Page 22 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)
“That’s the question of the day,” Sam said.
“I was working in Adams Morgan, accompanied by my partner, Detective Cruz, and my Secret Service agents. While we were standing on the sidewalk on Columbia Road in Northwest, a bullet struck one of the agents. Thankfully, his injuries aren’t life-threatening, and he’s expected to make a full recovery.
” She paused to contend with a powerful wave of emotion.
“I’ll let the Secret Service take care of updating you on the agent’s condition.
I’ll just add that he’s a dedicated public servant whose first thought, upon being shot, was to protect me, leaving himself open to further gunfire.
I’m deeply grateful to all the Secret Service agents and staff who work so hard each day to keep my family safe. ”
“What do you know about the shooter?”
“Nothing yet,” Sam said. “A manhunt is underway involving federal agents working in concert with the MPD. The FBI will update you as more information becomes available.” Hesitantly, she added, “I’ll take a few more questions.”
“Is it safe for you to continue working as a police officer?”
The question hit her right in the chest. She knew it was the subject of conversations taking place without her at this very moment.
“As you know, I love this job with my whole heart. I give it everything I have every day that I spend working on behalf of the District, its citizens and the millions of annual visitors. Is the job more difficult now that my husband is the president? Absolutely. But it’s also more rewarding, as it gives me a chance to continue to serve the city where I grew up and have lived my entire life while he serves the rest of the country.
We take every precaution and will continue to do so going forward.
“What happened today shouldn’t be taken as any kind of indictment of my ability to do the job or the abilities of the agents who work tirelessly to protect me while I’m working.
That said, if you’ve covered me for any length of time, you know how much I despise being the story.
Today’s events are deeply upsetting. You can’t spend eight or more hours a day with people without getting to know them and coming to care about them.
” She gripped the sides of the podium as she fought through overwhelming emotion.
“I’m extremely thankful the injured agent will be okay. ”
“Have you spoken to the president since the shooting?”
“I have.”
“Is there any thought that the shooting could be related to the drone attack?”
“That’s a question for federal authorities.”
“What do you think, though?”
“I honestly don’t know. No one knew where I’d be today, even me until I was there, so there was no way this could’ve been some sort of planned attack. That’s all I have for now. We’ll update you as more information becomes available.”
“Will you resign, Lieutenant?” a reporter called after she’d stepped away from the podium.
She turned back to say, “No plans for that. Have a good day.”
“You did great,” Jeannie said when they were back inside. “It was good to put a bit of a personal spin on it.”
“I hate when the personal becomes professional.”
“In this case, there’s no avoiding it,” Malone said. “You handled it as well as you could. The headlines will say ‘First Lady Refuses to Quit MPD After Nearly Being Gunned Down.’”
“Awesome,” Sam said with a grimace.
“Go home and see your family, Lieutenant,” the chief said. “They’ll be upset.”
Judging by the way her phone vibrated nonstop in her pocket, everyone she knew was upset and checking on her.
“I will, sir. Thank you for the support out there.”
“You got it.”
She returned to the pit, where her day-shift detectives were turning things over to the night shift.
Dominguez, petite and dark-haired, came over to Sam and stopped short of hugging her.
“I’m okay.”
Carlucci, who was tall and blonde, squeezed Sam’s shoulder. “That’s a fucking relief. Scared the shit out of us, LT.”
“Sorry about that. If you guys are good to go, I’m getting out of here. I need to touch the grass at home.”
“Go on ahead,” Carlucci said. “We’ll call you if there’re any updates to report.”
“Thank you all,” she said to include the others. “See you in the morning.”
Before leaving her office, she picked up the file Jesse Best had left and tucked it under her arm.
As she walked with Vernon to the morgue exit a few minutes later, she said, “I’d like to see Jimmy. Can we swing by there on the way home?”
“Probably not without causing a circus.”
She stopped short of the exit door and turned to face Vernon, who looked exhausted and stressed. “I’d really like to see him—and Liz. He saved my life today. Is there a way to sneak me in?”
“That might take some time to coordinate.”
“Could I go home while that happens?”
“Sure, we can do that.”
“I’m sorry to ask you to stay later after such a rough day.”
“No worries. I want to see him, too.”
“How are you doing?”
He seemed surprised she’d ask that.
“I know how horrible it feels to have my partner get shot on the job,” Sam said.
“I… I feel responsible for him, you know?”
“I do know, but he wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.”
“Hard not to. What was I thinking, walking away from you guys?”
“You were doing your job, even if that doesn’t make you feel any better in a case like this.”
“No, it doesn’t. I’m also in for a grilling with my brass about how this could’ve happened.”
“It happened in an instant, as these things do, which I’ll attest to, and so will Freddie.”
“I appreciate the support.”
“Of course.”
“They may take us off your detail.”
“That’ll happen over my dead body.”
“Jeez, don’t say that to a Secret Service agent. That’s our greatest nightmare.”
Sam wouldn’t have expected to laugh just then, but it exploded out of her chest and had Vernon chuckling, too.
“Don’t make me laugh.” He attempted a stern expression. “That’s not one bit funny.”
“We specialize in gallows humor around here.” She gestured to the morgue. “Look at where we are.”
He smiled wearily. “Let’s get you home, and I’ll see what I can do about a visit to the hospital.”
“Thank you for everything, Vernon.”
“You’re welcome, Sam.”
He spoke into the microphone attached to his earpiece. “Are we clear?” After a pause, he said, “Let’s go.”
When he pushed opened the door to outside, Sam was stunned to see a swarm of agents waiting for them.
As he held the back door of the SUV for her, Sam said, “What the hell?”
“Common response to an incident in the field.”
After he closed the door, Sam sat back against the seat, processing the impact of being part of an “incident in the field.” A sense of weariness overtook her as it became clear she was in for yet another fight to continue doing the job she loved.