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Jerome’s father,” the woman’s voice caught, an unusual thing for a nurse in an inner-city hospital. “He’s with his wife. She...she didn’t make it.”
    “Oh no.” Alexis pulled the still-sleeping child closer into her embrace.
    The nurse left. Alexis’ tears fell onto Jerome’s tight curls. Oh, that she could protect him from this heartache. Her stomach churned with anger. How could someone cause such anguish to another human being? Why?
    Alexis gazed at the child sleeping peacefully in her arms. What would she say when he awoke? No amount of training could prepare her for this. Should she tell him about his mom or pretend everything was okay?
    Before she could solve that dilemma, Jerome’s father arrived. His eyes were swollen and red, his complexion mottled. Alexis took one look into his pain-ridden face and wished she could comfort the father as she had the child.
    “I’m so terribly sorry,” was all she could think to say.
    “Me too,” the man choked out.
    He reached for his son. Alexis surrendered the precious burden, realizing how desperately his father needed to hold him.
    “Thanks,” was all the man managed as he walked away.
    “Daddy,” Alexis heard Jerome greeting him cheerfully. “Where’s Mommy?”
    Jerome’s father buried his face in his son’s hair.
    “Don’t cry, Daddy.” Jerome patted his father’s cheeks. “We find Mommy. The doctors have her.”
    They moved from Alexis’s vision. She sank onto a chair and wept.

CHRIS PACED THE LENGTH of the short hallway. After stewing in his office for the past half hour he grew impatient waiting for Dylan. He’d compiled all the information the department had but he did better moving than staring at computer screens. He needed his partner here. Especially at a time like this.
    Checking his watch, he headed in the direction of the vending machines. They had a meeting in fifteen minutes with as many agents as the department secretary could round up. Chris wanted answers for this morning’s attack, but he doubted anyone had them.
    He sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Maybe a Dr. Pepper would soothe his frayed nerves. Besides, it couldn’t hurt to view the scenery in the office adjacent to the vending machines. The department psychiatrist was one of his favorite people at work.
    Whenever he talked to her, she blushed. Chris absolutely loved that. Most women responded to his flirtations with open brazenness. He wasn’t just flirting with Alexis, but she was so perfect he’d never attempted anything beyond conversation. She was a brilliant psychiatrist and he was a mere agent. She was also gorgeous. Her short strawberry-blonde hair highlighted an exquisite face. Large, deep brown eyes with dark lashes and full lips dominated her petite features. Those eyes seemed capable of seeing straight into his soul.
    I hope she came in today.

    “Hey, Half-pint.”
    Alexis glanced up from her computer. Chris leaned in her office doorway. Dark, good-looking, emotionally closed off. Though their conversations seldom went deeper than him teasing her about her diminutive height, she loved it when Chris dropped in.
    “Hi.” The flush crept into her cheeks. Why did she always blush when he said anything to her? She hated being so easy to read.
    “You’re all dirty.” Chris nodded toward her blood-and-soot-stained swimsuit cover-up. Moving into the office, he sank into a chair opposite her desk.
    “Yeah.” Alexis tugged at the short dress. “As soon as I heard the explosion I hurried downtown and tried to help. I came into the office a few minutes ago to see if anyone here needed me. I haven’t had a chance to go home and change yet.”
    “I hear you do a great job of helping everyone who needs it,” Chris said.
    Her eyebrows elevated. “Not that you’ve ever used my services.” She would love to get inside his head.
    “I didn’t see you at the bomb scene.”
    Alexis knew the only person he confided in was his partner, but