Page 25 of State of Suspense

Since she had a dead U.S. Attorney in her morgue, Sam decided to press him. “I understand the delicate balance needed for such an investigation. However, I’m sure you agree that the murder of a U.S. Attorney requires us to step outside the usual confines in our quest for justice on his behalf.”

“I want justice for Tom Forrester as much as or more than anyone. However, Tom wouldn’t want me to compromise a complex investigation, especially one he devoted countless hours to personally.”

“According to his team, there’s no paper trail for that investigation.”

“He reported directly to me verbally.”

“That seems highly unusual.”

“It was, but so is an investigation of a ten-term congressman with powerful committee assignments.”

Sam wanted to scream with frustration as she realized this meeting was pointless. He would stonewall her, no matter what she asked. “During your tenure as AG, how many times have you instigated investigations in which a U.S. Attorney reported directly to you verbally?”

Cox gave her a steely look that probably made other people wilt. It had no effect on her. “This was the first time.”

“You’ve been in this business a long time,” Sam said. “Like me, you’ve seen it all, right?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Then you’ll forgive me when I tell you that all my Spidey senses are on alert to a much bigger story here than what I’m being told.”

Was it her imagination, or did the Attorney General of the United States squirm ever so slightly? No, not her imagination. That was definitely a squirm.

“I’m afraid I’ve told you everything I can without jeopardizing a very important investigation.” He stood. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I have a lot of work to finish today.”

Sam put her business card on his desk. “If you think of anything relevant to the murder of one of your U.S. Attorneys, please give me a call.”

He held her gaze. “I’ll do that.”

Sam didn’t say a word to Freddie, Vernon or Jimmy as they left Cox’s place and walked back to the SUV, where other agents were dealing with the media.

“Wait here,” Vernon said as he went ahead to help remove the swarm of reporters while she and Freddie stayed with Jimmy.

Sam seethed with outrage at the way the AG had treated her. He’d done that on purpose, probably because he wanted the FBI, which was under his command, on the case and not her. Too bad. She had jurisdiction, and he could kiss her ass with his bullshit. So much for the brother- and sisterhood of law enforcement having one another’s backs and working together for the common good.

Something stank to high heaven with this case, and she would figure out what it was, to hell with the almighty AG.

It took ten minutes to clear the way for Sam and Freddie to get back in the car as reporters shouted questions at them about Tom Forrester, the AG and whether she’d needed her husband’s permission to meet with Cox.

This case was pissing her off, and it had only just begun.

Chapter Five

Sam held her tongue until they were in their conference room at HQ with the door closed. Not that she didn’t fully trust Vernon and Jimmy to be discreet, but she wasn’t about to go off on the AG in front of them. “Was that the biggest sack of bullshit we’ve ever been fed or what?”

“The biggest sack for sure,” Freddie said. “Not to mention he was smug and patronizing.”

“All of that. This makes me more determined than ever to keep the Feds far away from this investigation. He’s hiding something, and I want to know what.”

“I hate to point out that could get sticky in light of your domestic situation.”

“My domestic situation.” Sam snorted out a laugh. “Do you mean because my husband, the president, is his boss?”

“Something like that.”

“You’d think the AG would be extra helpful in light of that detail.”

“You’d be wrong about that. Will you tell Nick how he treated us?”

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