Page 87 of State of Suspense

“I’m pulling the threads, Cap.”

“All right.”

“Don’t forget I’m leaving early today.”

“Ah, yes, the Canadian state dinner. I’ve got my monkey suit ready to go.”

Sam smiled. “See you there, if not before.” To Freddie, she said, “Let me do the press briefing, and then we’ll get going.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“Have you given everyone assignments for today?”

“I’m waiting on Gonzo to get here. He’s running late. We’ll have the others focus on emails and texts. We’re only about halfway through what Archie gave us.”

“Do me a favor and pull warrants for the cell phone data for Ralph and Laurel Sellers.”

“Who’re they?”

“Forrester’s neighbors. He had a beef with them over their dog attacking his that led to lawsuits. It’s just a hunch, but I’d like to know where they were when he was killed.”

Cameron came over to them, looking upset—or maybe shocked.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked tentatively.

“Avery’s been shot.”

“What? Where?”

“Coming out of the gym on 22nd.”

“Is he…” Sam was afraid to finish that question.

“He was alive but unresponsive when EMS arrived. They took him to GW.”

“Does Shelby know?”

“I called Avery’s deputy, George Terrell, to find out how that was being handled. He said he was on the way to the White House now to notify her.”

Sam wasn’t sure whether she should go to the hospital or home to be with Shelby. “I need to go to her.”

“No,” Malone said.

Sam looked at him as if he’d said something she didn’t understand.

“I need you on Forrester. I know Avery’s a close friend, but there’s nothing you can do for him right now. We’ll put people on it and figure out what happened to him.”

Lucas and Harper came into the pit.

“Did you hear about Hill?” Lucas asked.

“Just now,” Sam said.

“You two get over to GW and see what you can find out,” Malone said to her and Harper. “Tell Archie to pull the film from around the gym on 22nd.”

“Yes, sir,” Lucas said.

She and Harper headed toward the morgue exit.

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