“Not until after the Canadian PM’s visit.”

  “Right. I’ll tell her no Chanel No. 5 either.”

  “That’d be good. Thank you for running interference for me.”

  “Always.”

  * * *

  Gonzo waited for Kerr to arrive before he had Tori brought up to an interrogation room. An older man arrived with Kerr. He was tall, with gray hair and a distinguished air about him. “This is one of our senior partners, James Teller,” Kerr said. “James, meet Sergeant Gonzales and Detective Cruz.”

  As Gonzo shook hands with the man, he was thinking, Oh shit. A senior partner would know what he was doing, unlike Kerr.

  He led them to the interrogation room, where a Patrol officer watched over Tori, who was shackled at the hands and feet.

  Freddie turned on the recorder.

  Kerr introduced her to Teller.

  “Are you going to get me out of here?” she asked the older man.

  “I’ll do everything I can for you, sweetheart. Try not to worry.” To Gonzo and Freddie, he said, “Is it necessary for her to be shackled? Who’s she a threat to?”

  Gonzo looked at Freddie and gave a quick nod, authorizing him to uncuff her.

  Tori rubbed her wrists dramatically.

  It was all he could do not to roll his eyes. He had that urge a lot when he was with her.

  “Now what we have here, fellas, is a misunderstanding,” Teller said. “My client never met Rachel Fortier.”

  Gonzo put the pages of text messages sent from Tori to Rachel on the table, turning them so Teller could see them. “She may not have met her, but she harassed her for months after seeing a post on Facebook that linked the man she thought of as hers with Rachel. We asked Rachel’s mother why she didn’t block Tori, and she said her daughter wanted to be able to show Gordon how his ex-girlfriend was behaving, when the time was right. According to Rachel’s mother, she thought Tori was pathetic, not dangerous.”

  Tori did not like being described as pathetic. Her face got very red, and her breathing deepened. The transformation was so complete that Gonzo could picture her arranging a murder.

  Gonzo put a printout of the post that had started the trouble on the table. “After the Facebook post went live, Tori paid more than three thousand dollars for someone at GW to keep tabs on Rachel and to keep her posted on the status of Gordon Reilly’s relationship with her. We believe Tori knew Randy Bryant from the Milwaukee area, where they both are from. Here are the canceled checks and the texts she exchanged with Bryant, as well as proof of a ten-thousand-dollar payment and a forty-two-minute phone call Tori had with Bryant the day before Rachel was found dead. We believe Tori and Randy made their plans to kill Rachel during that phone call.

  “We also have an eyewitness who can put Bryant in Rachel’s dorm at the time of her murder and can tie his prints to a pizza box that the eyewitness said he was carrying when he came to Rachel’s dorm, and a print matched the one found on Rachel’s neck. The medical examiner has determined that Rachel died because her carotid artery was compromised.”

  “So where is he?”

  “His case is separate from Tori’s.” Gonzo made sure he never blinked as he held Teller’s gaze.

  “I’d like to speak to my client, please.”

  Freddie turned off the recorder as they got up to leave the room.

  “That guy is no idiot,” Freddie said when they were in the hallway.

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Can we pull this off without Randy?”

  “We’re going to try like hell.”

  They waited a long time before Kerr came to the door to summon them.

  When they were back inside, Freddie reactivated the recorder, again noted who was present and then sat next to Gonzo.

  “We’d like to make a deal,” Teller said.

  “What kind of deal?”

  “Tori will plead guilty to harassing and stalking Rachel, but that’s it.”

  “That’s nowhere near enough.”

  “That’s our offer.”

  “I’m not sure if you’re aware how this works, Mr. Teller, but we’re the ones who offer deals, not you.”

  “You can’t put my client anywhere near Rachel Fortier on the night she was murdered.”

  “Actually, we have a forty-eight-minute period in which she was somewhere other than Gordon Reilly’s room. That time frame coincides with the time of death provided by the medical examiner. When we get the ping data from her cell phone, I believe we’ll see she was either at or near Rachel’s dorm at the time of the murder.”

  “You can’t prove she laid a finger on that woman, so you can’t charge her with murder.”

  “We can and will charge her with murder for hire and accessory to murder.” Again, Gonzo met the other man’s intense gaze. “Randy Bryant is prepared to testify that Tori paid him to kill Rachel.”

  Gonzo prayed that Cruz wouldn’t react to the bald-faced lie.

  To his credit, Cruz remained silent.

  Gonzo had no idea if this gambit would work, but he was determined that someone would pay for Rachel’s death. If he had to choose between Tori and Randy, he would’ve chosen her as the one who orchestrated it. “We’ll consult with the AUSA and let you know what they’re prepared to offer.”

  When they emerged from the room, Gonzo said, “Go see what you can do to slow down Bryant’s release. We don’t need him posting something about being released before we can nail this down.”

  “Got it. Thankfully, cell reception is almost nonexistent in the interrogation rooms.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  Gonzo went to Sam’s office, closed the door and called Faith Miller. “This is Gonzo. I’ve got a situation, and we need to act fast. Can you help me?”

  “Lay it on me.”

  He walked her through the latest developments.

  “Are you saying that Tom Forrester, our Tom Forrester, ordered Bryant’s release?”

  “Yep, but Tori and her lawyers don’t know that. If we move fast, we can get her to plead to murder for hire and accessory to murder and lock it down before they find out Bryant was released.”

  “I’ll want seventeen to twenty years for that.”

  “Done.”

  “I’ll write it up and get it over to you.”

  “Do you need Forrester’s approval?”

  “Probably, but I’m not going to ask for it.”

  “Thank you, Faith.”

  “Be right back to you. Will take me about fifteen minutes.”

  “I’ll be watching for it.”

  Freddie appeared in the office door. “Bryant was released twenty minutes ago.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Gonzo was regretting the cold pizza he’d had for lunch. He got up and headed for the door.

  Cruz stepped aside to let him pass so he could retrieve a Tums from his cubicle.

  “We’ve got a matter of minutes before this blows up in our faces.”

  “What did Faith say?”

  “She needed fifteen minutes.” Gonzo’s phone rang. “This is her. Hey, Faith.”

  “I copied and pasted from an earlier case. It should be in your email.”

  “You’re the best. I owe you one.”

  “It seems to me like we owe you one. I’ll see what I can find out about why Forrester ordered Bryant released.”

  “Let me know.”

  “Will do.”

  Gonzo grabbed the plea agreement off the printer and glanced at Cruz. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  While Sam waited for her guests to arrive, she took a walk through the house to make sure everything was ready for them. She’d spent the morning distributing towels and checking sleeping arrangements on the second floor of the house where they were staying as well as a house across the street where Angela and Tracy would stay with their families.

  Scotty had texted to say they were on their way and again after they picked up Brayden and Brock in New Carrollton.

  Nick had spent much of the day next door dealing with president things. She hoped he’d be back in time to greet the kids when they arrived.

  She went downstairs to check the oven, where two huge pans of lasagna she’d made were baking. She’d also made blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies. After taking a bite of one of the cookies, she realized she should’ve let the White House bakery provide theirs. Before they moved out of the White House, she was determined to learn the secret to those incredible cookies, as well as the chicken salad.

  When she was satisfied that everything was in order, she went to stand at the huge windows that overlooked the beach and the ocean in the distance. The weather would be ideal for the weekend, with temperatures in the seventies for the first time that year. She’d texted with her Angela earlier and was looking forward to giving her, Jack and Ella a change of scenery. They hadn’t been anywhere since that terrible weekend at Camp David during which Spencer had died in his sleep after taking illegally acquired pain pills poisoned with fentanyl.

  Sam shuddered, recalling Angela’s panic as she’d come into their cabin to say that Spencer wouldn’t wake up. The nightmare day that’d followed, as they’d learned Spencer wouldn’t recover, was one none of them would ever forget.

  Sam wondered if or when they’d ever go back to Camp David. At some point, she needed to discuss that with Nick, because he’d loved it there before disaster struck. Maybe they could eventually return to the presidential retreat and try to make new memories there.

  Her phone rang with a call from Avery Hill. “Hey, how’s it going?”

  “I thought you’d want to know that Shelby is in labor.”

  The news struck a note of panic in Sam. “Already? Isn’t it too soon?”

  “They said any time after thirty-six weeks is safe, and that’s right where she is.”

  “Oh wow. Tell her we love her, and we can’t wait to meet your little one.”

  “Me, too. It’s all so… overwhelming. And I feel somewhat useless.”

  “Just hold her hand and keep telling her she’s amazing. That’s what she needs right now.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Call me later?”

  “I will.”

  “Love you guys.”

  “You, too.”

  As Sam closed her phone, Nick came through the front door. “Shelby’s in labor.”

  “Is that okay?” he asked.

  “Avery said they said any time after thirty-six weeks is good to go, and she’s right there.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” he said before his expression changed. “Fuck. The state dinner.”

  “Oh jeez. Well, knowing Shelby, everything is set to go in a binder full of pink tabs and sticky notes.”

  “I’d better let Terry know.”

  “I’ll hit up Lilia. Between the two of them, it’ll be fine.”

  He gave her a kiss. “I hope so.”

  While he called Terry, she reached out to Lilia, her White House chief of staff.

  “Hi there. How’s the beach?”

  “Gorgeous, but the vacation has been a bit more stressful than we expected.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Did you hear Shelby is in labor?”

  “I did. She was in her office when her water broke.”

  “Oh wow. Nick hates to think about work at a time like this, but he’s concerned about the state dinner on Tuesday.”

  “She’s given me everything I need to step in for her, so we’re all set. I’m going to skip the beach this weekend so I can stay here and make sure everything is good to go.”

  “Thank you for that, but we’ll miss you guys out here.”

  “We’ll miss you, too. Rain check?”

  “You got it. I hear a gaggle of voices outside. I think the kids are here. I’ll talk to you on Monday—and thank you, Lilia.”

  “No problem.”

  Nick returned to the room. “Terry says Lilia’s got it.”

  “Yep.”

  “I feel much better knowing that.”

  “Me, too.”

  The front door opened, and chaos erupted as four excited young kids came bursting through the door, all talking at once, as they dragged small roller bags and stuffed animals. Brayden had a pillow tucked under his arm.

  Scotty, Eli and Candace followed, carrying more stuff, with Skippy bringing up the rear.

  Sam and Nick hugged and kissed the kids and handed out room assignments.

  “Can we go to the beach?” Alden asked.

  “As soon as you stash your stuff upstairs and put on some shorts.”

  He took off like a rocket for the stairs, with Aubrey, Brayden and Brock in hot pursuit.

  “They’re bonkers,” Scotty said as he allowed Sam to hug him again.

  “I missed you so much.”

  “You were too busy kissing to miss me.”

  She bopped him on the head. “That is not true.”

  “The kissing or the missing?”

  They shared a laugh that gave her the warmest feeling of joy she’d ever experienced. The joy that came from being his mother was different from all other kinds. “I really did miss you.”

  “Missed you, too, Mama. Now, which room is mine?”

  * * *

  When Gonzo and Freddie returned to the interrogation room, Gonzo was relieved that no one immediately accused him of being a liar, which meant their secret about Randy being willing to testify was still safe. He also noted that Tori had been crying, probably because her attorneys had told her she was fucked.

  “The Assistant U.S. Attorney said this is a now-or-never deal.” He put the page on the table so Teller and Kerr could read the charges against their client and the proposed sentence of seventeen to twenty years. “You’ve got ten minutes to take it, or we’ll offer the deal to Bryant.”

  “What does it say?” Tori asked as tears streamed down her face.

  “You’d be pleading guilty to murder for hire and accessory to murder and would serve seventeen to twenty years in prison.” Teller spoke to her as if she were a little girl. “You’d be risking life in prison without the possibility of parole if we went to trial, sweetheart.”

  Tori wailed at the words seventeen to twenty years in prison. “I never touched her!”

  “No, you paid someone else to do it, which is a felony.” Gonzo’s heart beat so hard, it was like a bass drum in his ears. It all came down to this. If Tori didn’t agree to the deal, they might never get justice for Rachel.

  She bent over the table, head on her folded arms, sobbing. “I can’t go to prison. I just can’t. I didn’t do anything.”

  Gonzo looked to the two attorneys, hoping one of them would explain this to her.

  “They have the man who can testify that you paid him to kill Rachel, honey,” Teller said. “You’d be found guilty at trial, so you’ll want to take this deal. If you behave in prison, you could be out a lot sooner and start your life over again. It’s a good deal.”

  “Six minutes,” Gonzo said.

  Tori wailed louder.

  Kerr squirmed in his seat as if he had itchy hemorrhoids or something.

  The thought nearly made Gonzo laugh out loud. “Four minutes. Are we taking the deal to Randy, Tori, or do you want it for yourself?”

  Her head whipped up. “What about what she took from me? Does anyone care about that?”

  Gonzo looked her dead in the eyes. “No, we don’t care about that. You took her life from her. It’s not comparable.”

  “He was mine, and she knew it!”

  “Two minutes, Tori. Take the deal or roll the dice at trial. We don’t care either way.”

  Teller handed her his fancy pen. “Sign the deal, sweetheart. I promise you’ll be all right.”

  Gonzo wanted to ask him how he knew that, but again, he didn’t care. She would get everything she deserved and then some.

  Tori took the pen and stared at the sheet of paper as tears fell on it.

  Luckily, Teller noticed that and moved it out of the line of fire. He pointed to the line. “Right there, Tori.”

  Tori signed her name.

  Gonzo and Freddie exhaled at exactly the same second.

  Luckily, Kerr and Teller were dealing with their client and didn’t notice their relief.

  “We’ll get this over to the AUSA and see you in court.”

  “Can I go home now?” Tori asked.

  Gonzo stared at her, incredulous. “No, you can’t.”

  “But I did what you wanted! I signed the paper.”

  “And confessed to two felony charges. You’re not going anywhere for a very long time.”

  As Gonzo followed Cruz from the room, the sound of her shrieks filled him with satisfaction. They’d scored half a victory, and half was better than nothing.

  He hoped Rachel’s mother agreed.

  When they were back in the pit, Freddie turned to him. “Holy. Crap.”

  “Right?”

  “I thought I’d have a heart attack waiting for her to sign it before Kerr got on his phone and saw that Randy was sprung.”

  “Same. My blood pressure was dangerously high.”

  “That was masterfully done, Sarge.”

  “Shut up.”

  Freddie laughed. “I mean it. It was!”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “Listen, I’m not kidding around here. If you hadn’t told her what you did about Bryant, she could’ve walked. I’m not sure I would’ve had that idea.”

  “Yes, you would have.”

  “Well, it never crossed my mind until you said it.”

  “I was praying that you wouldn’t suddenly look at me or something.”

  “I had to stop myself.”

  They cracked up.

  Malone came into the pit. “What’s going on?”

  Gonzo handed him the signed plea agreement. “We’ve got Tori.”

  “Great job, guys. I guess one is better than none.”

  “That’s the thinking. I’ll call Mrs. Fortier to update her.”

  “I’ll get this back to Faith for you,” Malone said. “Really well done. I was afraid the case would implode without Bryant.”

  “Sergeant Gonzales was masterful in making sure that didn’t happen.”

  “Shut up, Cruz.”