Page 62 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)
S am got the full report from Avery as he drove back to the District. “He had a huge arsenal of weapons and drones, as well as enough MREs and water to last for weeks. He’d prepared for a long siege.”
“Thank God it didn’t turn into one. How are your injured agents?”
“One of our guys was hit in the vest and has a broken rib. The other, Marshal Memphis Rose Costello, is in surgery for a gunshot wound to the thigh. She’s expected to survive, but it was touch and go for a minute there.”
“Does she work with Best?”
“Yeah, one of his deputies.”
“It’s great news that no one was killed.”
“Yeah, this could’ve turned out much worse than it did.”
“I’m so relieved it’s over.”
“Me, too,” Avery said. “Are we on the news?”
“Nonstop coverage, most of it positive toward you and your team, and a rehash of all the shit about me and my history with him and Ramsey. The department is taking another beating.”
There’d been a tearful interview with Lorraine Sweeny’s family, who expressed appreciation to the FBI for apprehending the man who’d taken their loved one from them and continued disgust over the motive for her murder.
“It’ll never make sense to us why our wife, mother and grandmother was killed in such a senseless crime,” Celeste Sweeny said. “We’re extremely disappointed that Metropolitan Police officers who should’ve been keeping us safe were instead murdering innocent people.”
The department had issued a statement praising the work of the federal agents who’d brought Offenbach and Ramsey to justice. Our department will be devoted to ensuring that these lawless men spend the rest of their lives in prison, the statement had read.
“Thank you for all you and your team did to end this thing,” Sam said to Avery. “We owe you one.”
“All in a day’s work.”
“Hardly.”
“I gotta be honest. The fucking drones freaked me out, but our team was all over it and shot them down as fast as he deployed them. I’m afraid this case will serve as a how-to manual on using drones to commit crimes.”
“They’ll become a much bigger problem after this, for sure.”
“Just what we need is more big problems.”
“Don’t think about that now. Go home and be with your family, with thanks from me and my family for getting the people who threatened us.”
“I’m sorry the trail led to people you worked with.”
“As am I, but maybe this’ll be the end of the nightmare inside our house, and we can get back to fighting criminals outside our walls.”
“I hope so, for all your sakes.”
“Talk soon, Avery.”
“Take care.”
“What a fucking relief,” Nick said when she closed her phone.
“Is the Secret Service standing down?”
“Somewhat. They’re concerned about copycats after something like this.”
That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “I need to call Archie, and then I’m all yours for date night.”
Sam’s mom was coming to spend the night and hang out with the kids while they were at the Ninth Street house.
Due to the ongoing situation with Offenbach, Scotty had been asked to sit out the sleepover at Jonah’s that weekend, with promises that the agents would make it happen when things returned to normal.
He’d been disappointed but had understood in light of current events.
Technically, he was old enough to hang at home with the twins for an evening, surrounded as they were by security, but Sam had still asked her mom to come since her nerves were raw from the last few days.
Sam made the call to Archie, hoping he’d talk to her after everything that’d happened.
“Hey,” he said after the fourth ring.
“You heard the news?”
“Yeah.”
“Fucking relief.”
“Yep.”
“How’s Harlowe?”
“Much better today. Moving around without as much pain.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. And what about you?”
“It’s gonna take me a minute to process this.”
“I’m so very sorry someone you care about was hurt because we did our jobs.”
“I am, too. It’s got me rethinking my life choices.”
“We need you on the job, Archie. There’s no one like you.”
“Sure there is. There’re plenty of people on my team who could step up.”
“I don’t want them. I want you. You’re the best of the best, and we all think so.”
“This has shaken me, Sam. That someone was watching me, and I had no idea. That someone I worked with could do what was done to her…”
Sam sighed. “I know, but take some time and talk to Dr. Trulo, and… well, talk to me, your friends, the people who care. There’re way more of us than there are of them. You know that.”
“We’d like to think so, but I’m beginning to wonder if that’s true.”
“It is. Of course it is.”
“Thanks for calling, Sam, and for all the support this week. Means a lot.”
“Call me if you need to talk. Promise.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’ll check on you tomorrow. Tell Harlowe I’m so glad to hear she’s feeling better.”
“I will.”
Sam closed her phone, feeling overwhelmed with sadness for her friend and Harlowe. What’d been done to her—and to him by extension—was outrageous. She hoped they’d be able to rise above to continue what’d begun to seem like a significant relationship for both of them.
She got a text from Freddie. Check your email. All-hands message from the chief that you’ll want to see before it’s released to the media.
Will do. Thanks for the heads-up.
She sat on the bed and opened her laptop to read the email from the chief.
To all,
Today, FBI and ATF agents as well as U.S.
Marshals arrested Dylan Offenbach with the assistance of the Virginia State Police and our MPD team.
Needless to say, I’m disgusted and disheartened by the role two now-former members of this department played in a series of unspeakable crimes, the latest in a series of unspeakable crimes committed by current and former members of this department.
The disgrace of Stahl, Conklin, Hernandez, Ramsey and Offenbach belongs to me and to all of us to a certain extent. They were on our team and were supposed to be defending the law, not breaking it. It sickens me to have worked with people capable of these crimes.
Let me be clear: The Metropolitan Police Department has zero tolerance for criminals in our midst. Anyone found to be violating the law or their oath to protect the citizens of this great city will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.
I’ve had enough of people hiding behind the badge and collecting a paycheck from the city while living as criminals.
That ends right here and now. In consultation with union leadership, we’ve reached an agreement that anyone accused of a crime—misdemeanor or felony—will be suspended without pay until the matter is adjudicated.
If you’re found guilty, you’ll be fired, and any accrued pension/benefits will be donated to charity.
I will not rest until the pensions of the above-named officers are revoked and redirected to their victims’ families.
Working here is a privilege, not a right. Please treat it as such. If you’re incapable of serving this department and this city with honor and distinction, find another line of work. You’re not wanted here.
Joseph Farnsworth
Chief of Police
Sam wanted to stand up and cheer after reading the chief’s statement. Let that be a lesson to anyone who’d dare to commit crimes while wearing the badge.
Amazing , she said in a text to Freddie.
Agreed. Well done.
Let’s hope we’ve seen the last of this shit.
Yes, please. Also, they tied Offenbach’s DNA to Harlowe’s rape kit, and the bullet taken from Jimmy was a match for others they found in his possession.
Horrifying all around. It’s hard to believe he went to these lengths to get retribution for something HE caused. Did he honestly think he wouldn’t be caught?
I think he fully expected to get away with it.
Yeah, probably. Go enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thanks for everything. Love you.
Back atcha.
She also sent a message to the chief. Your statement was perfect. Thank you for your tremendous support and leadership.
After stashing her laptop, Sam went into the closet to pick out stretchy black pants and a peach silk blouse to wear on her date with Nick and was dressed by the time he emerged from the shower.
He gave an appreciative whistle. “My date is the hottest gal in town.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so, and I’m the president.”
“I love how you trot that out when it’s convenient for you.”
“That’s the only time it’s useful to me.”
Smiling, she said, “I’m going to check on the kids while you finish getting ready.”
“I’ll be quick.”
Sam kissed him and left him to get dressed. The kids were upstairs in the conservatory, watching a movie. They’d requested pizza for dinner that would be delivered to them in half an hour.
“You look pretty, Sam,” Aubrey said when Sam sat next to them on the sofa.
“That’s left over from the photo shoot.”
“No, it isn’t. You always look pretty.”
Sam kissed the top of her head. “You’re very nice to have around, my love.”
Aubrey’s sweetness filled her heart.
“You look relieved,” Scotty said.
“ So relieved. Thank goodness that’s over, and everyone is okay.”
“Another week, another nightmare—or two—handled by my parents.”
“That about sums things up around here. We’re headed to Ninth Street. Is there anything you want from over there before we pack it up?”
“Not that I can think of. Nana said if I’ve lived without it for six months, I probably don’t need it.”
“Nana is very wise. All right, kiddos. Scotty’s in charge until Nana gets here.”
“And then I’m still in charge,” Scotty said.
Alden snickered at the muscles Scotty made.
She kissed each of them. “We’ll see you in the morning, and we love you.”
“Love you, too,” Aubrey said for all of them.
Nick came up for hugs and kisses.
“Hey, you guys,” Scotty said. “We never talked about the school thing.”
“I told you,” Sam said. “It’s handled. They wanted you in private school. We said no, you’re going to Eastern and to please make it work.”
“Best parents ever,” Scotty said, looking relieved. “I would’ve hated that.”
“You think we don’t know that, pal?” Nick asked. “We’ve got your back.”