Page 173 of State of Suspense

She took a call from Captain Malone. “Hey, Cap. What’s up?”

“Park Police in Rock Creek spotted someone matching Harlan Peckham’s description this morning, but he managed to elude them. They found a campsite they believe might belong to him. I’m sending Crime Scene there now, but I thought you might want to take a look, too.”

“You thought right. We’ll head there now.”

“I texted a pin to Cruz with the location, and we’ve dispatched multiple units to assist the Park Police in the search for Peckham.”

“Okay.”

“Be careful, Sam. If he’s feeling cornered, you’d be a really nice prize.”

“I hear you.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sam slapped the phone closed. “We need to go to Rock Creek Park. Police there have uncovered a campsite that might belong to Peckham.” To Freddie, she said, “Malone texted you a pin for the campsite.”

“Where is he?” Vernon asked.

“They spotted him, but he got away.”

“I can’t let you go in there knowing there’s an armed and dangerous felon on the loose.”

“Vernon… We have a deal.”

“This might be a bridge too far, my friend. How do I let you go in there, knowing there’s an armed and extremely dangerous man in the park?”

“That’s my job, and you agreed to let me do my job.”

“I could lose mine for letting you do this.”

“Don’t say that! Come on. The place will be crawling with cops. Besides, he’s probably long gone from there by now.”

“I don’t like it.”

“So noted, and I’m sorry to stretch the boundaries of what’s acceptable for you under normal circumstances, but nothing about my job is normal by Secret Service standards.”

“No, really?”

She loved his sarcasm. Absolutely loved it.

“We’re blazing a whole new trail, you and me.”

“Oh, joy.”

Freddie used his phone to direct them to the campsite as Sam watched from the next seat.

“That’s pretty cool how you can do that,” she said.

“That’s why they call it a smartphone, dummy.”

“You’re full of beans today, young Freddie.”

“Whatever that means.”

They arrived at the campsite, which was overrun by Park and Metro PD officers. She hoped they hadn’t compromised what could be a crime scene.

She got out of the car and greeted a young Park Police officer, showing him her badge. “Lieutenant Holland, MPD. Do you mind if I take a look?”

---