Fatal Series 01 - Fatal Affair

problem.”
    Laine shook Sam’s hand. “Thank you for coming today.”
    “The service was lovely,” Sam said.
    “Yes,” Laine agreed. “I thought so, too.”
    “Any developments?” Graham asked.
    “A few,” Sam said. “I’m heading into work shortly, and I hope to know more by the end of the day. I’ll keep you informed.”
    “We’d appreciate that,” Graham said. “Nick, look me up in half an hour or so, would you?”
    “Sure.” With his arm around Sam, Nick steered them through the crowd toward one of the bars in the corner. “I know you have issues with them, so thank you for that…just now.”
    “This isn’t the time or the place.”
    “Do you plan to do anything about them lying to you?”
    “What would be the point? If they had told me the truth, it would’ve saved me some time. I don’t have anything to gain by going after them.” She glanced over at the O’Connors who were greeting the senior senator from Virginia and his wife. “In fact, I kind of pity them.”
    “Because of John?”
    “That, too, but also for what they’ve missed out on with Thomas. And for what?”
    “I wonder if they regret what they did,” Nick said as he accepted coffee for himself and a soda for her.
    “They will if we can prove Thomas’s mother murdered John.”
    Nick shook his head. “What a tangled web.”
    “It amazes me that people think they’re going to get away with trying to hide a baby. A secret like that is a time bomb looking for a place to detonate.”
    “True. I see it all the time in politics. The stuff people try to keep hidden usually blows up in their faces during a campaign.”
    Sam took a measuring look around the room. “I wonder where the cops who are supposed to be protecting the O’Connors are. I don’t see anyone.”
    “Could be undercover.”
    “If there was a cop in this room, I’d know it.”
    Lucien Haverfield, the O’Connor family’s attorney, approached them.
    “There you are, Nick. I’ve been looking for you.”
    “Lucien.” Nick shook hands with the distinguished older man and introduced him to Sam. “Nice to see you.”
    “Fine job you did today at the funeral.”
    “Thank you.”
    “The will is being read tomorrow at two at the O’Connor home. I need you to be there.”
    “Why’s that?” Nick asked, surprised.
    “You’re a beneficiary.”
    “But he left me money,” Nick stammered. “Insurance money, and a lot of it.”
    “Can you be there at two?” Lucien asked, clearly not willing to shed any light in advance of the reading.
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Great.” Lucien patted Nick’s shoulder. “I’ll see you then.”
    “Wonder what that’s all about,” Nick said to Sam.
    “I guess you’ll find out tomorrow.”
    “Yeah.” He noticed Graham signaling to him and led Sam over to a table where Graham sat with the Virginia Democrats.
    “We’d like to have a word with you upstairs, if you can spare us a few minutes, Nick,” said Judson Knott, chairman of the party.
    “Sure,” Nick said with a perplexed glance at Sam.
    “I’ll, um, just wait for you here,” she said.
    “You’re welcome to join us,” Graham said. “This involves you, too.”
    Sam looked at Nick, who shrugged. “Okay,” she said.
    They followed the other men to the elevator and then to the Abraham Lincoln Suite. Nick took a moment to check out the incredible blue and gold suite, thinking he’d like to bring Sam there sometime when they could be alone. He accepted a short glass of bourbon from Judson. Sam declined a drink. Richard Manning, the party’s vice chairman, had also joined them. “What’s this all about, gentlemen?”
    They gestured for Nick and Sam to have a seat at the dining room table.
    “We have a proposition for you, Nick,” Judson said.
    Nick glanced at Graham and then at Sam. “What’s that?”
    “We’d like you to finish out John’s term,” Graham said.
    Nick almost choked on the bourbon. “What? Me? ”
    Under the table, Sam grasped his arm.
    “Yes, you,” Judson said.
    “But you have any number of people better suited. What about Cooper?”
    “His wife was recently diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. He’ll be announcing his resignation from the legislature the day after tomorrow.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” Nick said sincerely. “How about Main?”
    “He’s been carrying on with his son’s first grade teacher for years, and his wife filed for divorce yesterday. It’ll be hitting the papers any