Page 20 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

T hey left the apartment and took the elevator to the ground level, accompanied by Vernon. “Joe and Deb, this is Secret Service Agent Jimmy McFarland.”

“Nice to meet you,” Joe said. “I admire what you do.”

“Thank you,” Jimmy said as he held the door for them.

“Where’re we going?” Sam asked Deb.

“Power Yoga on Columbia Road Northwest, the seventeen hundred block.”

“Got it,” Vernon said.

“This is so cool,” Joe said when they were on the way.

“Vernon and Jimmy make it fun,” Sam said.

“Is it weird to need a detail?” Joe asked.

“It wasn’t something I thought I needed as a law enforcement officer myself, but I’ve learned to choose my battles. Vernon and Jimmy are great. We’ve found a nice groove, and their protection allows me to do my job without worrying about the things they’re paid to worry about.”

“Plus, we get a lot of work done while someone else does the driving,” Freddie added.

“That, too,” Sam said.

“We were sorry to hear about what happened at the egg roll,” Deb said. “That sounded terrifying.”

“It was, especially since we were briefly separated from our kids.”

“Do they know any more about who did it?” Joe asked.

“Not that I’ve heard.”

“My friends and I think it’s really cool that you’re still working now that you’re the first lady,” Deb said. “That includes Harlowe. She told me she’s a fan of yours and your husband’s. We have that in common.”

“Thank you. I love the job. I wouldn’t want to give it up.”

“I want Joe to run for president so I can be the first lady and not work,” Deb said with a grin.

“Not gonna happen,” Joe said.

“He’s no fun,” Deb said.

Sam laughed. “Trust me, it’s not as much fun as it looks.” She’d no sooner uttered the words than she feared she’d said too much. “Please don’t ever repeat that I said that. I’d never want to come off like I’m complaining about the extraordinary privilege of living at the White House.”

“No worries,” Joe said. “We’d never repeat that to anyone, and P.S., we already knew it’s not as much fun as it might seem. I can’t imagine having that kind of responsibility or scrutiny on me.”

“That’s the hard part,” Sam said.

“I’m really pulling for your husband,” Joe said. “He seems like a very decent sort of guy.”

“Thank you for that. He cares deeply about doing the right thing and isn’t more worried about reelection than he is about doing the job.”

“So he’s not going to run in the next election?”

“He says he’s not, but I guess we’ll see. Again, that’s not public info.”

“We understand,” Deb said. “We won’t repeat anything you tell us.”

“We have a rule that what happens in the SUV stays in the SUV,” Freddie told them.

“It’s a huge honor for us to meet you,” Joe said.

“Wait until you get to know her,” Freddie said.

They laughed.

“He’s not funny. That’s a rule.”

They pulled up to Power Yoga on Columbia Road about ten minutes later. As usual, Vernon asked for a minute to secure the area before they got out.

“This is the annoying part,” Sam said as she watched the swarm of agents prepare a path for her that she didn’t feel she needed, but no one had asked her.

“Better safe than sorry, I guess,” Joe said.

Of course it was, Sam wanted to say, but the delay would always be frustrating for someone who had more to do in a day than could be done in a week.

Vernon did his best to move things along, as usual, and was back to the SUV in ten minutes. “Good to go.”

“Thank you, Vernon.”

The four of them got out, zipping coats against a stiff, cool breeze.

“This is the yoga studio,” Deb said. “We walked two blocks that way to a taco place we like afterward.”

“Show me.” Sam scanned the area for cameras. To Freddie, she said, “Text Walters and see what we’ve got around here and have him start reviewing the film from last Friday night.”

While he did that, Sam, Deb and Joe walked the two blocks to the restaurant, which was painted in colorful shades of purple and red.

“We joked about working out and then ruining it with tacos and beer,” Deb said. “We made the same joke every time. Harlowe loves their chicken nachos. She said she’s addicted.”

“Where did you last see her?”

“Right here.” Deb pointed to the curb outside the restaurant. “I was picked up by an Uber. She said she was going to walk home. I told her I’d see her at class on Monday, and she said to have a great weekend.”

“Was anyone else with you, or was it just the two of you?”

“Just us. Our other two friends had plans, so they left right after class.”

“Can you show me where Harlowe’s place is from here?”

“I was never actually there. She said it was only a couple of blocks. I asked if she wanted us to drop her from the Uber, but she said she felt like walking because it was so nice out.”

“This has been really helpful. I could call a Patrol car to get you home, if you’d like.”

“No need. We’ll call an Uber.”

Sam shook hands with them and handed her card to Deb. “If you think of anything else that might be relevant, please give me a call.”

“It’s been a real thrill to meet you. I’m glad to know you’re as cool as you seem from a distance.”

“That’s nice of you to say. Take care.”

As they walked away, Sam said to Freddie, “Hear that? I’m as cool as I seem.”

“Why was I certain that’d be the first thing you’d say?”

“Just making sure you heard it.”

“What’s next?”

“You’ve got the address for Harlowe’s place?”

“I do.”

“Can you put it in your phone and get us there?”

“In fact, I can.”

“Let’s go, then.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s the plan?” Vernon asked.

“We’re going to walk to where Harlowe was staying. It’s only a few blocks from here.”

She could see the internal debate he had with himself in the expressions that briefly crossed his face.

“We’d prefer to drive you.”

“I’d prefer to walk so I don’t miss anything.”

He could insist and force her to take the ride if he chose to.

If she put up a fight, that would be reported to his supervisors and would eventually get back to Nick in the form of her refusing to cooperate with her detail.

That was the last thing he needed, so she held her breath while she waited for Vernon’s next move.

“Let me get a couple of other people to walk with us. I need two minutes.”

She could give him two minutes to keep the peace.

Jimmy stayed with them while Vernon walked away to call in reinforcements.

“I keep waiting for your head to explode,” Freddie said quietly so Jimmy wouldn’t overhear him.

“It’s on constant boil, but they’re only doing their jobs. I don’t want to take it out on them, you know?”

“I get it.”

“I’m sorry it slows you down, too.”

“I’m with you, kid. You set the pace, and I do what I’m told.”

“Right, that’s all you do, along with a significant amount of backtalk and sarcasm.”

“I learned from the master.”

Vernon’s two minutes quickly became five.

“I put up with this because Nick asked me to, but sometimes it’s hard not to lose my shit and start screaming my head off in the middle of Adams Morgan.”

He glanced toward a group of people with cell phones who’d spotted the first lady on the job. “Don’t do that unless you want to be the lead story on the news tonight.”

Sam turned her back to the phones. “It’s getting harder all the time for me to do this job.”

“It’s intense right now because of the incident with the drones. It won’t always be like this.”

“What if it’s like this from now on because of that? The Secret Service director asked for a meeting with us tomorrow. What fresh hell will that bring to my life and Nick’s?”

“Their only goal is to keep you and the kids safe. Whatever it is, keep that in mind.”

“I tell myself that a thousand times a day, but at times like this, that doesn’t make it easier.”

A loud cracking sound cut through the air.

Before Sam could begin to react, Jimmy fell on top of her.

Freddie landed next to them.

“What the hell?” Sam asked, her voice compressed by Jimmy’s weight.

Something warm and wet landed on her neck.

A gurgling noise came from above her.

Then Vernon was there with other agents. Someone was screaming, “Agent down.”

No. No. No.

Jimmy was moved off her.

Sam was hauled to her feet and hustled to the SUV by Vernon and another agent. “Jimmy…”

“We’ve got people with him. We need to get you out of here.”

“No! Not until we know if he’s okay!”

“They’ll let us know. Are you hurt?”

“I don’t think so.” She’d have bruises from landing hard on the pavement, but that didn’t count as hurt.

Vernon slammed the door shut and jumped into the driver’s seat, the other agent clambering into the passenger seat. Vernon activated the vehicle’s lights and sirens, made a U-turn and punched it to get them out of there.

“What about Freddie?”

“He’s with Jimmy and the others. He’s okay.”

“Is Jimmy… Is it bad?”

“I don’t know yet.”

He sounded as tense and as stressed as she’d ever heard him.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Home.”

“Please take me back to headquarters. I’m on the clock, and I need to finish my shift.”

“I’m under orders, Sam.”

“As am I, Vernon. Take me to HQ, or they’ll never let me out of the gilded palace again, and you know it. I’ll take any blame that comes our way.”

The young female agent in the passenger seat, Jimmy’s seat, handed her a package of wipes. “You have blood on your face.”

With shaking hands, Sam took the wipes from her and used them to remove a shocking amount of blood.

Jimmy’s wife was expecting their first child in June.

This could not be happening.

Someone had shot at her and hit Jimmy.

This would change everything.

They’d never let her work again. The thought of that made this terrifying situation that much worse. She noticed they were heading to HQ and not the White House, which was a relief.

“What’re you hearing about Jimmy?”

“He’s on his way to GW. They’re working to stabilize him.”

“Did someone call Liz?” Sam had met his adorable wife at the Easter Egg Roll. They’d been together since high school.

“That’s being handled. Don’t worry.”

Sam didn’t want to think about Liz receiving that phone call or the terror she’d experience while she waited to hear how badly her husband was injured. Or worse.

When her phone rang, she dug it out of her pocket to take the call from Gonzo.

“What the hell happened, Sam?”

“Someone shot at us in Adams Morgan. They hit Jimmy.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know yet. He’s on the way to GW. What’re you hearing?”

“Massive federal and MPD response in the area looking for the shooter.”

“We were retracing the steps of a potential fourth victim in our case. I’d like to get someone over there to help Cruz finish what we started.”

“I’ll reach out to him and head over there myself.”

“Thanks, Gonzo.”

“This’ll be a big deal here and at home.”

“I’m painfully aware.”

“I’ll be back to you shortly.”

“Thanks.”

Sam had no sooner ended that call than the BlackBerry rang with a call from Nick.

“Hey.”

“What happened?”

She tried to imagine him hearing about her being shot at in the middle of his day and how upset he must be. “We’re waiting to hear about Jimmy. He was hit.”

“Oh my God, Sam.”

“I’m okay, and I’m praying he will be, too.” Her voice wobbled ever so slightly, but he heard it. Of course he did.

“Samantha…”

The anguish she heard in that single word made her ache for him.

“I’m so sorry you were scared. I promise I’m perfectly okay, other than being shaken up and desperately worried about Jimmy. His first child is due in June… He has to be okay.”

“I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.”

“That would help. Thank you.”

“Thanks for not getting shot today.”

“I do what I can for my person.”

“I love you more than life itself.”

“I love you more.”

“Not possible.”

“I already won that fight.” Sam brushed away tears that suddenly appeared as the close call came into sharper focus. “Please don’t let this be another battle about what I’m going to be allowed to do until we know more about what happened.”

“I hear you, babe, but I’m sure there’ll be some conversations.”

Those conversations were the last thing Sam wanted to have, but she’d suffer through them to keep doing her job. “It’s been tough out here since Monday. Extra everything slowing me down.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Hopefully, it’s temporary. I’ve got to run to a meeting. I’ll see you soon?”

“I’ll try to be home for dinner.”

“See you then, and stay safe. My whole life depends on you.”

“Likewise.”

She wiped away more tears as she dropped the BlackBerry into her coat pocket. “Pull it together,” she whispered. The last thing she needed was for people at HQ to see that she’d been crying.

Another huge distraction in a long line of them was also the last thing she needed. The approach to HQ was lined with TV news trucks, and as they pulled into the parking lot at HQ, Sam noticed a larger-than-ever gaggle of reporters gathered outside the main doors.

Vernon drove around the building to the morgue entrance.

“Any word, Vernon?” She was almost afraid to ask.

“Just now. The bullet went through his arm, connected with his vest and fractured a rib, which then collapsed a lung. But the vest saved his life. He’s awake and alert but in a lot of pain. He’s expected to survive.”

The flood of relief made her dizzy for a second. “Thank God.”

Vernon came to open the back door for her. “Yes, indeed.”

For a long moment, the two of them stared at each other in a shared communion over the near catastrophe.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“If you are and Jimmy is, I am, too.”

He was clearly shaken, though, which was to be expected.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m going to catch hell for it, but I’ll remind them we have a deal with you and an obligation to honor it.”

She reached out to him.

He took her hand.

“I hope you know how much I’ve come to care for you and Jimmy.”

“We know, and the feeling is mutual. I’m sorry this happened today.”

“It’s sure as hell not your fault.”

“I still feel responsible.”

“Don’t take that on. A wise man once told me we can only control our own actions and how we react to the actions of others.”

“He was a wise man, indeed.”

As she got out of the vehicle, Sam would give anything for one of that wise man’s bear hugs and the reassurance that’d always come with them.