Another uniformed officer walked in with Jericho following him. He saw me in the chair in the corner with a bandage on my head, and he rushed forward. “Baby.”
He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. “I thought she’d killed you.” He sobbed into my hair, and I pulled him closer, kissing his cheek.
“You threw your foot at her. How many guys can say their boyfriend did that for them?”
Jeri pulled away and dried his eyes on his shirt. “They wanted to take it into evidence, but their boss said they could just take pictures of it instead. I had to clean it up after they dusted it for fingerprints. Anyway, can we get out of here? I need to call Mom before she hears about this on the news.”
Mathers stepped closer, putting her hand on my back. “Please don’t leave town, or if you must, please tell us where you are. We’re going to have to call in the FBI, and they’ll want to talk to both of you.”
We nodded. I’d do whatever it took to see that all of those people were thrown in jail. It was the least I could do for Byron.
Chapter Twenty
Jericho
Thursday morning, Sean and I were watching television in his condo while he was monitoring the vote on the anti-puberty blocker legislation that had passed the House with a narrow margin—or so he explained to me. It was now in committee in the Senate, and if it was voted out of committee, it would be debated before a final vote before the summer break in August.
Nothing about the shooting at Potomac Place the previous day had hit the news yet. Sean said, “My neighbors are two district court judges, a bunch of lawyers, and an assistant DC prosecutor. They have the power to lock down the story for the time being to keep the lookie-loos from swarming the building in search of a scoop.” I had no doubt.
None of the residents wanted the publicity or the attention it would bring. Sean had been told not to talk to Eileen Rowe about Marvin Thompson. The FBI would reach out first.
My phone buzzed on the table next to the couch, so I picked it up, seeing it was Lawry Schatz. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“We heard what happened. We just wanted to check on you guys. Either of you get hurt?” he asked.
I figured he already knew Sean had been shot, so I filled him in. “Yeah, a bullet grazed the side of Sean’s head, but he’s okay.” I reached over and took Sean’s hand, kissing the top of it.
He was spread out on the couch with his head in my lap while he watched C-SPAN as they debated the bill he was trying to kill. He turned the closed captioning on and the sound off so I could take the call. He was truly a beautiful, considerate man.
I rested our hands on his T-shirt over his heart and stared at him as he intently watched the television. I hoped to fuck the people he was working with held up their end of things when it came to the vote.
“So, did you hear about the shit in North Carolina? Nemo is down there for the next few weeks with his family. When Heath Palmer’s mother called to tell me Heath was murdered, Itexted Nemo about it, and he drove out to Southern Pines to see what’s going on. He said that the camp was closed and has been designated a crime scene. The police are interviewing everyone who was at the camp, which takes time, but they have taken a few members into custody while they sort everything out. The FBI has been called in to take over the case.”
That was what the cops in DC had said when they came to the hospital to talk to Sean. I hoped to hell it didn’t drag out forever. If they hadn’t arrested all of the members of that fucking cult, Sean was still in danger.
“Do you think they’ll be able to tie the cases together?” God, I hoped so.
“After the Special Agent assigned to the case reads an anonymous package delivered to the local police department with all the dirt I found on the members and the multiple sources of their income streams, they’ll be able to tie it all up with a nice bow. It won’t be overnight because this fucking thing has as many tentacles as a giant octopus.”
I remembered Lawry telling me about Heath’s mother saying Heath’s cousin was missing. God, that had to be hard to know your son was murdered by a bunch of assholes and your nephew was missing. “Did they find the cousin?”
“They’re holding him as a person of interest. According to a friend of mine at the FBI, the kid said it was staged to make him look guilty. We’ll see. Anyway, are you headed back to Davidsonville?” I could hear Schatz pecking on his keyboard in the background.
Hell if I knew how to answer that question. I needed to get home, but God knew I didn’t want to leave Sean behind.
“Yes!” Sean shot up off the couch and pumped his arm in the air. I glanced at the television to see the closed captioning read that the anti-trans bill had failed in the Senate. No wonder my guy was so excited.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“Happens about what?” Schatz asked.
“Oh, uh, I was talking to Sean. Uh, keep me updated on what you find out about the Defenders. I’m worried Sean’s still in danger. I’d like to know what’s going on with the case if you feel me.”
“Sure, Jericho. I’ll be in touch.” He ended the call, and I put my phone on the table.
I glanced at Sean as he stood in front of me. “What happens now?”
“After the Fourth of July, Congress half-ass works until the beginning of August and then they break until September. Bills in committee go dormant over the summer recess, though some deals can be made over the break if it’s a priority. Mostly the members visit their districts to take the temperature of their constituents. If they’re still dead set on passing the legislation, they’ll have to take it up when the new session starts in September.”
