Page 79 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“Thank you.” She could tell she’d taken the agents by surprise by thanking them. That wouldn’t do. When they were on the sidewalk and out of the earshot of the others, she said, “Listen, I know I’m a total pain in the ass, which some would say is part of my charm. But as a fellow law enforcement officer, I want you to know I respect the role you guys play in keeping me and my family safe. I’ll do my best to cooperate with you going forward.”

“And we’ll do our best to let you do your job without interference,” Vernon said. “We respect the fact that you’re staying on the job when you certainly don’t need to.”

“I do, though. It’s in my blood, you know?”

“I get it,” Vernon said. “My father and grandfather were federal agents.”

“That’s really cool. Thanks for telling me that. Well, I guess I’d better get to it.”

Chapter Sixteen

Sam got into the black BMW that used to belong to Nick. He’d made it so she could live for days inside that car if it ever came to that, which was probably the only reason the Secret Service was allowing her to drive herself without objection. When she’d cleared the checkpoint, she put through a call to Brendan Sullivan.

He answered on the third ring. “Is this the first lady or Lieutenant Holland?”

“Both, I guess.”

“Congratulations. I think?”

Sam laughed. “Still not quite sure. I’m sorry to bother you on a Sunday morning, but a parolee landed in the morgue last night, and I’m looking for some info.”

“Name?”

“Eduardo Carter.”

His deep sigh came through loud and clear. “Why am I not surprised? He’s been in and out of trouble for years.”

“Can you tell me where he lived? We went by his parents’ home last night and didn’t get very far with the father.”

“The parents washed their hands of him after he beat up his mother. They stuck with him a lot longer than I would have. He put them through hell.” She heard rustling in the background. “Let me log in to my work computer to find an address for him.”

“Shoot it to my email, along with any known associates and a rundown on what I need to know about him?”

“Will do.”

“Thanks, Brendan.”

“You got it. Best of luck to you and your husband.”

“Thanks. We appreciate the good wishes.” She flipped the phone closed and headed for HQ. On the way, she put through a call to Dr. Anderson, a friend at GW Hospital.

“Are you seriously calling me, or is this a butt dial?”

“My butt’s not that talented.”

“Don’t you have a new job?”

“Nope. I still have the same old lousy one, and that’s why I’m calling.”

“You’re really still doing your job?”

“I really am.”

“Wow. I wondered what you were going to do.”

“Now you know. I’m looking for info about Shanice Williams, who was brought in by EMS last night. She had a stab wound to the neck. I need to speak to her this morning and was hoping you could help me get around the privacy stuff and tell me where I might find her.”

“Hang on.”