Page 8 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

Doris chuckled. “We did some partying in our time, but we’re long past that now. Give us a quiet night at home these days.”

She seemed to sober all of a sudden when she realized she’d never again have a quiet night at home with her sister.

Celeste handed her aunt a tissue.

A tall man with gray hair and broad shoulders appeared in the doorway. His expression conveyed devastation and exhaustion. “I heard the first lady was paying a visit. My Lorraine would never forgive me if I didn’t properly welcome you to our home.”

“This is my dad, Walter Sweeny,” Celeste said.

Sam stood to shake his hand. “We’re so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“This is my partner, Detective Cruz.”

Freddie also stood to shake his hand.

Walter took a seat in one of the chairs. “It’s still hard to believe, you know? Who would want to hurt Lorraine? She never did anything to anyone. All she ever did was try to help people—at work and in her off time, too.”

“Often, these things never make sense,” Sam said. “Celeste was saying that Lorraine took the weekend shifts so the younger nurses could have those nights off.”

“She liked those shifts,” Walter said. “Things were quieter. The residents didn’t have as many guests that time of day, and she could get her work done quicker.

She said she got quality time with the residents that she wouldn’t have during the week, when the pace was much different.

Plus, like Celeste said, it gave the younger nurses those nights off.

” He paused before he added, “She was going to retire at the end of June. We were planning to travel. See some things. Not sure what I’ll do now. ”

“I’ll go with you, Daddy. We’ll see all the things.”

“Thank you, sweetheart, but you have your own life to tend to. You don’t need to be babysitting me.”

“I want to be with you.”

“We’ll talk about it once we catch our breath.”

“Was Lorraine having trouble with anyone?” Sam asked, even though she suspected she already knew the answer.

“No,” Walter said emphatically. “She avoided trouble like the plague. She had a brother who was in all kinds of trouble back in the day. He died in prison.”

“Our baby brother, Raymond,” Doris said sadly. “He broke our hearts over and over again before he passed six years ago.”

“Lorraine used to say she used up her lifetime’s share of heartache and drama with that boy,” Walter said. “As a result, she went out of her way to stay away from strife in all corners of her life.”

“Do you have other children?” Freddie asked.

“We have two sons who live out of state,” Walter said. “They flew in yesterday and are staying nearby. Our other daughter lives nearby and went home for a bit to take care of her kids.”

Sam made a note that there were three additional adult children.

“We have two other people who were killed over the weekend in similar attacks and possibly a third related victim, who survived,” Sam said.

“We’re in the earliest stages of our investigation, but it’s very possible that these were random attacks on people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. ”

“Why would anyone do something like that?” Celeste asked.

“If we had an answer to that question, we’d be out of business, which would be fine with us.”

“How do you do this work day in and day out?” Doris asked. “How do you sit with the heartbreak of devastated loved ones?”

Sam glanced at Freddie. “Someone has to, and I guess we see it as why not us. Does that make sense?”

“Not at all,” Doris said with a small smile. “But we’re grateful to those of you who work to keep us safe.”

“I’m sorry we weren’t able to keep your Lorraine safe.”

“Y’all can’t be everywhere,” Walter said. “Lorraine wouldn’t want you to feel bad about something you had nothing to do with. She’d say that’s a pointless waste of energy.”

Celeste smiled. “Yes, she would.”

Sam put her business card on the coffee table. “If you think of anything that might be relevant, a dustup with a delivery driver, an argument with the mailman… Whatever. Call me.”

Doris picked up the card and studied it. “You’ve got your phone number right there. Can you give it out like that?”

“It’s how I do my job.”

“Do people call you because of your other job?”

“No one has yet, but if you wanted to, you could do that any time.”

“Aw, go on, I wouldn’t do that.”

“You could, if you needed to. Also, when you’re ready, there’s a grief group at MPD headquarters for victims of violent crime that you may find helpful. When the time is right.”

“I read about that,” Walter said. “Never imagined I might need it.”

“Call me when you’re ready. I’ll give you the info.”

Freddie took down their names and phone numbers, and then they stood to leave.

The family walked them to the door.

“Thank you for your kindness and sensitivity,” Celeste said. “In the midst of the darkness, it’s been a treat to meet you.”

“I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances. I’ll keep you posted on any developments.”

“Thank you,” Walter said. “For all you do.”

“I wish I could say it was a pleasure, but…”

When he gave her a small smile, that felt like a victory of sorts.

Vernon led them to the SUV, where Jimmy held the door for her.

Once they were inside the vehicle and on the way to Adams Morgan to see the Andrews family, Vernon glanced at Sam in the mirror. “That was exceptionally well done, Sam.”

“What was?”

“I don’t get to see that part of what you do very often, as we tend to wait outside, but how you handled that family… It was a master class in kindness, grace and compassion.”

“Oh, jeez, you’re going to make me cry.”

“Just calling it like I see it.”

“You’re very good with the victims’ families,” Freddie said. “Always.”

“Aw, does this mean you’re not pissed with me anymore for telling tales out of school?”

“Nah, I’m still pissed at you for flapping your fat mouth.”

“The insubordination around here! Are you guys taking note of this for when I write him up?”

“Please,” Freddie said disdainfully. “Who does all the writing for you?”

“My grasshopper is out of control today.” Sam sent Freddie an admiring smile. He was definitely coming along nicely, cruising toward ruination at her hands.

Despite the frivolity, her heart ached with sorrow for Lorraine’s family as they began the long journey through grief and all the things that came with being victims of violent crime.

Law enforcement interactions they never asked for, a trial or trials, sentencing, appeals… That’s if they caught the person who killed Lorraine. When the police were unsuccessful in apprehending a suspect, victims’ families had to live with the question of why for the rest of their lives.

Answering the question posed by that three-letter word was what motivated Sam and her team to work so hard to get answers for their victims’ families, so at the very least they’d know who’d taken their loved one from them.

Sometimes, however, even with an arrest, they never got closure on the question of why.

“Are there any developments in the drone investigation?” Sam asked Vernon.

“Nothing new that I’ve heard yet.”

“Let me know if you do.”

“I will if I can.”

As Sam pursued the why for her victims and their families, she hoped they’d eventually find out why armed drones were sent toward the White House with the purpose of inflicting mass carnage.