Free Fatal Consequences by Marie Force

to call Malone. “What do you know about Peter?”
    The question was greeted with silence, which sent her heart into a wild gallop. “Tell me. Right now.”
    Under normal circumstances, she’d never speak so forcefully to her superior officer. But anything having to do with Peter tossed all the usual rules out the window.
    “His attorney has requested a suppression hearing to determine whether the evidence gathered from his apartment is fruit of the poisonous tree.”
    The term turned her blood to ice. If the bomb-making evidence Freddie, Gonzo and Arnold had found in Peter’s apartment had been gathered improperly, their entire case against him would be in jeopardy.
    “We have his print on one of the bombs,” Sam reminded Malone. “The one he strapped to Nick’s car. The one that didn’t detonate.”
    “It’s a partial print, Sam. Not enough to hang the case on. We need the stuff from his apartment.”
    The very idea of Peter being set free after he’d tried to murder her and Nick made her sick.
    “Don’t panic yet,” Malone said. “His attorney still has to convince the judge.”
    “What’s the lawyer basing the challenge on?”
    “That they kicked in Peter’s door without any evidence linking him to the bombing other than your suspicion.”
    “But he did it!”
    “We all know he did it, Sam. It’s just the timeline of how we confirmed it that’s under examination. They should’ve waited for the warrant before they busted into the apartment.”
    “They had reason to believe that he had bomb-making materials in there! Were they supposed to wait until he blew up the entire building before they acted?”
    “They were running on adrenaline and emotion after you were nearly killed.”
    Sam sank into her desk chair. “He can not be released. He just can’t be.”
    “We’ll fight it. Try not to worry.”
    “You’re worried. I can hear it in your voice.”
    “The chain of events concerns me. It has all along.”
    Sam released a low moan. “Oh, God . Oh my God.”
    “We have media out front clamoring for information about Lightfeather. Do you want me to handle them?”
    “No,” Sam said, pulling herself together. “I’ll do it.”
    “We’re doing everything we can to keep him where he belongs, Sam.”
    “I’m counting on that. Keep me posted?”
    “I will.”
    She hung up the phone and tried to breathe through the pain circulating in her gut. Since Nick’s doctor friend Harry had ordered her to give up soda, her stomach troubles had been dramatically better. Hearing that Peter might be released from prison, however, brought the pain back in fierce waves. Sam forced herself to breathe—in through the nose, out through the mouth. Repeat.
    A few minutes later, she stood up on shaking legs and reached for her coat. She had a job to do, and not even the threat of her malicious ex-husband being released from jail could keep her from doing what needed to be done on Regina’s behalf. The dead woman’s family was counting on Sam for answers, and she would get them what they needed no matter what might be happening in her own life.
    Fueled by determination to do what needed to be done, Sam headed for the lobby.
    Chief Farnsworth flagged her down before she could head outside. “Lieutenant.” His warm gray eyes studied her with concern.
    “Chief.”
    “You’ve heard the news about Gibson.”
    “Lieutenant Stahl took great pleasure in cueing me in.”
    “Sorry. I was on my way to talk to you about it when I got waylaid. Are you all right?”
    She nodded. “I’m working the de Castro case. Doing what I do.”
    “We’re making use of all available resources to keep Gibson where he belongs.”
    “I’m counting on that. Well, the press is looking to take a piece out of me, and you know how I hate to keep them waiting.”
    The chief laughed. “Allow me to have your back,” he said, gesturing for the door.
    As always, Sam was grateful for his unwavering support.
    The instant they stepped