CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Hammer turned on his phone as he left the Director. But once he realized he had several missed calls from Mick of all people, his movements increased. The call wasn't from Charles. It wasn't from Amelia. But from Mick. Who hated calling him. He phoned Mick as he walked away. His call went to Voice Mail.

But by the time he made it halfway out of the maze that was the Justice Department, his phone rang again. It was Mick again. He answered quickly. "This is Reese."

"Where the hell are you, Hammer?" Mick's voice was loud and accusatory.

"I'm on my way to Delaware."

"Delaware? They arrested Millie. Did you know that? She's in a Baltimore jail and your ass going to Delaware? And how the hell could they have found that body, Hammer? How the hell could your cleanup crew allow this to go sideways this fast? And why the fuck weren't you with her? She wouldn't have been arrested had you been there!"

Hammer felt guilty enough. But did Mick know the bait and switch that was going on? "What do you know?"

"I don't know anything. Charles doesn't either. We get a call from Security that she was carted off to jail and charged with murder."

"Did they say whose murder?" Hammer was out of Justice and had made his way to the waiting limousine that had transported him there. Ozzie, seated on the passenger seat, had gotten out and opened the back door for his boss. "To the airport," Hammer ordered as he tossed his cigarette and smashed it beneath his five-thousand-dollar shoe, and hopped in. Ozzie hopped back in and their driver took off.

"Did they identify the victim?"

"What are you talking?" asked an obviously puzzled Mick. "We know who the victim is."

"Do we?"

Charles came on the line. "What are you saying, Hammer? It's Reiner. They're saying she murdered Darby Reiner. But our question is how could they have found that body this fast?"

"Did Millie ever mention a Stanley Kucinich?"

"The senator?" asked Charles.

"Yes."

"She mentioned him, yes. She said his soon-to-be ex-wife is her client. She wanted Millie's private eye agency to do some surveillance on him to show he was having some sordid affair with Baltimore prostitutes or some such people. She confronted him and threated to expose him and shoot off his balls, apparently, if he didn't give the wife everything she wants in their divorce."

Hammer shook his head. Amelia was the truth! And that was what worried him. She was so extra it wasn't even amazing to him anymore.

"But that was all there was to it, according to Millie," said Charles. "But why? Why are you asking about Kucinich and not Reiner?"

Hammer exhaled. He was still digesting the news too. "Because she's been accused of murdering Kucinich. Not Reiner."

"Wait what?" asked Charles. "A different senator?"

"What kind of bullshit is this?" asked Mick. "What your ass talking about?"

Hammer wasn't about to get into it with Mick. "Where are you?"

"We just got the call. We're on my plane. We just left Philly on our way to Baltimore. We've been trying to reach your ass, but your phone kept going to Voice Mail."

"I was in a briefing. I had it off. But she's not being held in Baltimore. Apparently the crime alleged was committed in Clayview, Delaware. Divert your plane to Clayview. I'm on my way too."

Hammer could hear Charles immediately notifying the pilot. "You don't know anything more than what you're telling us?" asked Mick.

"Nothing more," said Hammer. "This shit walloped me too. We need to beef up security everywhere."

"I already have," Mick replied. "Ted and Nikki's got our people on lockdown and I notified the Gabrinis. And that was before I knew about this news you just laid on me. A second senator? I didn't see that one coming."

"Neither did I," Hammer admitted.

"Where's Hannibal?"

"With Trevor. I'm calling Trev as soon as I hang up with you. He'll make sure JoJo's on lockdown too." Then Hammer exhaled. "I didn't see this coming at all, Mick," he added. "And that's scaring the shit out of me."

"Me too," Mick admitted. "Just get there. We're going to do what we can, but this is a law enforcement issue now. Your ass got to do more." Then Mick ended the call.

Hammer leaned his head back. It was obvious to him that Mick was ready to take his head off for not being there when the arrest occurred. But he needn't bother. Hammer was beating his own ass up.

When the call ended, Ozzie turned around and was looking at him. He was as stunned as the boss. When Hammer looked back at him, Ozzie shook his head. "Did I hear that right? Did I hear you say it's not Reiner?"

Hammer still couldn't get over that news himself. "You heard me right," he said.

"Damn, Boss. What the fuck is going on?"

Hammer was clueless. Something he rarely ever was. But he had no idea what was happening. And he was angry that it was Mille, and not him, that was taking the fall.

"Get an agent to meet us at the airport. I'm going to need that cover."

"And?"

"And get the governor of Delaware on the phone," Hammer added.