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Joel huffed out a breath. “So this is a client thing? Something one of your clients did?”
Sam sighed in relief once again. “Yes.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour. Are they treating you okay?”
“My face hurts because one of the detectives took me down in my own living room, but I’m otherwise unharmed.”
“Which detectives?”
“McKittrick and Constantine.”
“Fucking hell. They should know better. Is McKittrick there?”
Sam eyed the detective, who was studying him with what he hoped was a tad less animosity. “She is.”
“Let me talk to her.”
Sam handed the detective his phone. “Joel wants to talk to you.”
Warily she took it, lifting it to her ear. “Hey, Joel.” She listened for about a minute, then rolled her eyes. “Come on in, then. Hopefully your friend will tell us something useful.” She listened some more, rolled her eyes again, then handed the phone back to Sam. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Don’t talk to anyone until I get there,” Joel instructed. “I’m calling a defense attorney as soon as I hang up. Do you need medical attention for your face?”
“Ice would be nice.”
“They’ll get it for you. We’ll get this cleared up, Sam. Don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Joel. Sorry I ruined your night.”
“You can make it up to me with some of your dad’s lasagna.”
Sam laughed softly. “Deal.” He ended the call, locked his phone, then handed it back to the detective. “Thank you.”
Rising, she shook her head. “Don’t thank me yet. Just because a prosecutor says you’re a good guy doesn’t let you off any hooks. I’ll get you some ice for your face.”
He didn’t say another word as she left the room. She was back quickly, some ice in a plastic baggie.
He took it with a nod of thanks. Pressing it to his face, he waited with her in tense silence. She looked as tired as he felt.
After a few minutes, she covered another yawn. “Did you need to take care of your dog?” she asked.
“Depends on how long I’m here. What time is it?”
“Nearly six.”
“My dog walker waits tables in a bar. Puts herself through college that way. Saturday is her day to sleep in, so I won’t bother her yet. If I’m still here by eight, I’ll call her. She won’t be happy that I woke her up, but she loves Siggy, so she’ll do it.”
“She’ll have to be escorted by an officer. She can’t just let herself into your apartment. I stationed a uniform outside your door to guard the place after CSU was finished processing the scene.”
He stared at her, stunned once more.
A uniform was stationed outside his front door. The neighbors would be waking up soon. They’d see. They’d talk. They’d wonder if he was all right and once they saw that he was, they’d wonder what he’d done. They’d speculate, and word would spread, likely to his clients. It was going to be awful.
It had been one thing to be dragged out in handcuffs when everyone was asleep or out partying. No one had seen them coming down the elevator. But now...
“I was trying to do the right thing and still protect my career,” he said quietly. “Now I’ll be the subject of gossip and my career will be tarnished.”
Something changed in her expression, a flicker of emotion in her eyes. “What was the right thing that you were trying to do?”
