Page 1 of State of Suspense

Chapter One

The ride home to Washington from Dewey Beach bore no resemblance whatsoever to the first couple’s sexy trip to the beach in the presidential limo known as The Beast. Sam had been called back to work a day earlier than planned after the murder of U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester. She and Nick were being transported to the White House on Marine One with their kids, Scotty, Alden, Aubrey and Eli as well as Eli’s wife, Candace, and Skippy, the first dog, on board as they lifted off from Delaware.

Nick reached over to take Sam’s hand, knowing how much she hated to fly, even short distances on the chopper. “What’s the latest?”

Sam checked her phone. “Freddie said Forrester was shot in the head in his car on Constitution Avenue. They’re on the scene, and that’s all they know so far.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“I’m in shock. I’ve worked closely with Tom and his team for years. Like all jobs in law enforcement, there’re inherent risks to being a prosecutor, but the murder of a U.S. Attorney is rare. Tom was one of the good guys. He always did the right thing. Until recently, that is.”

During a recent investigation, Forrester had asked Metro Police Chief Joe Farnsworth to release Randy Bryant, a man tied to a murder-for-hire plot. Later, it was learned that Randy’s father, U.S. Congressman Damien Bryant, had taken Forrester’s family hostage and instructed Forrester to get his son released from custody. MPD Homicide detectives had been stunned by the order, which was way out of character for the by-the-book prosecutor.

“Are you thinking Bryant had something to do with Tom’s murder?” Nick asked.

“That’s the obvious conclusion, but we’ve learned not to assume anything. We’ll have to dig in to figure out what really happened.” She looked over at him. “I’m sorry our vacation is ending this way.”

“Don’t be. We had a wonderful time, despite reality interrupting far too often.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “As long as I get to sleep with you every night, it’s like I’m always on vacation.”

Sam laughed. “Sure it is.”

“If I have that to look forward to at the end of the day, I can get through anything that comes my way.”

“Now you’re speaking in rhymes?”

His face lifted into a big grin. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Okay, Dr. Seuss. I hear what you’re saying, and I agree that the end of the day is often the best part. But there’s a lot of crap to deal with in the middle that’d make a sane person crazy.”

“Are we still sane?”

“For the most part.” She gave him a side-eyed glance. “We’ll see if that lasts for seven more years.”

“Less than three.”

“I’m seeing seven.”

“Three.”

Scotty looked up from a book he was “suffering through” for school. “What are you guys fighting about?”

“How many more years Dad will be president.”

“Seven,” Scotty said emphatically.

Nick scowled at him. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I am, and I believe you’ll cruise to reelection. Won’t even be close.”

Sam pointed at their handsome, dark-haired fourteen-year-old son. “What he said.”

“I hate everyone right now.”

Sam and Scotty laughed at the face he made.

Aubrey released her seat belt and went to sit with Nick. “You don’t hate us.”

He brought her onto his lap. “I was just kidding, sweetie. I love you guys the bestest.”

---