Page 74 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

Sam had to remind herself that it would be inappropriate to laugh out loud amid Josie Ouellette’s disaster. Let me know if you’re bringing a date. Got to clear her with the SS. And BTW it’s formal.

You’re serious.

Yes, Darren, but you’re making me rethink the invite…

I accept! See you then. If not before. And if there’s anything to tell me about the woman in the van, you know where to find me.

Go away.

We’re FRIENDS now. You can’t talk to me like that.

That’s how I talk to my friends. Go. Away. I’m working.

“Sheesh,” Sam said, handing her phone to Freddie so he could read the exchange.

“Aw, you made his day, his week, his year, his life.”

“I suspect I’ll live to regret inviting him.”

“No, you won’t.”

Josie returned a few minutes later, looking noticeably paler. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“It’s a terrible shock. I thought Mark and I…” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I thought we had something special, only to find out I’m just another cliché wife who had no idea what her husband was really up to.”

The door from the garage into the kitchen opened, and Mark stood in the doorway as if he wasn’t sure he still lived there.

“Get out,” Josie said, her eyes flashing with rage now.

“Please, Josie, let’s talk about this.”

“Did you sleep with Pam?”

“Let me explain.”

“Get. Out. Now.”

Mark looked to Sam and Freddie, as if they were going to somehow help him out. They weren’t. Thankfully, he turned and walked out before they had to get involved.

“What’ll I do?” Josie asked, her eyes filling again. “I haven’t worked since before Aidan was born. How will I support myself without his income?”

“Find a lawyer to help you through this,” Sam said. “That’s the best thing you can do.”

“I didn’t kill Pam,” Josie said softly. “I’m not sad about her dying anymore, but I still feel for her kids. They don’t deserve this, and neither do mine.”

Sam put her business card on the table. “If you hear of anything that may be relevant to the case, please call me.”

“You can’t actually expect me to help you, can you?”

“I expect you to share any information relevant to a homicide investigation because you can be charged if you don’t.”

“This just gets better and better,” Josie said with a bitter laugh.

“I’m sorry to have had to do this to you,” Sam said. “Our job is to figure out who killed Pam.”

“And it doesn’t matter who gets run over in the process, right?”