Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

She dropped the laser, closed her eyes and let her head rest against the wall. After several seconds, she heard the soft flutter of wings, then hesitant footsteps.

Gabriel, she knew, without looking. She could smell his aftershave, a warm, woody scent that tingled through her nostrils. She could somehow feel him in her mind, a wall of heat she could see but not yet touch.

His arms went around her, pulling her into the warmth of his embrace. She bit her lip, then buried her face against his shoulder and let the tears flow.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘SUSPENDED until further notice’?” Sam stared at the captain, a weird sense of déjà vu running through her. Though it was an entirely different office in which the two of them now sat, the events seemed to be rolling out just the same.

He sighed heavily. “It means that, until further notice, you’re suspended from active service with the State Police.”

“Did some form of evidence come to light when I was in the hospital?”

“No. You’re cleared of all charges relating to the death of Detective Jack Kazdan.”

The clone’s rapidly disintegrating body, and the subsequent discovery of the massive doses of growth accelerant in his body, had corroborated her statement that it wasn’t the real Jack she’d shot that first time. And Gabriel had testified that when she’d shot him the second time, it was in self-defense.

Granted, she shouldn’t have killed him the second time, either, if only because they might have been able to coerce information about Sethanon out of him. But, as Gabriel had pointed out, if she hadn’t shot him, he would have been forced to, if only to save her life. Besides, if this Sethanon was the force of evil everyone was saying, would he leave a general alive to shoot his mouth off? Unlikely.

“Then why am I being suspended?”

The captain rubbed his forehead wearily. “Look, I’m just the middleman around here. I do what I’m told. And right now, my orders are to get your skinny ass down to the SIU.”

She blinked in surprise. “The SIU? What the hell do they want to see me for?” Gabriel had promised no more tests. Surely he wouldn’t go back on his word …

But then, Gabriel didn’t run the SIU. Byrne did. Stephan had arranged a smooth takeover for Hanrahan’s successor, and the transition had gone as planned. As Byrne, Stephan still ran the SIU, and his alter ego still ran the Federation.

“Maybe they want to give you a commendation for your help in rescuing the PM.”

The captain’s dry tone told her it was highly unlikely. “Come on, Cap, you must have heard something.”

He smiled, brown eyes amused. “As I said, I’m just a middleman. Go. The SIU do not like to be kept waiting.”

“Yeah, so you said the last time.” She rose, knowing she would get nothing more from him. “See you around, Cap.”

“I doubt it,” he said, and went back to his paperwork.

Dismissed yet again. She walked out of his office and past the office she and Jack had shared, not even bothering to stop. There was nothing left for her in there. Nothing more than memories she no longer trusted.

She pressed the elevator button and impatiently tapped her foot. After several seconds the door opened. She swiped her pass through it and pressed the button for the SIU. The doors closed, and the elevator whisked her downward.

Gabriel was waiting in the foyer. He’d come to visit her in the hospital, but she hadn’t seen him since she’d gotten out, just over a week ago.

“What the hell is going on?” she said.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

He made little effort to conceal his annoyance, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I thought assistant directors were told what was going on.”

“Not this one—not on this occasion, anyway.”

He led her down a long corridor and past several well-secured entrances. The furniture became plush and rich in color, contrasting oddly against the harsh white walls. They were in the director’s suite, she realized.

Gabriel approached a desk and stopped. The blonde behind it looked up and smiled. “Assistant Director Stern, the director is expecting you. Please, go on in.”

He glanced at Sam. There was wariness in his gaze, tension in the set of his shoulders. He obviously knew his twin was up to something, but he wasn’t sure what.

“Ladies first,” he said, ushering her through the open doorway.

“Gee, thanks,” she muttered, feeling like a lamb about to enter the hungry lion’s den.