’s too late for this tonight. We can do it another time.”
With her hand on his back, she propelled him up the ramp to her dad’s front door where she knocked softly.
Her stepmother, Celia, dressed in a thick robe, came to the door. “Oh, Sam, it’s you.” She ushered them into the warm house. “And Tommy.” She hugged him. “How are you, honey? We’ve been thinking about you.”
“Thank you,” he said.
Sam kissed her cheek. “Sorry to bother you so late, but we need to see Dad. Is that okay?”
“Sure, he’s still awake. We watched a movie in his room. Go on in.”
“Thanks, Celia.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Gonzo said. “Sorry to barge in.”
“You’re welcome here any time of day or night.”
“Told ya,” Sam said, smiling at him over her shoulder. His unusually stern countenance made her ache for him. It would be a long time before Tommy Gonzales found anything to smile about. “Knock, knock, Skippy. I come with friends.”
“Hey there,” Skip said. “You’re up late.”
Sam bent over the rail on his bed to kiss his forehead, where he could feel the sensation.
“We’ve been working the case all day. Good news is we found the college girls who were grabbed by Androzzi.
Bad news is no sign of him, but all kinds of signs that he’s been hiding out right here in the city. ”
Sam stepped aside to let Gonzo in.
“Sorry to bust in on you so late, Skip,” he said. “She made me.”
“I know how she can be.”
“So listen, I’m going to put it right out there. You boys have something awful in common. You’ve both had partners killed right in front of you.”
Gonzo began to shake his head. “Sam—”
“Gonzo, he’s been where you are. Steven Coyne was his very best friend. Let him help you.”
“I don’t want to—”
“Go on home, Sam,” Skip said. “We can take it from here.”
That’s exactly what she hoped he’d say. She gave her dad another kiss. “See you in the morning.”
“With bells on.”
She was thrilled to see him so excited to attend the inauguration.
Nick had gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure Skip and his wheelchair would be accommodated at every event.
Sam surprised herself as much as Gonzo when she kissed his forehead, too.
“Let him help. He’s been there. Call Patrol for a ride home when you’re ready to go.
” She patted his shoulder and left the room, hoping against hope that her dad’s experience and wisdom might ease Gonzo’s burden.
“It’s a good thing you did bringing him to your dad,” Celia said softly. “Who knows better what he’s going through?”
“That’s my thought exactly.”
“Poor Tommy. And poor, poor Arnold. I can’t stop thinking about his parents and how proud they were of him.”
“I know. It’s heartbreaking.”
Celia hugged Sam. “I don’t know how you do it day after day, how you keep getting back up no matter what comes your way, but I so admire you for never giving up.”
“Sometimes I want to. Sometimes it all gets to be too much.”
“You’ll never give up, Sam. You’re Skip Holland’s daughter.”
“You have no idea how badly I needed to hear that right now.”
“Go on home to your handsome husband. He always makes you feel better.”
“So do you.” She kissed Celia again. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. And I’ll make some coffee for Tommy.”
“You’re the best. See you tomorrow.”