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the business card in his hand. Scotty Dunlap. He reached for his BlackBerry and got busy ordering a David “Big Papi” Ortiz jersey.

Chapter 7
    Sam hit the speaker button and punched in the phone number for Regina’s mother in Guatemala. Calling victims’ families was the thing she hated most about her job, so she was relieved to turn the task over to Senator Lightfeather. Freddie, who spoke Spanish, was prepared to take notes on the exchange.
    A woman answered the phone with a cheerful, “ Hola .”
    Appearing frozen, Lightfeather stared at the phone. Sam had no doubt that this phone call was even harder for him than the one he’d made earlier to his wife. “Senator?” she said softly.
    He startled, seeming to realize all at once that everyone was waiting for him.
    “ Hola ?” the woman said again.
    “Señora Argueta?” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “ Yo estoy Senator Lightfeather. ”
    Sam’s limited Spanish allowed her to deduce that Mrs. Argueta recognized the senator’s name and knew he was a friend of her daughter’s.
    He spoke softly for another moment before the woman on the other end released a wail of despair.
    Sam’s stomach clenched. How anyone survived receiving the news that their child had been murdered she’d never know. These moments were the only time she was ever grateful to be childless.
    Tears cascaded down the senator’s tanned face. He brushed them away as he continued to speak softly to the woman on the phone.
    Sam glanced at Freddie’s notes. Promising to arrange to have the body sent home as soon as he can, Freddie had written. Promising to continue helping her and Regina’s children. No mention of the baby she’d been expecting.
    Lightfeather concluded the phone call and rested his head on his folded arms. His shoulders shook with sobs.
    Sam signaled to Freddie that they should give him a moment. Freddie followed her from the room.
    “Hard to watch,” Freddie muttered.
    “Yeah.”
    “No question he genuinely loved her.”
    “Or had himself convinced that he did,” Sam said.
    “True. How do you want to get him out of here?”
    “Take him out through the morgue. Check him into a hotel so we can keep tabs on him. Put a couple of officers on the door and let them know his wife will be joining him later today.”
    “Got it. What about the media?”
    “I’ll handle them.” Sam left him to deal with the senator and returned to her office to find her nemesis, Lt. Stahl, waiting for her. “What do you want?”
    “Nice to see you too, Lieutenant,” Stahl said with a smarmy smile.
    “I’m busy.”
    “Ahhh, yes, another homicide involving your ‘boyfriend.’ Quite a track record he has lately.”
    “He has nothing to do with this, nor did he have anything to do with John O’Connor’s murder or Julian Sinclair’s, as you well know. And PS, he’s my fiancé .”
    “Your fiancé knew all the victims.”
    “And that proves what, exactly?”
    “That being an acquaintance of his can be bad for your health,” Stahl said, laughing at his own joke.
    “You aren’t threatening me—again—are you, Lieutenant?”
    “So touchy. Such a woman that way.”
    As usual in his presence, Sam held back the urge to smash her fist into his fat face. “As delightful as this conversation has been, I have work to do. If the rat squad isn’t keeping you busy enough, Lieutenant, I’m sure Captain Malone can find something for you to do with your copious free time.”
    His jowls jiggled as he scowled at her. “Heard an interesting rumor today.”
    “Good for you.”
    “About your ex.”
    That got Sam’s attention. “What about him?”
    “That the case against him isn’t as airtight as you thought it was.”
    She pushed her hands into her pockets to keep from punching him. “That case is airtight. I saw to it myself.”
    “Not all of it you didn’t.” On his way out the door, he said, “Have a nice day, Lieutenant.”
    Hands trembling, Sam reached for the phone