Page 15 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

“Can you give me the name of the place where she was staying? I’d like to get some of her things.”

“Let me do that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, no problem. I’ll go over there today and explain the situation to the management. They may want to talk to her to confirm I have permission to enter her room.”

“I’m sure that’d be fine.”

While he talked to Erica, Harlowe ate her breakfast and drank her coffee but was clearly tuned in to the conversation. She nodded in approval about Erica going to her hotel room.

“Did Sam tell you she’s looking into a connection between her three new vics and Harlowe’s case?”

“She did.”

“Okay, just making sure you’re in the loop. I’ll get over to the hotel now and bring her a bag shortly.”

“Thanks, Erica.”

“Yes,” Harlowe said. “Thank you so much, Erica.”

“Happy to help. See you soon.”

Archie ended the call and got up to refill their coffee cups. “Does Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ring any bells?”

Her brows furrowed as she thought about it. “I mean… Yes, of course, but the details are hazy. I remember going to school and some of my friends, but that was a long time ago. The more recent stuff isn’t there.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to remember right now. How do you feel about your parents coming to see you?”

Her eyes filled. “For some reason, I don’t like that they’re coming. What’s wrong with me? They’re my parents.”

“You took a hard knock to the head and suffered significant trauma. Losing your memory can be your brain’s way of protecting you.”

“From what?”

“From what happened to you.”

“I don’t understand any of this.”

He had questions of his own. When he’d tried to find her online, he’d found no mention of a Harlowe St. John affiliated with any of the major national food companies. There’d been no social media profiles or any information at all that he could tie to the woman he’d come to know.

Which made him wonder if she’d told him the truth about herself when they first met. He hadn’t wanted to ask Erica what name her parents had given while Harlowe was listening, but the first chance he got, he’d ask her that.

He hoped he got the chance to speak to her parents so he could put together more pieces of the puzzle.

While they waited for Erica to arrive, Archie texted Sam. Harlowe is okay with you coming by, but she said again that she doesn’t remember anything beyond what she’s already reported.

If you don’t mind, I’d still like to talk to her.

We’re here. Lucas has been in touch with her parents, and they’re en route from Pittsburgh. She’s going to Harlowe’s hotel to get some of her things.

Glad to hear there’s progress in figuring out who she is and where she’s from.

Do you think Dr. Trulo might be willing/able to talk to her?

I’m sure he’d be glad to. I’ll see if he’s available, and we’ll be there shortly.

Archie replied with a thumbs-up emoji. “My friends, Sam and Freddie, are going to stop by to talk to you, possibly with our department psychiatrist, Dr. Trulo, who’s a wonderful guy. Fun fact: Not only is Sam the lieutenant of our Homicide division, but she’s also the first lady.”

“Samantha Cappuano.”

He turned to her, surprised. “You remember her name.”

Harlowe nodded. “I don’t know why I do, but I remember her and her handsome husband, the president.

I remember you telling me you work with her.

” She looked happy and worried at the same time.

“Does that mean my memory is returning? How do I remember that, but I don’t recall why I feel weird about my parents or any other recent things? ”

“The brain is a very complicated machine. It’s hard to say why you remember that but not the rest.”

“It’s very strange to not remember your life.”

“I’m sure it is, but what’s important right now is that you rest and relax and give yourself time to recover.”

“It’s hard to do anything else but wonder where my memories have gone.”

“I know, honey, but the harder you try to force it, the longer it might take to get back to normal.”

“What will normal look like after this?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out one day at a time.”

Her brows furrowed again. “That saying. One day at a time. Where does that come from?”

“I’m not sure of the original origin, but it’s a recurring theme with Alcoholics Anonymous.”

“That’s it. I knew someone who was in that group. I can’t remember who.”

He took her plate to the sink. “Your memories are there, and they’ll come back when you’re ready for them.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I can’t know for certain, but I hope so, even if I wish I could protect you from memories that’ll hurt you.”

She gave him a curious look. “Why do you feel so protective of me?”

“I don’t know. I just do.”

“You said we hadn’t known each other long when I went missing.”

“That’s right.”

“And yet, you feel protective.”

He shrugged. “We had a pretty immediate connection. I was looking forward to getting to know you better, and then you were gone. I thought maybe you’d decided you weren’t into me after all, but I really didn’t think that was the case. I’d just gone to my friend Sam?—”

“The first lady?”

“Yes. I asked for her help in finding you. I wasn’t sure if you were missing or what was going on. She told me Erica had a Jane Doe, which is what we call a crime victim without ID who can’t remember her name. She took me to GW to find you.”

“I’m sorry you were worried. That I put you through that.”

“I’m just glad you were found alive, even if I wish none of this had ever happened to you.”

“You’re very kind.” After a pause, she added shyly, “And very handsome, which I’m sure you know.”

Archie felt his face flush with heat. Dear God, was she making him blush ? What the hell was that about? “Oh, um, thank you.”

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“You didn’t. Not much, anyway.”

She smiled, and his heart did a weird skipping thing that left him a little breathless.

“All I could think about after the first night we met was how pretty, funny, smart and sweet you were, and I couldn’t wait to see you again.”

Before she could reply to that, his phone rang with an out-of-state number he didn’t recognize. “Lieutenant Archelotta.”

“We… we were told to call you to speak to our daughter,” a man said. “This is George Prior, Harlowe’s father. Is she… Could I speak to her?”

“Hold on for one minute, please.” He held the phone to the side while he updated her. “It’s your father. Would you like to speak to him?”

“I… I think so. Thank you.”

Archie handed her the phone.

“Hello? Yes, it’s me, Harlowe.”

He listened to her tell her father that she was doing a little better and that her friend Archie had taken good care of her since she left the hospital. Then her mom got on the phone, and Harlowe seemed to shut down a bit at the sound of her voice.

“I don’t know what happened. I can’t remember much of anything.” After a long pause, she said, “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

She ended the call and looked at him with big eyes full of tears. “I recognized their voices, but why do I feel so hesitant about seeing them?”

A twinge of apprehension had Archie wondering if the people on the phone were really her parents or perhaps the ones who’d hurt her. “If there’s a reason to be afraid of them, you’ll have two cops in the room when you see them.”

“That makes me feel a little better.”

“We’ll take care of you. Don’t worry.” He helped her up and got her settled on the sofa with a blanket over her. “Do you want the TV?”

“No, thanks.”

“I’m going to clean up the kitchen. Let me know if you need anything.”

He returned to the kitchen and grabbed his phone to text Erica. She feels apprehensive about seeing her parents but can’t say why. I’m not letting anyone near her unless they can prove they’re related.

Understood. I’ll work on getting some proof.

Thanks, Erica.

He knew he didn’t have to tell Erica or Sam that Harlowe needed to be handled gently. They were the best at what they did, and he trusted them implicitly. But if he had his way, no one would be anywhere near her until he knew what the hell had happened to her.

Sam went to find Dr. Trulo, who was eating lunch while listening to something in a foreign language. She knocked on the door. “Sorry to interrupt.”

He pressed pause on his computer, seeming a bit embarrassed. “I’m trying to learn Italian before our trip next year.”

“That’s cool. How’s it going?”

“I suck at it, but I’m soldiering on.”

“Why do some people pick up other languages easily, and others can’t for the life of them?”

“One of the great mysteries.”

“Spanish nearly killed me in high school and college. I really wanted to learn it, but it wasn’t happening.”

“That sounds like me with Italian.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t come by to talk about things we suck at.”

Sam laughed. “Nope, but whatever you’re eating smells incredible. If you made that, you don’t suck at cooking.”

“I can’t take the credit. My lovely wife made eggplant parm over the weekend. To die for.”

“It’s making me hungry, and I don’t even like eggplant.”

“She’ll send some in for you to try. I bet you’ll like eggplant after you have hers.”

“I’ll take that challenge. When you’re done, can you come with me to see a potential witness who’s been through a rough ordeal?” Sam filled him in on the situation with Harlowe as well as Archie’s involvement. “There’s a slight possibility her case could be related to my three new homicides.”

“Sure, I can do that. Give me ten minutes?”

“You got it. I’ll meet you at the morgue exit.”

“See you there.”

Sam returned to the pit to grab her jacket and a portable radio to take with her. “Cruz, let’s roll.”

“Where you headed?” Gonzo asked.

“To see a possible fourth victim who survived but doesn’t remember anything.”

“Got it.”

To Gonzo and the others, she said, “Keep me posted on any developments.”

“Will do.”

Sam started to walk away but turned back to her sergeant. “I’m hoping to get over to Ninth Street later this week to do a few things to make it ready for new occupants.”

“Thanks, Sam. We can’t wait to move in.”

“No sense having it sit empty for the next few years.”

“It’s a huge upgrade for us. We really appreciate it.”

“Glad to make it happen.” Sam had another thought as she walked toward the morgue exit with Freddie—it was probably time to remove the ramp Nick had installed outside their home so her dad could visit in his wheelchair.

The thought of removing that ramp and everything it stood for—especially how Nick had made their home accessible to her dad—hit her in all the feels.

She thought about the day she’d come home to find their front steps in rubble.

Suspecting someone had detonated a bomb, she’d called in the bomb squad.

That was when she’d found out that Nick had hired their contractor neighbor to build the ramp.

Funny, endearing and mortifying all at the same time.

Those memories hit her hard.

Taking down that ramp, and the one at her dad’s house, would be further proof that he was truly gone forever.

Not that she needed more proof of his gaping absence.

She felt that loss every single day. Sam wondered how Angela could cope with the double whammy of losing their dad and then her husband a few months later, while expecting her third child.

How could she bear it? Sam asked herself that all the time, but somehow, Angela was powering through, taking care of her children and preparing to welcome a new baby.

Later, Sam would ask Nick to reach out to the Ninth Street neighbor who’d built the ramp at their house about taking down both ramps in anticipation of new tenants.

“Everything okay?” Freddie asked as they approached the morgue, where Dr. Trulo waited for them.

“Yeah.”

“I’m excited to ride in a Secret Service vehicle,” Dr. Trulo said, grinning.

“It’s nonstop excitement.” Outside, she introduced him to Jimmy. “He’s pumped for his first Secret Service adventure.”

“We’ll try not to make it memorable,” Vernon said.

Sam laughed. “Their job is to make it boring and routine.”

“I understand and approve,” Trulo said. “We want to keep our favorite lieutenant safe at all times.”

She told Vernon where they were going and why.

“Any chance that the people who took her know where she is?” Vernon asked.

“Archie would’ve been careful about that.”

“We’ll need to do a full sweep before you go in.”

“Okay,” she said, resigned to this taking way longer than it would have before Nick became president.