Page 86 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“Don’t be a jealous cow. You’d be face-first in the doughnuts if you could eat anything you wanted.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“Liar.”

“Pig.”

“Jealous cow.”

That, right there, was what she needed when everything around her was spinning out of control. She needed him, her beloved partner and the little brother of her heart, to keep things “normal” with the friendly bickering that made up their days together. She also needed a body in the morgue and threads to pull to keep things normal, and since she had both, today was looking up.

After parking at GW Hospital, she put through a call to Dr. Anderson. “We’re here.”

“Come in through the ER. I’ll meet you.”

“Be right there.”

As they got out of the car and headed for the ER entrance, Sam was thankful to have a friend on the inside who could help her navigate the privacy maze that made it difficult to get to patients.

Sam was aware of Vernon and Jimmy following her, but she ignored them and put her focus on the case at hand. The high she got from doing this job couldn’t be achieved by anything else, except maybe the high that came from loving and being loved by her husband. She needed the job the way she needed oxygen. It fed her soul to chase justice on behalf of those who needed it most.

When she walked into the busy Emergency Department waiting room, the entire place went silent as people stared at her with unbridled disbelief. As step one of her fuck-tradition campaign, she had to pretend to be unbothered by the attention. She showed her gold badge to the receptionist, who gawked right along with everyone else.

“Lieutenant Holland to see Dr. Anderson. He’s expecting me.”

“I… um…”

Before the receptionist could wet herself, Anderson came out from the back and waved at Sam and Freddie to follow him.

“I come with an entourage now,” she said, gesturing at the agents who were hot on her heels.

“Come on back.” Anderson led them to a bank of elevators at the far end of the Emergency area. “I confirmed she’s still in the ICU. Second floor.”

“Thanks, Doc. Appreciate the assist.”

“Whatever I can do to make your life easier, Lieutenant.”

“Why can’t everyone cooperate with me that way, Detective Cruz?”

“Am I required to answer that question?” Freddie asked.

Anderson cracked up laughing.

She pushed the up arrow to summon the elevator. “Don’t laugh at his impertinence. It only encourages him.”

“We should talk sometime, Detective,” Anderson said to Freddie. “I bet we could share some good stories.”

She stepped into the elevator. “He won’t be doing that because he’s very busy working for me. Thanks for paving the way for me here.”

“Always a pleasure to be of assistance, Lieutenant.”

As the doors started to close, she waggled her fingers at the good doctor.

“You ruin all my fun,” Freddie said.

“That’s my other goal in life.”

On the second floor, Sam turned to Vernon and Jimmy. “Can you please wait for us here?” she asked, gesturing to the waiting room.