Page 53 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

N ot wanting to miss whatever was about to happen, Sam went into the conference room to watch the ongoing coverage of the explosive news story that had two MPD officers threatening the lives of their colleague, the first lady, and her husband, the president.

Though she always hated when she was the story, she sure as hell hadn’t started this one.

Her team gathered behind Gonzo, who stepped up to the podium. Even Carlucci and Dominguez were there when they should’ve been at home sleeping.

“I’m Detective Sergeant Tommy Gonzales, second-in-command to Lieutenant Holland in the MPD Homicide division, and the people behind me make up our squad.

Sam Holland is my boss and one of my best friends in this world.

Everyone who reports to her would say the same thing about her being a friend, a mentor and a role model to all of us.

We meet people on the worst day of their lives, when they’ve lost someone they love to murder.

No one works harder to get justice for the victims and their families than Sam Holland.

“She’s tireless, dogged, aggressive and often downright obnoxious if that’s what’s needed to get the job done.

She’s everything you’d want on the case if someone you loved was murdered.

To the rest of the world, she’s the first lady of the United States, but if you were to ask us or anyone else close to her, we’d tell you that she’s a detective first and foremost. This is not just what she does.

It’s who she is, and we consider ourselves blessed to work for someone who cares as much as she does about a job that most people—including the two cowards who posted that video—could never do.

“When my partner was murdered on the job, Sam Holland was there for me through every second of the nightmare that followed, right up to and including the conviction of the man who took Detective Arnold from us. She supported me through my dependence on pain meds and never gave up on me, even when most bosses would have. I’m here today, clean, sober and living my best life in large part because of her love and support.

When any of us needs help or support, she’s our first call because she’s always there for us—on and off the job.

“My colleagues and I are proud members of the Metropolitan Police Department, which is made up of more than four thousand men and women, human beings who make mistakes just like everyone else. A very small percentage of them are criminals hiding behind the badge. It’d be a terrible mistake to indict the hardworking members of this department or our leadership due to the sins of the few.

No one wants them out of this place more than we do.

And we’ll work around the clock to support our federal colleagues in apprehending Dylan Offenbach and making sure he and Jim Ramsey spend the rest of their sorry lives in prison. Thank you.”

Sam was mopping up tears as the news anchors returned to comment on Gonzo’s statement.

“An enthusiastic endorsement from Holland’s closest colleagues and further proof that Ramsey and Offenbach certainly don’t speak for everyone inside MPD headquarters. We’ll stay on this breaking news story with updates as they develop in the manhunt for Dylan Offenbach.”

Sam went out to greet her team as they returned to the pit, giving each of them a hug as they came in. “Thank you.”

“No, Lieutenant,” Charles said vehemently, “thank you , for everything you are and everything you do. And while you’ll say I’m sucking up again, I’ll risk it to tell you it’s an honor and a privilege to work under your command.”

“Thank you, Neveah. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with all of you, too. Now, let’s get back to it and help the Feds find this guy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said together.

Sam went back into her office and sat behind the desk, putting her head back against the chair as she tried to catch her breath.

When she’d first seen that video, she’d feared her tenure at the MPD was over.

Her colleagues and Lenore had said otherwise.

She was filled with gratitude for the show of support, but she wouldn’t rest easy until the man who’d conspired with Ramsey to threaten her—and Nick—was behind bars.

Sitting with Harlowe on the sofa, Archie watched the ongoing coverage of the manhunt for Offenbach and the endless replay of the video released by him and Ramsey.

“I need to notify them that you recognized Offenbach,” he said after they watched Gonzo’s impassioned statement in support of Sam.

“Won’t the DNA take care of that for us?”

“It will, but you’ll still have to testify.”

“Okay.”

He squeezed the hand he was holding. “Your courage amazes me.”

“I don’t want to be a victim, and I refuse to allow him to ruin the nicest thing that’s ever happened to me. So let’s call Erica and do our part to put this guy where he belongs so we can get on with much more important things.”

“Such as?” Archie smiled even though he was still full of turmoil since realizing her relationship with him had led to her abduction. And the reason she’d been less than forthcoming with him was due to the problems she’d had with her ex-husband and not because of any great secrets she was keeping.

She crooked her finger to bring him closer and took his breath away when she placed her hand on his face and leaned in to press her lips to his. “This, for one thing,” she whispered. “Lots and lots of this.”

Archie wanted to weep from the sweet pleasure of kissing her for the first time since the attack, for the way she ran her lips over his and how they curled up at the corners in a smile that reached her eyes.

That she wasn’t blaming him or banishing him, that she forgave him for bringing evil into her life, would go down as one of the greatest gifts he’d ever received.

“Easy, sweetheart,” he whispered. “You’re still recovering.”

“I feel great right now, stronger than I have since it happened, and you know what I want?”

He tucked a strand of silky auburn hair behind her ear. “What’s that?”

“I want to lie with you in bed and have you hold me the way you would if I wasn’t injured.”

“You’re not ready for me to hold you that way.”

“Yes, I am, and it’s what I want. And need.” She looked away before seeming to force herself to bring her gaze back to him. “I want to reclaim myself. Does that make sense?”

“It does, but we need to go slowly so you don’t suffer any setbacks.” He was as concerned about her mental health as he was about the physical.

“I’m fine with slowly. Will you hold me, Archie?”

He got up and extended a hand to help her. “With pleasure.”

She winced as she straightened and walked slowly with him to his room, proving his point that she was a long way from recovered.

When she was seated on the bed, he took out his phone and composed a text to Erica, letting her know that Harlowe recognized Dylan Offenbach as the man who attacked her.

She’s willing to make a statement or whatever you need, but maybe we could do that tomorrow?

It’s been a lot for both of us to realize a, it was him, and b, it was tied to my work.

Erica responded right away. This is good to know, and I’ll pass it on to the others here as well as the FBI. Yes, let’s talk tomorrow about a statement of what she recalls. Her parents are settled at the Willard and asked that she get in touch if she’d like to see them.

Thanks, Erica.

He showed the texts to Harlowe.

“Okay, good. Now, enough of that. I don’t want to think about it until I have to.”

Archie helped her get comfortable in his bed.

Harlowe is in my bed! He needed to enjoy this moment and let go of the distress that had gripped him for hours. If she didn’t want to think about it, then he shouldn’t either.

When she was settled, he went around to the other side and stretched out next to her.

“Come closer, and don’t be afraid to touch me. I won’t break.”

Archie slid across the bed and snuggled up to her, putting his arm around her waist, below the worst of the bruising. “Is this okay?”

“You could be closer.”

He moved the last few inches toward her, pressed his body to hers and smiled when she sighed.

“That’s better. You’re so warm. Like a furnace.”

“I’m always like that—never cold even in the middle of winter. My friends make fun of me for wearing shorts in January.”

“That works out well, because I’m always freezing.”

“I’ll keep you warm.”

She pressed her cold feet to his leg, startling him. Then she laughed, warming him from the inside. He’d wondered for a time if she’d ever laugh again.

“You weren’t kidding.”

“Nope.” To make her point, she moved carefully onto her side and put a freezing hand under his T-shirt.

“Do I need to turn up the heat?”

“Nah, I just need you to warm me up.”

He gazed into her pretty brown eyes. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere for as long as you want me to keep you warm.”

“That’s apt to be a long time.”

“That works for me.”

Sam was reading the message from Erica Lucas about Harlowe recognizing Offenbach when Gonzo and Freddie came into her office and closed the door.

“What’re we supposed to be doing now that the FBI has taken over our homicide investigations?” Gonzo asked.

“We can support their efforts by digging into Offenbach. Archie’s girlfriend has identified him as the man who kidnapped and assaulted her. I want to know everything there is to know about what he’s about here and outside of work. Let’s do our usual drill with socials, financials, interviews, etc.”

Cruz nodded. “That’s a good idea. I’m sure the Feds are on that, too, but we may find something they don’t due to our proximity to his colleagues.”

“Exactly. In fact, I fully expect you guys will find something they don’t. Let’s get everyone on that, and while we’re at it, look at Ramsey, too. No detail is too small in either case. I want the full rundown of what they’ve been up to while pretending to be law enforcement officers.”

“On it,” Gonzo said, seeming energized to have a new direction.

While he returned to the pit, Cruz hung back. “Are you okay?”

“Yep. How are you?”

“I’m pissed and sick of the crap around here. Like we don’t have enough to deal with outside this place that we have to be fending off this bullshit, too.”

She appreciated that he was swearing on her behalf. “You’re right. It’s ridiculous and should be the least of our concerns. But that’s not the world we live in, unfortunately.”

“I’m not a fan.”

“Nor am I,” she said, smiling. “The best thing we can do to get through this is to keep our heads down and do the job to the best of our ability. That’s how we win.”

He exhaled a deep breath. “You’re right, as usual.”

“Duh.”

“Had to say that, didn’t you?”

“Gotta keep it real around here. I don’t want you going soft on me.”

He glared at her the way she’d known he would. “It’s actually a relief to me that you’re busting my balls. I’ll really worry if that stops.”

“That’ll never stop. It’s one of my purest sources of daily joy.”

“Glad to be of service to you.”

“Work the case, Freddie. It’ll make you feel better to help the cause.”

“Will do. Let me know if you need anything.”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

Before he could leave the office, Malone was in the doorway. “The chief likes the idea of having your colleagues continue to make statements of support for you and the work you do here.”

“I’ll go first,” Freddie said.

“It’s somewhat mortifying to me that it’s come to this,” Sam said.

“We can’t leave the public with the idea that people in here want you out,” Malone said, “because it’s simply not true. So let’s hear from the people.”

“As you wish, Captain.”

Malone blinked, seemingly stunned by her easy capitulation. “Do you have a fever, Holland?”

She laughed. “Nothing quite so dramatic, but if you guys want to do this, I won’t try to stop you.”

“We want to do it, and the statement from Gonzo was a great start. If they think they’re going to ruin you on their way to life sentences, then they’re sadly mistaken.”

“Thank you for the support. I’ve gone from despair to elation in the scope of a few hours, thanks to all of you.”

“We’ve got you the same way you’d have us.” Malone’s phone chimed with a text. “Hot damn, in light of the video and Ramsey being taken into custody, the judge has granted our warrant for his phone. I’ll get Walters right on it and keep you posted.”

“Great news. I can’t wait to see what’s on there.”

“Me, too.”

He took off to see to getting the phone to IT while Sam took a call from Nick.

“Hi there.”

“I wanted to check on you again. I saw Gonzo’s statement and Leonore’s. I wish I could be there with you.”

“I do, too, but I’m better after the massive show of support.”

“Are you leaving on time today?”

“I believe so since our case has been mostly taken over by the Feds.”

“Usually, you hate when that happens.”

“This time, I’m all for it.”

“In other news, one of my meetings today was my gun task force, and we’re prepared to roll out our first major initiative—a reporting mechanism for people concerned about family members who might pose a risk.

We’re approaching it from a mental health standpoint rather than law enforcement.

At first, anyway. The goal is to develop regional mental health task forces that would be deployed to investigate concerning situations. ”

“I love that so much. Send in help rather than cops.”

“That’s the thought, and your Dr. Trulo was instrumental in helping us craft the plan.”

“He’s the best.”

“I’m a big fan after working with him on this.”

“He told me he’s found an organization to take the ramps from Ninth Street.”

“How’re you feeling about the ramps coming down?”

“It’s time, and my dad would want them going to someone who needs them. It’ll be weird to see the street without them, though.”

“Yeah, it will.”

“Speaking of Ninth, we need to go over there to move our stuff to the third floor.”

“We can make a date night out of it.”

“Gee, doesn’t that sound fun?”

“Haha, but it needs to be done, so why not make it fun?”

“Why not, indeed? Let’s do it this weekend, so Christina and Gonzo can start to move their stuff.”

“I’ll set it up with Brant for Saturday night. Woo-hoo, big night out with my best girl.”

“Doesn’t take much to excite you.”

“Getting out of here—with you—excites me.”

Jeannie McBride came to the office door and pretended to knock.

Sam waved her in. “Me, too. I’ve got to run. I’ll be home soon.”

“Can’t wait. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”