Page 136 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“Thank you, Jeannie.”

“No problem.”

She gestured for Captain Malone to come into the office with her. After shedding her coat, she took a seat in the chair behind the desk and made an effort to shift back into police mode after spending some time in first lady mode. That was how it would be, she thought, constantly shifting back and forth to cover whatever demand most needed her attention at any given moment. She was exhausted just thinking about it, and it was only just beginning. “What do you know about Morse?”

“I was trying to remember him when he was mentioned earlier. Haven’t seen or thought about him in years. He made detective and quit shortly after without leaving much of an impression.”

“Any objection to me reaching out to him about Calvin’s case?”

“Not on my part. I can’t imagine anyone would object. I’d be surprised if twenty people in the whole department remembered him.”

Sam glanced at the paper Jeannie had given her. “Where is area code 305?”

“Miami area.”

“You want to listen in?”

“Don’t mind if I do.”

She put the phone on speaker and dialed the number. It rang four times before a man answered, sounding out of breath.

“Is this Dan Morse?” Sam asked.

“Who wants to know?”

“Lieutenant Holland from the MPD in DC.”

After a long pause, he said, “The president’s wife?”

She rolled her eyes at Malone, who tried to hold back a laugh. “Yes.”

“Well, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?”

“I’m here with Captain Jake Malone, and your name came up as one of the officers attached to a cold case we’re taking a fresh look at.”

“Hey, Jake.”

“How goes it, Dan?” Malone asked.

“Can’t complain. Which case?”

“Calvin Worthington, teenager murdered in his Southeast driveway fifteen years ago.”

“Yeah, I remember that one. A tough case from the beginning. By all accounts, a really great kid.”

“Yes, he was, and his mother has never stopped trying to get justice for him.”

“I remember her too. You don’t forget that kind of heartache.”

“No, you don’t. What can you tell me about the investigation and how it was run by then-Detective Stahl?”

He huffed out a laugh. “That guy… I’ve read about your issues with him.”

“You mean how he wrapped me in razor wire and tried to set me on fire?”

“He’s always been a sick son of a bitch. He’s one of the reasons I left the department when I did. I saw the handwriting on the wall. He was going to be a commander before long, and I didn’t want to work for someone like him.”

“I know that feeling. But specific to the Worthington case, is there anything you can tell me about how he handled it?”