Atlanta, Sunday, February 4, 6:15 p.m.

The cameraman and Gretchen are both in serious, but stable condition,” Chase said when they’d regrouped. “The cop Bobby shot is already home and resting.”

“Thank God,” Talia said. “Poor Gretchen has been through a lot in the last week.”

“Haven’t we all?” Susannah murmured, very quiet now. Luke recognized the signs of adrenaline crash, knowing he would soon follow. But for now he was still on edge, his heart racing every time he thought about the hole in her sweater, right over her heart.

She now wore a GBI sweatshirt. Luke had entered her sweater into evidence, along with the gun she’d had in her purse. Luke knew from where it had come, just as he knew Leo would have made sure there was no way it could be traced back to him.

Luke would be indebted to Leo for the rest of his life.

“The cameraman was actually thrilled,” Ed said. “When he dropped his camera, it fell lens up. He got footage of Bobby’s face. It’s already on CNN.”

“We found Marianne Woolf’s car. Marianne was in the trunk, tied and gagged,” Luke said. “She’d been there since before this morning’s press conference. She got a call from Bobby asking to meet her and when she did, Bobby overpowered her and shoved her in the trunk. She stole her press pass first.”

“How did Bobby get a gun?” Pete asked. “Everyone went through a metal detector.”

Luke and Chase shared a look. This would not be pleasant for any of them.

“The gun came from our evidence room,” Chase said.

There was dead silence. Every expression was first disbelieving, then horrified, then furious. Then suspicious. “Checked out by whom?” Pete asked darkly.

Hank Germanio’s face hardened as Pete and Nancy threw wary glances his way. He said nothing and Luke actually felt sorry for him.

Chloe’s eyes narrowed at Chase, then Luke. “You know who it is. Tell us. Now.”

The hurt was still in Chase’s eyes. “Atlanta PD found Leigh’s body in her house, in her bathtub. She’d…” He swallowed audibly. “She’d eaten her gun.”

For several seconds no one said a word. No one breathed. What had been suspicion on their faces transformed back into disbelief, then utter shock.

“Leigh?” Talia finally asked. “Leigh Smithson?”

“Our Leigh?” Pete whispered.

Chase swallowed again. “Yes.”

“But why?” Nancy asked, her voice cracking. “Why did she do it?”

“We don’t know,” Chase said. His jaw went taut. “Yet. But we will.”

“It makes sense,” Luke said. “The witnesses or suspects who were killed before we could find them. Leigh was feeding Bobby information. Her LUDS showed she called the phone we found in Bobby’s coat.”

Talia slumped in her chair. “But how did she know what happened in here?”

“She put a listening device here, in this conference room,” Ed said.

“I’ll keep you updated on the investigation into Leigh’s motives,” Chase said. “Now, we need to focus on finding Bobby. She’s disappeared. We’re watching Ridgefield House, the bunker on the river, and the house she shared with Garth.”

“We checked her computer,” Luke said. “And her main clients. She doesn’t appear to be with any of them. We’ve checked every Davis relative and nobody’s seen her.”

“What about Granville’s thích?” Susannah asked quietly.

Chase sighed wearily. “I’m not disputing he exists, Susannah, but until we have some evidence that he’s physically done something to someone-”

“He did,” Susannah interrupted. “Monica said he was in the bunker, talking to Granville, that Granville asked him to help break her. Whether this guy laid a hand on Monica or not, he knew she was there. That’s conspiracy to commit kidnapping.”

“She’s right,” Chloe said.

Yes, she is, Luke thought, pride and respect for her swelling anew. Even with all she’d been through, her mind still worked with clockwork precision.

“Besides,” Susannah added. “Maybe that’s where Bobby’s hiding.”

Chase rubbed his temples. “You’re right. Suggestions?”

“We get Darcy’s killer to talk,” Susannah said. “He knows who he is but he’s afraid.”

“I’ll call Al Landers,” Chloe said. “We’ll work on getting through to Darcy’s killer.”

“We’ve got Bobby’s photo posted with every agency in the tristate area and with Customs in case she tries to leave the country,” Chase said.

“Which is only good if she travels under her own name,” Susannah countered.

“You’re right again,” Chase said tightly. “But until we know more, that’s all we can do. We meet again at eight in the morning.”

“Susannah,” Chloe said. “Can you give me a minute? I need to talk to you.”

Susannah remained seated as everyone filed out, as did Luke. Chloe lifted her brows and Luke shook his head, not liking the vibe. “I’m staying, Chloe.”

Chloe shrugged. When the door was closed she turned to Susannah. “Your gun.”

“My father’s,” Susannah said.

“It’s not marked or registered,” Chloe said. “Serial numbers are filed off.”

“I didn’t think to look at serial numbers. I’m sorry.”

Chloe shook her head. “Oh, please. You’re far too smart to make a mistake like that. But let’s move on. You were carrying a concealed weapon without a license.”

“She has one,” Luke protested. “In New York.”

“Not recognized here,” Chloe said. “No reciprocity exists.”

“What’s the point?” Luke asked. He’d known this was coming. Still, it made him mad.

“The point is that every reporter in that room saw Susannah shoot that woman with an unregistered gun she has no license to carry. I can’t let that slide by.”

“For God’s sake, Chloe,” Luke snapped, but Susannah put her hand on his.

“It’s all right. I knew what I was doing when I put the gun in my purse. I knew Bobby would stop at nothing. I knew I was vulnerable. I didn’t want to die. So I took one of my father’s guns and put it in my purse and shot the woman in front of a room full of cameras.” She met Chloe’s gaze. “Will you charge me?”

Chloe looked uncomfortable. “Dammit, Susannah.”

“If I hadn’t had the gun, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Susannah said, calmly. “Bobby had her gun pointed at me from inside her pocket. You know she’d already fired three shots, one that hit me. So I shot her and I’m not sorry.”

“I’m not going to charge you in the shooting,” Chloe said. “It was clearly self-defense. But, Susannah, what kind of example would I be making if I let you get away with breaking the law? What would you do if our roles were reversed? Be honest.”

“I’d have to charge you,” Susannah said.

Luke gritted his teeth. “Susannah.”

“The law is clear, Luke. Chloe doesn’t really have a choice.”

“I know.” Chloe closed her eyes. “Dammit.”

“You said that already,” Susannah said dryly. One side of her mouth lifted. “You wanna sleep on it, Counselor?”

Chloe let out a surprised chuckle, then sobered. “You could get disbarred.”

Susannah’s smile faded. “I know. But I’d rather be disbarred than interred.”

Luke thought of the bullet hole in her blouse again and had to draw a deep breath.

“I’d have done the same,” Chloe murmured. “That’s what makes this so hard.”

“Chloe, I did what I needed to do. You do what you need to do. I won’t fight you.”

“If you did I’d feel better,” Chloe grumbled.

“It’s not my job to make you feel better,” Susannah said evenly.

Chloe glared at her. “Goddamn it. Doesn’t anything rattle you?”

“Yeah,” Susannah said bitterly. “Lots of things, but one in particular comes to mind. What the hell did that reporter mean when he said Garth Davis denied raping me?”

Chloe sighed. “Tomlinson said he got an anonymous tip about the Darcy Williams murder, and that Garth Davis hadn’t raped you, and to check it with Garth himself. He did and Garth confirmed, categorically denying having assaulted you in any way.”