Page 16 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

“ I ’m the good doctor’s favorite,” Sam said when they were on their way. “Did you hear that, Cruz?”

Freddie rolled his eyes. “Was that necessary, Dr. Trulo? The rest of us have to deal with her all day, every day.”

Trulo laughed. “My apologies, but I only speak the truth.”

Sam sent her partner a smug grin. “I’m a delight to have around.”

“Sure you are.”

“Ask Vernon and Jimmy. They agree with me.”

“I will not ask them. They’re being paid to agree with you.”

“Hey now,” Vernon said. “That ain’t in the job description.”

The tomfoolery helped to reset her emotions after her thoughts had taken a sad turn.

“How’re you holding up after the chaos yesterday?” Trulo asked.

“Hanging in there. Is it weird that I’m starting to get used to stuff like that?”

“Yes, it’s weird. You shouldn’t have to become accustomed to that level of fear.”

“No one should,” Freddie added.

Sam took a few minutes to update Dr. Trulo on the situation with Harlowe.

“Nice of him to step up for her this way.”

“He seems rather smitten.”

“Good for him, but it’s a tough situation.”

“Will she get her memory back?”

“Hard to say. Amnesia can be a post-traumatic response to a brain injury. It’s often temporary, but there’re cases in which the memories surrounding the event never return. That can be both a blessing and a curse.”

“I can see how both would apply.”

Sam took a call from Roni Connolly, her communications director at the White House. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you. How’re you doing?”

“I’m fine as long as everyone else is. That’s what matters.”

“So unbelievable. At an event for children .”

“Best time to cause maximum outrage, I suppose. What’re you hearing about Alaska?”

“Rescuers are making progress in getting to the school building. They’re holding out hope because the structure seems to have mostly held up.”

“Well, that’s some good news.”

“Indeed. I was also calling to remind you that we have the photo shoot scheduled for this Saturday with you and the kids.”

Sam had forgotten all about that and wanted to moan at the thought of spending half a day being photographed for upcoming social media use by her first lady team. “Right.”

“You’re thrilled. I can tell.”

“I am indeed thrilled.”

“Hair and makeup at nine. Lilia and I were wondering if we can take the liberty of coordinating with Marcus on your wardrobe.” He was Sam’s favorite designer.

“Yes, please do. I have no time to think about that, and with you two involved, as well as Davida and Ginger, at least I won’t look feral.” Her hair and makeup women were top-notch.

“We figured you’d say exactly that. Kendra will be there to do your nails, too.”

“Awesome.”

“Your sarcasm is duly noted.”

“Sorry, you’re just doing your job.”

“We know exactly who we work for and wouldn’t have you any other way.”

To the men in the SUV, Sam said, “Roni thinks I’m a delight, too, in case you were wondering.”

“We weren’t,” Freddie said.

Roni laughed. “Do I want to know what’s going on over there?”

“The usual nonsense mixed in with three new murders and a vicious assault. Other than that, just another day in paradise.”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“Someone’s gotta. May as well be us.”

“I won’t keep you. I’ll email you a schedule for Saturday that you can review when you have a minute.”

“I won’t remember to do it, so maybe leave a copy in the residence for me?”

“Will do.”

“Sorry to be high maintenance.”

“You’re fine. See you soon.”

“Thanks for all you do.”

“My pleasure.”

“Sure it is,” Sam said with a laugh as she closed her phone. “Photo shoot with the kids this weekend.”

“That’ll be fun,” Trulo said.

“It requires hair, makeup and nails. That’s not fun.”

“Most women would disagree,” Trulo said.

“I am not most women.”

Freddie’s snort made them all laugh. “What do you think of our rolling circus so far, Doc?”

“Most fun I’ve had all week.”

“You need to get out more,” Sam said.

“That’s true. Maybe you can take me out to play more often.”

“Any time you want, my friend.”

“I may take you up on that. Things are much more interesting out here where the action is.”

“He says that now,” Freddie said. “Wait until we encounter some real action.”

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” Vernon said so sternly they all laughed.

“I keep meaning to ask if Celia decided about renting her house,” Freddie said. “I don’t want to bug her about it, but we have to decide what we’re doing soon. Our lease is up in June.”

“Oh shit, I meant to tell you yesterday that Celia texted me that she’s in favor as long as it’s you living there.”

“Really? That’s amazing. Tell her we’ll take very good care of it. Did she say how much?”

“Whatever you’re paying now is fine with her. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you this.”

“That’s not enough, and don’t be sorry. You’ve been a little preoccupied.”

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to rent, Detective,” Trulo said.

“I don’t want to take advantage.”

“You’re not,” Sam said. “She’s glad to know someone we love will be living there and looking after the place.”

“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to tell Elin this news. She’ll be so excited.”

“I’m glad you guys are happy about it.”

“We’re thrilled.”

“We’ll do something about the ramps before you and Gonzo move over there.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“It’s time.” Sam saw Freddie exchange glances with Trulo. “I’m okay with it. Don’t worry.”

“It breaks my heart to even think about that,” Freddie said.

“Mine, too, but he’s not coming back, and we don’t need the ramps anymore. Maybe we can donate them to another family who could use them. He’d like that.”

“I’ll put out some feelers, if that would help,” Trulo said.

“It would. Thank you.”

“I’ll get back to you about it.”

“I appreciate it. Thinking about helping other families in need makes it a bit easier to take them down.”

“It’ll never be easy to take them down,” Dr. Trulo said, “but I hope that when you do, you’ll remember how you and your family made it possible for your dad to have some freedom he wouldn’t have had without them.”

“That’s true. I used to love how he’d come wheeling into our place for a visit.” She teared up. “I sure do wish he could do that now. He’d be all over the White House.”

“He’s right there with you guys.” Freddie looked a little misty, too. He’d loved Skip almost as much as Sam had. “He’d never want to miss out on that. Plus, he probably still thinks he’s the boss of you from the great beyond and needs to keep an eye on things.”

Sam accepted the tissue Dr. Trulo handed her, dabbing her eyes even as she laughed at the reminder of her father’s supervisory skills, which never waned even after his terrible injury. “No doubt. He loved being the boss of me.”

“His favorite thing,” Freddie said. “That and helping on our cases. I miss his input. He always gave us ideas we wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

“Remember how he was the one to tell us to look at Peter on the car bomb?”

“Yes! We hadn’t even thought of him yet.”

“He was the best,” Trulo said. “Everyone loved him, and we all miss him.”

“That’s nice to hear. I can’t believe it’s almost six months already.”

“The first year is rough,” Trulo said. “Especially considering the year you’re having.”

“It’s been a year and a half, and it’s only April,” Sam said.

They pulled up to Archie’s building a few minutes later. Vernon asked them to wait while he, Jimmy and other agents who’d been called to the scene did a quick sweep.

Dr. Trulo watched the activity through the window. “Interesting to watch them at work.”

“A thrill a minute, but I appreciate what they do to keep me—and my family—safe. I just hate that we need it.”

“It’s a major adjustment, but unfortunately, it’s the reality with which we live.”

“I dislike that reality.”

“I do, too.”

“I dislike that it’ll be our reality for the rest of our lives, but at least the agents are amazing people who’ve become friends.”

“There is that.”

“Vernon and Jimmy are like family after all the time we spend together.”

“I love that for you.”

“They’ve become my agents and my therapists.”

“Hey, you’re not replacing me, are you?”

“No one could replace you.”

“Phew.”

Vernon returned to the vehicle fifteen minutes after they’d arrived. “We’re clear, Lieutenant. Right this way.”

“Thank you.”

Sam, Freddie and Dr. Trulo followed Vernon inside while Jimmy trailed behind them. Several other agents were positioned outside the building.

“Is this the way it’ll be now?” she asked Vernon.

“For the time being, until we know more about the drones.”

Sam knew she was lucky they hadn’t completely sidelined her, but the added security felt like overkill to her. No one knew where she planned to be on any given day, so the possibility of being found on the job was low. At least in her mind. Who knew what they knew that she didn’t?

It was probably better that she didn’t have the details behind the Secret Service’s various actions, or she’d never sleep at night.

Archie lived on the second floor of a nicely kept modern building that suited the IT commander—in her opinion, anyway.

She knocked.

Her friend came to the door, looking tired and maybe a little stressed.

“Come in. Welcome to my humble abode.”

“We’re sorry to intrude at such a difficult time,” Sam said as they followed him into a well-lit, contemporary space while Vernon and Jimmy stayed outside the door.

“It’s okay. Harlowe knows you’re trying to help.” Archie shook Dr. Trulo’s hand. “Thanks for coming, Doc. This is above and beyond.”

“Happy to do whatever I can to help.”

“This way.” Archie led them to the living room, where Harlowe was on the sofa, covered by a blanket.

Sam noticed the bruises on Harlowe’s pretty face had darkened to a deep purple since Sam had seen her in the hospital.

Harlowe eyed them with trepidation.

“Harlowe, these are my colleagues Lieutenant Holland, Detective Cruz and Dr. Trulo.”

“Th-thank you for coming. Archie says you’re good people.”

They took seats facing her.

“He says the same about you,” Sam said. “We’re very sorry you were hurt in our city.”

“Thank you.” She folded and unfolded her hands, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with them. “I think, before this, I was happy, but I can’t really remember.”

“You were,” Archie said. “You’d made some nice friends and were enjoying your job and yoga classes.”

“I wish I could remember that.”

“I’ll bet your body would remember the yoga,” Dr. Trulo said. “When you’re feeling up to it.”

“Will the rest of my memory ever come back?”

“I can’t say for certain, but it often does when it accompanies a traumatic brain injury. I understand you suffered a concussion.”

She nodded and then winced. “My head still hurts when I move around too much.”

“That’s to be expected after a concussion. As you heal, you’re apt to remember more.”

“Is it possible that I won’t?”

“That happens sometimes, but it’s rare.”

“I’m afraid of what I might remember.”

“What’s the last thing you do remember?” Sam asked.

Harlowe thought about that. “I think I did something with my friend from yoga.” She brightened when she seemed to recall something new.

“I decided to walk home because it was the first night that wasn’t freezing.

” She paused, frowning as she seemed to struggle to come up with more.

“I don’t remember anything after that until I was in the hospital. ”

“What part of your head was hurt?” Sam asked.

Harlowe reached up to touch the back of her head. “Here.”

Sam exchanged glances with Freddie. “Do you recall where you went for dinner?”

“I… I don’t remember the name of the place.”

“Joe and Deb might know,” Archie said. “He’s my softball friend, and his wife is Harlowe’s friend from yoga. We met at a party at their house.”

“Do you mind asking them?” Sam said.

“I’ll text them.”

“Would it be possible for us to speak to Joe’s wife?” Sam asked, feeling the buzz that came with a possible breakthrough on a baffling case.

“I’ll ask them that, too.”

“Do you mind if we speak with her, Harlowe?”

“Not if it might help to get some answers about who hurt me.”

“You’ve been very helpful. Thank you for seeing us.”

“I wish I could tell you more, but I’m sort of glad I can’t remember the bad stuff.”

“I understand that.” Sam had her own bad stuff she wished she could forget. “You’re doing great, and you’re in great hands with Archie. He’s one of the good guys.”

“I already knew that, but thank you for confirming it.”

“Would you like me to stay for a bit to chat?” Dr. Trulo asked. “You’ve been through a lot. It might help to talk about it with a professional.”

“I… I think that would be nice. If you have time.”

“I’ll make time for you.”

Harlowe blinked back tears. “You’re all so kind to someone you don’t even know.”

“I know you,” Archie said. “And they’re my friends. It’s all good.”

“Can you get yourself back to HQ, Doc?”

“I’ll hop on the Metro or grab an Uber. No worries.”

“See you back at the house.”

To Sam, Archie said, “Joe said his wife, Deb, is working from home today and to feel free to come by. They want to help if they can. I’ll text you the address in Georgetown.”

“Thanks, Archie. Let us know if we can do anything to help.”

“Find the person or people who did this to her.” His expression was fiercer than she’d ever seen it. “That’s what we need.”

Sam squeezed his arm. “We’re on it.”

Archie lowered his voice so only she could hear him. “You sure you’re okay from before?”

“I’m fine. It was hot as hell in there.”

Other than a raised brow, he had no comment.

“Nothing to worry about.”

“I heard they’re filing a boatload of new charges, and Faith intends to prosecute on every one of them,” Archie said.

“Yes, that’s the scuttlebutt.”

“Good. Those families deserve retribution and their own justice for their loved ones.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

“What’re you hearing about the new USA?” Archie asked.

“Catherine McDermott, former AG of Oregon. Allegedly a by-the-book ballbuster.”

“Awesome. She has to be confirmed, right?”

“She does, but it’s expected to go through.”

“Huh.”

“Don’t ask me if there’s anything I can do about that, because I wouldn’t do it even if I could.”

“I’d never ask.”

“I know. Sorry. I’m just grumpy about his stuff touching mine.”

Archie raised both eyebrows and smiled.

“At work, I mean. Otherwise, I love when his stuff touches mine.”

He put his hands over his ears. “TMI.”

Laughing, Sam headed for the door. “Thanks for the help. We’ll keep you posted.” She stopped and turned back to him. “I hope you’re being careful with your heart in this situation, friend.”

“Trying to be.”

“How’s that going?”

“Not so well. Or, it’s going great. Depending on how you look at it.”

“She’ll remember that you stepped up for her this way.”

“I’m worried about what else she’ll remember.”

“Let me know if there’s anything at all I can do for you.”

“Thanks, Sam. Appreciate you coming by. Let me know how you make out with Deb.”

“Will do.”