Breath of Malice by Karen Fenech

section of Kirk County. Sam had spoken with the couple briefly at a Christmas fund raiser for Kirk County General Hospital that he’d attended in his official capacity for the Bureau. Hugh Lambert was a wealthy industrialist and a strong supporter of the hospital, and Janet Glaxton Lambert had chaired the event. Her brother was a state senator.
    “Senator Glaxton received notification of his sister’s death a short while ago,” the director continued. “It is being regarded as a suspicious death pending further investigation, and the senator has requested that we take over the investigation. Call me with an update, Agent McKade, when you’re on scene.”
    Sam finished with the tape and picked up his phone. “Will do.”
    He ended the call, then dialed Kirk County Police Chief Harmon.
    The chief answered with a harsh “Harmon.”
    In the background, Sam heard shouts and bits of conversation. Someone started a vehicle. Sounded like Harmon was at the crime scene. “Pete, Sam McKade.”
    “I figured I’d be hearing from you once I found out the identity of our dead woman,” Harmon said.
    Sam didn’t address that. It was always a sore point with Harmon when the Bureau became involved in what he considered local business. “Has the body been moved?”
    “No. We got here ourselves just a short while ago. You found out about this fast. Nobody wasted time bringing you in.”
    Pete’s tone sounded defensive. Sam ignored that, too. It fell to him to smooth any ruffled feathers. Some local authorities resented what he’d heard called “the Bureau’s high-handed tactics.” Sam hated when he was forced into the role of diplomat and had zero patience for it. His tone more clipped than it should have been, he said, “Our people will be there to relieve you shortly.”
    “Anything else for now?”
    Sam would get a full report once he was on scene, but for the moment all he needed to know was where in the park the body had been found. After Harmon provided the information, Sam went still. Janet Lambert’s body had been found on one of the trails. Countless people frequented those trails, but all Sam could think was that Paige had been on them. Logic told him she was a trained agent and could have protected herself if attacked. But logic had nothing to do with the fear that grabbed him by the throat thinking of her at risk.
    “Sam?”
    Sam brought himself back from that edge. “Yeah. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    Sam ended the call, then phoned the Columbia office to dispatch a crime scene team to Kirk County Park and agents to relieve Harmon’s officers. Next he called Harry to round up Dom, Mike, and Riley to meet at the park. On his way out of the room, as he passed the bench press and barbells, he made a fourth call, this time to Ginny.
    “Sam?”
    He heard alarm in Ginny’s voice and said quickly, “Jonah’s all right. I’m calling because I need to bring him to you. I’m going to work.”
    “Okay.” Ginny’s voice became strained as it always did whenever he mentioned his job. “I’ll meet you at the back door.”
    Sam showered quickly, then grabbed fresh jeans, a T-shirt, and his phone to call Paige. Again, he thought of her as he’d last seen her. He rubbed a hand down his face, then called her.
    “Hello?”
    She sounded as wide awake as he was. “Paige, it’s Sam.” He could all but feel her stiffen across the airwaves. She was closed up tight. Again, he felt at a loss about how to reach her, but he had to put that aside for now. That wasn’t why he’d called her. “We’ve been called in to investigate a suspicious death in Kirk County Park. I’ll tell you what I know when I see you. I can be at your place in twenty minutes.”
    There was a pause, then she said, “I’ll be waiting.”
    He made his way to Jonah’s room. Sam called his son’s name softly and placed a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder, but Jonah didn’t stir. In Sam’s experience, once Jonah was asleep, he