“The pickle of all pickles.”

  “Indeed.”

  Farnsworth picked up his desk extension. “Would you please ask Jake to come in? Thank you, Helen.”

  “What’s your thought?” Sam asked.

  “To let Jake take the lead on paper while you continue to work the case.”

  “I like how you think.”

  “I figured you would.”

  Malone came in, seeming annoyed.

  “What’s wrong?” Farnsworth asked his friend.

  “If people would just do their freaking jobs, nothing would be wrong.”

  “Who’s pissing you off?”

  “Most of them,” Malone said.

  “Yikes,” Sam said.

  “Not you or your team. You guys could teach the masterclass on how not to piss off the captain on a daily basis.”

  “Thank you. I think.”

  “By the way, I wanted to tell you that the Javier Lopez hearing has been pushed back a couple of weeks, so that’s one less thing this week.” He was charged in the fifteen-year-old murder of teenager Calvin Worthington. That’d been one of the cases Stahl had barely bothered to investigate, which Sam had solved in one afternoon.

  “I’ll take one less thing. Has his mother been notified of the delay?” Sam hated that for Lenore, who’d already waited far too long for justice in her son’s case.

  “Yes, I called her myself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Anyway, what’s going on?” Malone asked. “Helen said you wanted to see me?”

  Farnsworth gestured for Sam to brief the captain on the situation with Cox.

  Malone stared at her. “Holy…”

  “Our thoughts exactly,” Farnsworth said. “I’d like to make you the lead—on paper, anyway—and let Sam’s team continue to pursue the investigation wherever it may lead.”

  “Do you think he was involved with Forrester’s murder?” Malone asked.

  “I don’t know yet. Bryant’s guy Aaron Peterson told us Cox was far more involved with Bryant on a personal level than he indicated to me when I talked to him. He held back on that, which is a huge red flag. He was also quoted in the paper this morning as being a longtime friend of Forrester’s, which he also never mention. Another red flag.”

  “For sure,” Malone said.

  “I have a thought… Tomorrow night is the state dinner at the White House. The cabinet usually attends. If I get a minute, I’ll approach Cox in the social setting and let on that I know all about how he was buddies with Forrester and how they argued the last time they were together, after which Forrester’s family was kidnapped. I’ll see how he reacts to that.”

  “I don’t know, Sam.” The chief rubbed his chin as he considered that. “What if he gets angry?”

  “What’s he going to do to the first lady in the middle of a state dinner?”

  “That’s true, Joe. I think it’s a good idea. Bring it up in a social situation to get a read on him.”

  “Proceed with caution, Lieutenant,” Farnsworth said. “We’re already under tremendous pressure to turn this case over to the FBI.”

  “Which would be a huge mistake if Cox is somehow involved,” Sam said, since the FBI fell under the Attorney General’s jurisdiction.

  Farnsworth massaged his temples. “I can’t wait until this shit is no longer my problem.”

  His words struck fear in Sam’s heart. She didn’t want to think about the day when he’d no longer be the chief. “Please don’t leave me here by myself.” Her gaze took in both men.

  “You wouldn’t be alone,” Malone said. “Jeannie is deputy chief now.”

  “I can’t imagine doing this job without either of you.”

  “We’re getting old, pal,” Farnsworth said with a small smile. “And running out of gas to deal with the nonstop bullshit.”

  To her great dismay, Sam’s eyes suddenly flooded with tears. Was there anything worse than crying on the job, especially as a woman in a largely male profession? She took a deep breath and tried to get her emotions under control. “I’m sorry. Of course you should do whatever you feel is best. I just hope you know that despite all the bullshit, you’re both loved and respected by the people who work for you, and you’d be deeply missed.”

  “That’s very nice to hear, Sam,” Farnsworth said. “Your loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed. You should also know that we’ve more or less decided to stick it out for the three years that your husband is president, so we can be here to protect you to the best of our ability.”

  For a hot second, she was too flabbergasted to respond. “Seriously?”

  “Very seriously,” Malone said. “Skip would want us here as you endeavor to do something no first lady in history has ever done.”

  “You guys…” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she tried fruitlessly to manage them. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything,” Farnsworth said. “He’d do the same for us, and you know it.”

  “Stop.” She laughed as she wiped away tears that wouldn’t quit. “You’re wrecking me.”

  The chief smiled. “We don’t want you to worry about us leaving on top of everything else. We’re sticking it out for you, kid.”

  “Please don’t do anything stupid like die before you can enjoy a long retirement, do you hear me?”

  They laughed.

  “We’ll do our best to stay healthy,” Malone said.

  “Thank you,” she said softly. “You’ll never know what this means to me.”

  “We know,” Farnsworth said. “Family takes care of family.”

  As her chin quivered, she nodded. “God, I’m such an idiot, bawling like a baby over here.”

  “We won’t tell anyone,” Malone said. “We wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation as a badass.”

  She laughed again as she wiped away more tears. “Gee, thanks.”

  “Don’t eff up this situation with Cox, or we’ll all be out on our asses,” Malone said.

  “I’ll try not to.” She took a couple of deep breaths to recover her composure after they’d flattened her with their news. “What are we hearing from Stahl’s?”

  Malone shook his head and released a deep sigh. “Thirteen bodies at his house, and we’re getting closer to finding the owner of the storage unit. Charles and O’Brien are making progress, so I told them to stay on it.”

  “That’s fine. Gonzo is working with the three detectives you assigned to get them up to speed and give them assignments.”

  “Let’s keep up the pressure on Forrester,” Farnsworth said. “I’ll authorize whatever overtime is needed.”

  “That’ll help, thank you. Although, I should mention I’m leaving at two tomorrow to meet with the Canadian prime minister’s wife and to prepare for the state dinner.”

  “We’re looking forward to that,” Farnsworth said, smiling. “Marti and I can’t believe we’re invited to the White House.”

  “Same with me and Val. Unbelievable.”

  “Believe it. I’ll see you there.” She’d also invited every member of her squad and their partners, as well as Jeannie and Michael, her sisters, mother and stepmother. Lindsey would be there as Terry’s date, which meant all her closest friends would be in attendance, except for Shelby and Avery.

  For the first time, she started to look forward to an event that had loomed as yet another challenge to be endured rather than enjoyed. She needed to change her attitude and do a better job of appreciating the perks that came along with the many headaches. “I’ll get back to it and keep you posted on all things Cox.” She paused as she realized what she’d said. “And that’s not a sentence I ever imagined saying to the two of you.”

  She left them laughing as she went back to the pit, overwhelmed by what they were doing for her and filled with love for two men who’d been part of her life from the beginning. They were right. Her dad would want them there for her during this unprecedented time, and their support meant everything.

  “Everything all right?” Freddie asked when she returned to the pit, wearing obvious signs that she’d been crying.

  “All good in the hood. What’s up here?”

  He gave her a curious look that told her he wasn’t satisfied with her answer. “We met with Lucas, Harper and Coheeny to get them up to speed. They’ve gone to interview the rest of Forrester’s staff, and then they’ll be back to comb through the phone data. Gonzo asked them to submit a written report by four thirty.”

  “Excellent.”

  “I’ve gone through everything I could find about Forrester and Cox from the time they were at Yale Law, and I’ve pieced together an interesting narrative.”

  “Oh,” Sam said, “do tell.”

  Chapter Eight

  Freddie led her into the conference room, where he’d put together a timeline on one of the big dry-erase boards.

  “First, tell me what’s wrong.”

  Sam closed the door. “You have to keep it between us.”

  “Okay.”

  “The chief and captain told me they’re planning to postpone retirement for the three years Nick is in office so they can have my back here.”

  “Oh wow. That’s amazing.”

  “I know, right? They wrecked me when they said that’s what family does for family.”

  “I love it. I’m so glad they’re doing that.”

  “Me, too. It means the world to me, but it caught me by surprise, thus the tears that pissed me off. Now, tell me about this interesting narrative.”

  “Cox and Forrester met at UPenn as undergrads and pledged Lambda Chi Alpha together. Cox was later president to Forrester’s vice president.”

  Sam became more furious with every new detail added to the puzzle. “Did he honestly think we wouldn’t find out that they go way back?”

  “He probably thought we’d take his word for it as the AG.”

  “That was a miscalculation on his part. What else have you got?”

  “After college and law school at Yale, they were spent six years working in the New York City DA’s office before being hired by the same New York City corporate law firm, where they spent the next fifteen years making small fortunes. Forrester was appointed U.S. Attorney twelve years ago, and Nelson tapped Cox to be his AG as part of his original cabinet. He left the firm as the managing partner.”

  Freddie added news articles to the board that had banner headlines about the untested attorney who’d been given the role of top law enforcement officer. “There was a huge uproar over Cox’s appointment as he’d spent far more time in corporate law than criminal.”

  “I remember this vaguely now that you mention it.” Before she’d gotten back together with Nick, she hadn’t paid much attention to politics.

  “Despite the controversy, Cox settled into the job, hired a team of well-regarded prosecutors and has earned mostly high marks during his tenure.”

  “Something about this whole thing stinks, and I can’t figure out what or why.”

  “Agree.”

  “Let’s go see Bryant again and see what he can tell us about this unholy alliance.”

  As they were headed for the morgue exit, paramedics came rushing in.

  “What the hell?” Sam watched as they sped into the morgue and then took off running in that direction herself, nearly slamming into Dr. Byron Tomlinson as he came out through the morgue’s automatic doors. “What’s going on?”

  “Lindsey collapsed.”

  “Is she okay?”

  Byron seemed rattled, which did nothing to calm Sam’s nerves. He was a doctor, for crying out loud. “I called for EMS when she didn’t come to.”

  “Should I call Terry?”

  “I would.”

  “Find out where they’re taking her.”

  Byron nodded to show he’d heard her.

  Sam did not want to call Terry with this news. Her hands were less than steady as she found his number in her contacts.

  “Hey, Sam. What’s up?”

  “Terry… Ah, Lindsey collapsed at work, and they’re taking her to…”

  “GW,” Byron said.

  “GW ER.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “I don’t know anything more than EMS is here preparing to transport her.”

  “Thanks for calling. I’ll get right over there. Let me know if you hear anything else.”

  “I will.” She closed her phone. “He’ll meet her there.”

  When the paramedics rolled Lindsey out of the morgue, Sam was struck by how incredibly pale she was. The urgency with which the EMS team moved only added to her anxiety.

  “I’ll go with her,” Byron said. “And keep you informed.”

  “Thank you.” Sam called Captain Malone. “Lindsey collapsed in the morgue. EMS just transported her to the hospital.”

  “Oh no.”

  “Byron is going with her and will keep us in the loop. I also called Terry.”

  “Let me know what you hear.”

  “Will do. I was on my way to speak to Bryant again, but now I’m not sure what I should do.”

  “Go deal with Bryant. There’s nothing you can do for Lindsey. She’s in the best possible hands.”

  “You’re right. It’s just…”

  “I know, Sam. It’s upsetting, but I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

  Sam hoped to hell he was right.

  * * *

  For a full minute after ending the call with Sam, Terry stared at the far wall of his office, filled with dread. He’d known something was off and had encouraged Lindsey to call out of work so she could rest. The Stahl investigation had tapped her and her team to their utmost limits as they worked in concert with the FBI lab to identify victims.

  He’d nearly had her convinced to take a break when Forrester was murdered, and all thoughts of rest and relaxation were forgotten.

  She liked to say, “Murder waits for no one, except the medical examiner.”

  He understood that making light of the job helped her get through the grim tasks required of her.

  He forced himself to get up, to move toward the door, to notify his lead agent that he needed a ride to GW and to walk to the Oval to tell Nick he was leaving. The admin outside the office waved him in.

  Terry knocked and entered the room.

  Nick was seated behind the Resolute Desk and looked up when Terry came in. “Hey, I was just going to buzz you about⁠—”

  “Nick.”

  “What’s wrong?” He stood. “Did something happen to Sam?”

  “No, to Lindsey. She collapsed at work. They’re taking her to GW.”

  “Go,” Nick said. “I’d come with you if it wouldn’t cause a circus.”

  Terry heard what Nick said but couldn’t make himself move due to intense fear. “I knew something was wrong, but she said she was fine. She wasn’t. What’ll I do if…”

  Nick came around the desk and put his hands on Terry’s shoulders. “She’s young and healthy and probably caught a virus that’s going around. You need to go to her. She’ll be looking for you.”

  Terry nodded. “She’s my reason, you know?”

  “I do know. I get it. She needs you to be strong for her. Why don’t we see if Harry can go with you?” Nick went back to the desk, picked up the extension and asked for Dr. Flynn. “Hey, Lindsey collapsed at work, and Terry is heading to GW. Do you think you could…” Nick nodded. “Thank you.” He hung up. “He’ll meet you in the lobby.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t let your mind run away with you. Get over there and figure out what she needs.”

  “I’m going.”

  “Terry…”

  He turned back.

  “If you feel the need to drink, please call your sponsor.”

  “I will.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  As he left the Oval and walked toward the lobby to meet Harry, Terry told himself this wasn’t about him. It was about Lindsey. But there was no him without her, so he took Nick’s warning to heart. It’d been two years since he’d been tempted to drink. He was so far removed from that life now it seemed like his spiral into alcoholism had happened to someone else. He tended faithfully to his sobriety with daily meetings. He never missed a day. He could only hope that all the work he’d put in would hold him up during whatever crisis might be awaiting him at the hospital.

  Harry was in the lobby when Terry got there and came over to hug him. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it and get her back on her feet, okay?”

  “Yeah. Okay. Thanks for coming.”

  “Of course.”

  Terry’s Secret Service detail used lights and sirens to convey them quickly to the hospital. While Terry was thankful for the expediency, it only added to the anxiety bubbling up inside him. He needed to notify Lindsey’s mother and his parents, but he decided to wait to make those calls until he knew more.

  “What can I do?” Harry asked after a long silence.

  “Tell me she’s fine and whatever happened is nothing to worry about.”

  “I hope I can tell you that very soon.”

  What if it was bad? What would he do?

  “Try not to spin yourself into worst-case, Terry. It won’t help.”

  “Trying.”

  How the hell long did it take to get to GW with the Secret Service blazing a trail? Too long. By the time they arrived, he was nearly paralyzed with fear.

  “Come on.” Harry gave him a push to get him moving. “Let’s go see how she is.”

  One of Terry’s agents escorted them inside, where they met up with Byron Tomlinson.

  “Anything?”

  “Not yet.”

  That Byron looked rattled did nothing to assuage Terry’s nerves.

  His agents asked for a private room where Terry could wait for news.

  “Right this way,” one of the nurses said.

  Terry could tell that they wondered who he was to warrant such measures, but as Harry and Byron followed him into the room, he didn’t have the energy to tell the nurses he was chief of staff to the president.

  “I’ll send Dr. Anderson in to speak with you.”

  “Thank you.”