Chapter Thirty
Sam was surprised herself to see Devon Sinclair sitting next to Massey.
She’d met Devon during the investigation into his uncle, Julian Sinclair’s murder, during which Devon himself had nearly died after being shot.
His presence threw her momentarily off her game until she recovered herself and proceeded into the room.
She wanted to know how Devon knew Massey, but she could ask him later.
For now, her job was to nail his client to the wall.
Massey glared at her. His hair stood on end, and Sam noted with satisfaction that orange wasn’t his color.
Sam kept her unblinking gaze fixed on him. “Detective Dominguez, please record this interview.”
While Dominguez noted the date, time and who was in the room, Sam continued to stare at Massey. Then she took her time sitting and opening the folder. “When did you decide it would be a good idea to fuck Tara Weber’s assistant and then hire her to spy on Tara for you?”
Judging by his shocked expression, Massey hadn’t expected that question. He glanced at Devon, as if to ask him what he should do.
“Answer the question, Bryce.”
A defense attorney who encouraged cooperation was indeed a rare species in her world. “Do you need me to ask the question again, Mr. Massey?”
“No, I don’t need you to ask it again. Delany and I were friends, separate of Tara.”
“So you knew her before she worked for Ms. Weber?”
“No, but—”
“Then you knew her because of Ms. Weber. Because you were keeping tabs on her?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like, then?”
“Tara went wild after our breakup. She was out with different guys every night, sleeping with some of them.”
“What did that have to do with you? As I recall, you told us you ended the relationship because you and Ms. Weber wanted different things.”
“That’s the truth.”
“I guess I don’t understand then what business it was of yours what she was doing after you broke up.”
“Just because we weren’t together anymore didn’t mean I stopped loving her.”
Sam raised a brow that she hoped conveyed skepticism. “You loved her so much you hired her assistant to spy on her while you were also banging the assistant?”
A fleeting look of panic crossed his face.
That’s right, asshole, we know all about Delany.
“That’s not what happened.”
“Isn’t it? Detective Carlucci, can you please read to us the part from Delany’s statement where she talks about how Mr. Massey hired her to keep him informed of Ms. Weber’s activities?”
Bryce’s wide eyes conveyed his complete shock that Delany had turned on him.
Watching his stunned reaction to the words that Delany had written brought the sort of satisfaction that made this job so rewarding at times like this.
“I’m sure you thought you had Delany thoroughly brainwashed, but alas, when faced with felony accessory to murder charges, she sang like a canary. Would you like to hear the rest of what she had to say?”
“No.” His fierce expression had become less so as it seemed to settle on him that he was screwed, glued and tattooed.
Time to drop the bomb. “Your prints were on Tara’s neck. We’re charging you with her murder.”
His mouth flopped open in disbelief as if it had never occurred to him that fingerprints could be taken from skin or that he would be caught.
Sam propped her elbows on the table, keeping her gaze fixed on him. “I have to give you credit. You gave us a run for our money with the airtight alibi that turned out to be not-so-airtight. Did you sneak out when your assistant was at lunch?”
“This interview is over,” Devon said, seeming shocked and maybe appalled by what he’d heard.
Bryce started to object.
Devon tried to stop him with a hand on his arm.
“I want a deal!”
“What I want to know is how an idiot like you managed to wipe the security video.”
“If I tell you, will you give me a deal?”
Sam stood, leaned in so she was a foot from him.
“You’ve got nothing to deal. We already got the whole story from Delany.
Since you were good enough to leave your fingerprints on Tara’s neck, we don’t need anything more from you.
” She turned and left the room, ignoring Bryce’s shouts that she let him explain.
She’d heard more than enough. They might never know how he’d managed to mess with the security video, but they could pursue that at trial.
Faith met her in the hallway.
“He’s all yours.”
Faith’s normally rosy complexion had gone pale. “All these cases make me sick, but this one…”
Sam put her hand on the other woman’s arm. “I know. It’s obscene. What’ll you charge Delany with?”
“I need to talk to Tom.” Faith referred to U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester. “Without her cooperation, we have a flimsy case against Massey, but what she did…” Faith gave Sam a fierce look. “There’s no way she’s getting away with that.”
“Agreed. Without her involvement, Tara’s still alive and raising the child she yearned for.” Sam shook her head. Sometimes the depravity she saw on the job was almost too much to bear. “And now I have to go see her parents and explain this to them.”
“I don’t envy you that.”
Worst part of the job, hands down, was dealing with the family members of Homicide victims. That was why she wanted the grief group to further support those left behind.
Malone came around the corner from the lobby area.
Sam had thought he was in the observation room.
“The jury’s back.”
Sam told herself it didn’t matter. She had work to do and would focus on that rather than obsessing about whether the jury had done the right thing and convicted Stahl. She’d know soon enough. Malone had asked if she wanted to be there when the verdict was read.
“Hell no,” she’d replied. That son of a bitch had gotten as much time from her as he was ever going to get.
Rather than go to court, she picked up the phone and called Tara’s mother, asking if she could come see them to update them on the case.
“Yes, of course. We’ll be here.”
“I’ll be there shortly.” She gathered her keys, phone and handheld radio before donning her coat. “Cruz! Let’s go to Herndon.”
He popped up from his cubicle and came trotting after her, working his way into a down parka as he went. “You heard the jury’s in?”
“Yep.”
Thankfully, he got the message that she didn’t wish to talk about it and didn’t mention it again on the torturous ride to Herndon. How anyone could stand to live so far from the action in the District was beyond her. They were almost there when Nick called.
Sam took the call while juggling the steering wheel and earning a glare from her passenger as the car swerved. “Hey.”
“Samantha.”
“Uh-oh. Why am I getting the full title?”
“Did you forget to tell me the jury is in?”
“Oh. That.”
“Yeah, that. How’re you doing?”
“Fine. I’m on my way to tell Tara’s parents that her ex-boyfriend murdered her with the help of her assistant. Other than that, I’m great.”
“Ugh. I’m sorry you have to do that.”
“Someone’s gotta do it.”
“Listen, no matter what happens, I’ve got you covered. Okay?”
“That helps, thanks. If he’s convicted, they say I have to do one of those victim impact things.”
“I’ll do it.”
“What?”
“I. Will. Do. It. You don’t have to go anywhere near him. I’ll take care of it.”
Sam’s chest seemed to expand, allowing in more oxygen than she’d been able to handle since she’d been told she’d have to speak at the sentencing. “In case I forget to tell you later, you’re the best husband I ever had.”
He laughed as he always did when she said that. “As we both know, the bar was set exceptionally low.”
“But you… You take it to a whole other level every single day, and I’m so, so thankful for you.”
“Right back atcha, babe. Don’t worry about a thing. He’s going to be convicted, and then I’ll make sure he’s sent away forever. You’ll never have to see him again.”
“That’d be nice. How are things over there?”
“Still tense. It’ll be better when you’ve announced the arrest of someone who is not the president.”
Sam laughed at the way he said that. “We’ll be announcing arrests soon and the whole world will be glad to hear it’s not the president.”
“Well, thank goodness for that. Jeez, that’s such a huge relief.”
“I know. Wait until you hear the whole story. You won’t believe it.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing all about it. Let me know what you hear from the courthouse?”
“I will. I’m sorry I didn’t call you when I heard the jury was back. I can’t bear to even think about it.”
“I get it. Believe me.”
“I’ll call as soon as I hear anything.”
“Okay, babe. Hang in there. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Sam closed the phone quietly, taking a deep breath and giving thanks once again for whatever she’d done right in her life that had made her deserving of him.
“He’s the best,” Freddie said.
“He is.”
“You’ve got a whole lot of support behind you no matter what happens in court. I hope you know that.”
Sam sent him a small smile. “I do. Thanks.”
Freddie’s phone chimed with a text. “Crime Scene found Tara’s phone in one of the boxes in Bryce’s car.”
“That’s awesome. Just another nail in Massey’s coffin.”
They arrived at the Weber’s home a few minutes later and were met at the door by Mr. Weber.
“Come in.” He led them to the kitchen where Mrs. Weber held a bottle for the baby. Tara’s parents looked exhausted and stressed. The last thing they’d probably expected at this point in their lives was to be raising their grandchild.
Sam’s heart went out to them as she and Freddie sat with them at the table.
“Can I offer you coffee or something else to drink?” Mr. Weber asked.
“Thank you, but we’re fine. And we have news for you. We’ve arrested Bryce and Delany in Tara’s murder.”
They both gasped with shock.
“What?” he asked. “That’s not possible.”
“I’m afraid it is.” Sam took them through the whole thing, from Tara’s breakup with Bryce to his hiring of Delany to her confession and the charges that would soon be filed against them both.
“Delany let him in,” Mr. Weber said, his face blank with shock. “She knew from the start it was him.”
“I’m afraid so.”
Mrs. Weber wept as she tended to the baby, who had big wise eyes and a sprinkling of dark hair. “He didn’t want her, but he didn’t want anyone else to have her either.”
“I believe that’s the case. I also think it’s possible that your daughter had genuine feelings for President Nelson and thus her effort to get his attention by leaking the story of their affair.”
“Which ultimately led to her death,” Mr. Weber said.
“Yes. When Bryce found out she’d had the affair with Nelson and possibly borne him a child, he was outraged.”
“She could’ve had anyone,” Mr. Weber said in disbelief. “Anyone at all. Why in the world would she set her sights on the married president?”
“Only Tara could answer that question, and perhaps in her things you might find something that provides closure.”
Her mother shook her head. “We won’t. She didn’t believe in journals or diaries or anything that could be found and used against her. She didn’t trust easily, and for her to know that Delany had betrayed her would’ve been as bad for her as knowing Bryce was there to harm her.”
“We’re so sorry for her and for you and her son. We’ve taken DNA from Bryce and two other men, and as soon as we know who fathered him, we’ll let you know.”
“I don’t want to know,” Mrs. Weber said. “What difference will it make to us?”
“None, I suppose, but someday it might matter to him.”
“That’s true,” Mr. Weber said.
“We’re also obligated to inform the child’s father, regardless of who that turns out to be.”
“When you do, let him know we want nothing from him but the opportunity to raise the child our daughter loved with all her heart.
“I’ll pass that along.” Sam gazed at the adorable baby, who would someday have to learn the sordid tale of his mother’s murder. “What’s his name?”
“Jackson Henry,” Mr. Weber said. “He’s named for both his great-grandfathers.”
“He’s beautiful.”
“He looks like Tara did as a baby,” Mrs. Weber said. “I’m so sad—and mad—that she won’t get to see him grow up. She wanted him so badly.” Her voice faltered and broke on a sob. “I’m sorry.”
Sam reached over to put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “There’s no need to apologize. We will keep you informed as the case proceeds.”
“Please do,” Mr. Weber said. “We’ll be there to represent our daughter.” He got up to walk them out.
Sam handed him her card. “If there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“We appreciate what you’ve already done. Your reputation for being very good at your job is well deserved.”
“In this case, the credit goes to the outstanding team I have working with me. They put the pieces together that led to the arrests.”
“However it happened, we’re thankful.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Sam and Freddie rode back to the city in silence until their phones chimed with a text.
“Convicted on all counts,” Freddie said.
Sam took a deep breath and blinked back tears she refused to give in to.
Thank God.
Justice had been served—this time, for her.