Page 171 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“It’s going to take time for people to come around to her in this role, but they will.” At least Sam hoped so.

“You ready for this?” Freddie asked.

“As ready as I’m ever going to be.”

They returned to the main hall and watched with pride as the mayor swore in their beloved friend as the District’s new deputy chief of police. Jeannie’s beaming husband pinned the bars on her shoulders and then hugged her tightly, whispering something to her that made her laugh through tears.

A rousing round of applause greeted the new deputy chief, who stood before the podium, seeming shocked and amazed by the turn of events that had brought her to this moment.

“One year ago today,” she said when the applause finally died down, “we lost a wonderful friend and colleague. Would you please join me in a moment of silence for Detective AJ Arnold?”

Sam bowed her head and said a silent prayer for Arnold, her dad, his first partner, Steven Coyne, and all the officers who’d been lost on the job.

“We know our friend Arnold is telling corny jokes in heaven and making everyone he encounters happier just by being in his presence,” Jeannie said. “Over the last year, we’ve learned that life goes on even in times of tremendous grief and sorrow. We also lost our beloved Skip Holland, who once held the title that now belongs to me. I’ll strive every day to make him proud in my service to the department as your new deputy chief. Mayor Brewster, I thank you for the confidence and faith you’ve placed in me, and I vow to do everything in my power to be worthy of this tremendous honor. Chief Farnsworth, Captain Malone, Lieutenant Holland, Sergeant Gonzales, Detectives Cruz, Green, O’Brien, Carlucci and Dominguez, as well as my former partner, Detective Tyrone, I thank each of you for your unwavering support and encouragement. My years in the Homicide squad have been some of the best and most challenging of my life, and I give special thanks to our fearless leader, Lieutenant Holland, for her leadership and dedication to the men and women who work for her. There’s no way I’d be standing up here without her friendship and guidance.”

Again, Sam found herself holding back tears as Jeannie looked directly at her. She nodded and blew her friend a kiss.

“To my mother, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and my late dad, who’s always with us, I thank you for a lifetime of love and support. And to my darling husband, Michael, who makes everything possible, I love you forever. Thank you all for this honor of a lifetime. I promise to do you proud.”

Sam cheered and whistled and generally made a scene in support of her sweet friend. That something so wonderful could be happening on the same day they remembered the worst thing that’d ever happened on the job was almost too much to process.

Jeannie posed for photos with the mayor, the Homicide squad, Chief Farnsworth, Captain Malone, her family and other friends who’d come to support her ascension to deputy chief.

“See you all at my place after a bit?” Sam asked.

“I love the way you say that,” Freddie said with a laugh. “Your place.”

“Welp, that’s what it is.”

“We’ll be there,” Malone said for all of them.

Jeannie’s swearing-in had taken some of the gloom out of the occasion, which had turned into a remembrance and a celebration.

“It’s so good to see you,” Sam said, hugging Will Tyrone.

“You as well, Lieutenant.”

“You’re not a cop anymore. You can call me Sam.”

Smiling, he said, “Old habits die hard.”

“How’s the security business?”

“Not as exciting as Homicide, but then again, what is?”

“Homicide has been a real thrill lately,” Sam said sarcastically. “The fun never ends.”

“I’ve heard about how you’re looking at Ramsey’s son for the rapes and murders in the park.”

“We know it’s him. We just have to prove it.”

“My money’s on you guys.”

Sam had spoken with Officer Charles on the way home and had learned Shane was now at the bar he frequented in Columbia Heights. The officers had followed him inside and were watching him, hoping he’d abandon a beer bottle or glass that could be confiscated as evidence.

Of course, he knew what they were looking for and had made eye contact with Officer Charles as he’d wiped his beer bottle clean and handed it to the bartender.

He was as much of a bastard as his father was, only more so. To her knowledge, his father, as despicable as he was, had never raped or murdered anyone.