Page 88 of State of Suspense

Sam very much wanted to go with them, but Malone had given her an order. “I, uh, I’ll get ready to brief the media on Forrester.”

“Take a minute,” Malone said.

“H-he just had a baby. They just had a baby…” Her heart ached for both of them, especially after the recent home-invasion trauma.

Sam hadn’t been this upset in a while.

“I’ll brief the media,” Freddie said.

“That’s okay.”

“I’ll do it, Sam. It’s good experience for me, and you’re in no condition to do it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very.”

“Thank you, grasshopper.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll help you get ready,” Malone said to Freddie.

After they walked away, Sam’s phone rang. Her heart sank when she saw Shelby’s name on the screen. “Hey, I was just going to call you.”

“Sam! What do you know? Is he… He can’t be dead. Please tell me he isn’t.”

“I heard he was unresponsive but alive when EMS took him to the hospital. Where are you?”

“I’m with George. He’s taking me and the baby to GW. Celia offered to keep her for me, but I didn’t know how long I’d be gone.”

Sam gave Shelby credit for keeping her shit together and thinking about practicalities at such a terrible time.

“I would come there, but?—”

“I know you can’t. Do what you have to do. That’s what Avery would want. I’ll keep you posted.”

“I’m praying for you all, Tinker Bell.”

“Thank you.”

Sam put down her phone and dropped her head into her hands. How was Shelby holding it together when her husband had been shot, only days after they’d welcomed their new baby?

The secure BlackBerry rang.

She took the call from her husband. “Hi.”

“What do you know about Avery?”

“He was unresponsive but alive when EMS transported him.”

“Good God. Have you talked to Shelby?”

“Just now. Avery’s deputy, George, is transporting her and the baby to GW.”

“Are you going there?”

“I can’t. We’re under tremendous pressure on Forrester… Malone basically told me to stay put.”

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