Page 55 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

Lindsey shook his hand. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Wes said stiffly, as if her condolences offended him.

He would get used to receiving them over the next few days, but he wasn’t there yet, Sam thought.

“Right this way.” Lindsey led them into the freezing exam room, where a body on a table was covered by a sheet. “Are you ready?”

He gave the barest of nods.

Lindsey drew the sheet back just enough to reveal Audrey’s face.

Wes let out an inhuman sound as his knees buckled.

Sam and Freddie held him up.

He broke free of their hold and went to her, leaned over to rest his head on her chest and wailed.

Sam glanced at Freddie, noting the tears in his eyes.

They gave Wes all the time he needed with Audrey before leading him out of the morgue to the conference room in the pit.

“Can I get you some water?” Freddie asked.

“Sure. Thanks.” The words were dull and flat, like his expression.

Sam followed Freddie out of the room. “I want him to give permission for us to look at her phone.”

“I’ll get the form and the water.”

“Thanks.”

When she entered the conference room, Sam took a seat across from Wes, who was staring at the wall with tears rolling down his face. “I’m so, so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“I know it seems absolutely impossible to imagine right now, but you’re going to get through this.”

“I don’t think I will.”

“You will,” Sam said, “because you have no choice.”

Tears continued to slide down his cheeks as he let that thought settle.

“Is your brother on his way?”

“Yeah, he was just leaving class when I called. He’s coming.” Wes dropped his head into his hands, his shoulders heaving with sobs. “How could this have happened to Audrey? She’s the best person I’ve ever known. She’d take a bug outside to set it free rather than kill it. She volunteers to teach English as a second language to immigrant children. Who kills someone like her?”

“Someone who has no regard for human life.” Sam believed a stranger had killed Audrey, but she still had to go through the motions. “Has she had problems with anyone lately? Friend, coworker, family member?”

“No, nothing like that. She’s all about peace and tranquility and helping others. She was in graduate school to be a social worker because she’s been so moved by her ESL students. All she talks about are the things she wants to do to help make their lives better. I just… I can’t believe someone killed her.”

It would take, Sam thought, months, if not years, before Wes wrapped his head around what’d happened to Audrey.

“I’m sorry to do this to you when you’re already in shock, but the first hours of an investigation are critical, so I need to ask you some questions.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever I can do.”

“Were you home the whole time Audrey was out jogging?”