And just that simply, it was settled.
Sam glanced at Nick, who placed his free hand over his heart.
* * *
Baby Maisie’s big day was a delightful celebration of a new life and the Hill family, made complete by their little girl.
“Everything was beautiful as always, Tink,” Sam said when she sat next to Shelby on the sofa in the family room of the Hills’ stunning new home after everyone else had left. They’d moved to a much larger home with enhanced security after their townhouse had been breached by criminals seeking retribution against Avery, who’d arrested them years prior. For a time, pregnant Shelby and Noah had been held hostage.
Maisie was asleep in her godmother’s arms, and the twins were playing on the floor with Noah while Nick and Scotty watched the Feds game on TV. “And your place is absolutely gorgeous. You went easy on the pink.”
“Avery says I’m growing up,” Shelby said with a grin.
“Don’t do that. Who’ll I be immature with?”
“Oh, I’m still here for that. Don’t worry.”
“This baby is the sweetest thing since spun sugar,” Sam said, gazing down at Maisie’s perfect little face.
“We’re quite smitten with her.”
“I can see why.”
Avery joined them after having taken a work call. “Jesse Best’s mother has been arrested for trafficking her daughter to a family that had no idea their adoption fee went to a criminal who’d kidnapped and sold her own kid.”
“Good Lord,” Shelby said. “What kind of mother could do such a thing?”
“The kind that cares only about her next fix,” Avery said.
“Jesse looked for his parents for years,” Sam said. “How did the FBI find them so quickly?”
“Apparently, the info they got from the people who raised the sister led them to the mother, who was living under an assumed name,” Avery said.
“Poor Jesse—and poor Jordan,” Sam said. “He went through such a terrible ordeal. Thank goodness he finally found his sister—and all thanks to an idea from my brilliant partner, who suggested he tell his story on some of the bigger true crime podcasts.”
“So that’s how he found her?” Avery asked.
“He’d had an age-progression photo created of what she might look like, which the podcasts publicized to their massive followings. That led to the tip.”
“Wow,” Shelby said. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for your friend.”
“Me, too,” Sam said as another thought occurred to her that she would discuss with Jesse as soon as possible. “Would it be okay if I just stayed here on this very comfy sofa for a week or so?”
Shelby giggled. “My sofa is all yours for as long as you need it.”
“I’m dreading this week with four funerals to attend. I can’t stop thinking about them. They were just doing their jobs when they were taken from their loved ones for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with them.”
“It’s an unimaginable tragedy,” Shelby said.
“What’s the plan for the Russian Embassy?” Avery asked Nick.
“I’ve made it clear to Petrov that if they want to maintain a diplomatic presence here, he needs to express his condolences. Trying the bombers here will go a long way toward appeasing the public. And speaking of work, I need to get home for a briefing at six.”
“But I was planning to spend the week on this sofa with my goddaughter,” Sam said.
Nick waggled his brows. “I’d miss you if you did that, especially after being away for days and days.”
“All right, then,” Sam said dramatically. “I guess I’ll go home with my family, but thank you, Hills, for a beautiful afternoon.”
