Page 61 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“Will you do me a favor?” Sam asked Archie.

“Anything you need.”

“Check to see if the coast is clear of Ramsey before I head downstairs?”

“Yep.”

While she waited for Archie to return to his office, she thought about how lucky she was to have friends like him and many others at work. The Stahls, Ramseys and Conklins had been the minority during her career, and she was relieved to be rid of Ramsey on the job.

“All clear,” Archie said when he returned, “but I’ll walk out with you just in case he resurfaces.”

“Normally, I’d say no need for such things, but this time I’ll just say thanks.”

“You got it.”

Archie walked her all the way downstairs to the pit, where she found her squad putting her office back to rights after the CSU investigation.

“Did you hear the news, Lieutenant?” Detective Jeannie McBride asked, smiling widely.

“I did.”

“Rumor has it that the chief is going after his pension, along with that of Stahl, Conklin and Hernandez.” They’d found out after the fact that Hernandez, the Patrol commander, had also known who was behind her father’s shooting and had kept the information to himself.

“Good,” Sam said. “None of them deserve to live fat off the city when they left the department in disgrace.”

“No, they certainly do not,” Jeannie said fiercely.

“Thank you all for doing this,” Sam said to Jeannie, as well as Detectives Green and O’Brien.

“No problem,” Green said. “We put your files back together as best we could, but you might want to flip through to make sure things are where you want them.”

“I have no doubt they’re better organized now than they were before. I sincerely appreciate this, you guys.”

“You have enough to deal with,” O’Brien said.

He’d recently joined the squad to replace Detective Will Tyrone, who’d left the department in the wake of his friend Detective Arnold’s murder. O’Brien was fitting in nicely.

“What’s the latest with the case?” Green asked.

“We’re getting nowhere fast,” Sam said. “Let’s gather in the conference room in ten to go over what we have so far.” She went into her office, which was cleaner than it had ever been, and tried to find the legendary mojo that was missing on this case.

“Knock, knock.”

Sam looked up to find Dr. Trulo in her doorway. “Come in.”

He came in and closed the door. “Heard about what happened with Ramsey tossing your office and getting himself fired.”

“I got rid of him without having to lift a finger.”

A smile teased at the corners of Trulo’s mouth. “He remains a powerful enemy, however.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that and will watch my back.”

“I’m glad you have Secret Service to help keep an eye on your back.”

“That doesn’t suck in situations such as this.”

“I came down to see if you need me to do anything for you before tonight.”