Page 141 of State of Alert

“Call me if there’s anything I can do—any time,” Roni said.

“Thanks for being such a great friend to me. I’m inching closer to joining your Wild Widows. I’m not quite there yet, but soon.”

“There’s no rush. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Let me know you got home okay,” Sam said with another hug for her sister.

“Okay, Mom.”

“Just do it.”

“I will.”

Angela walked over to speak to Brad, who was talking to Trey and Lenore.

“You and the good doctor have created something very special and important with this group,” Roni said as she and Sam walked downstairs. “I hope you know that.”

“I’m sorry there’s so much need for it.”

“Me, too.”

“Where’d you park?”

“I took the Metro.”

“I’ll give you a ride.”

“Really?”

“Yes, silly. You’re not walking to the Metro alone at this hour.”

“I do it all the time.”

“Cut that out. It’s not safe.” They stepped into cool darkness outside the morgue entrance. Vernon jumped out of the SUV when he saw them coming. “Sorry to keep you so late, Vernon. Can we drop my pal in Capitol Hill?”

“We sure can.”

“Thank you, Vernon,” Roni said.

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

“Good. Call her that instead of me.”

“You’re ma’am, too, when we have company, ma’am.”

“One step forward, three steps back.”

“We’re a work in progress.” He shut the door and got in the driver’s seat. “What’s the address, second ma’am?”

Roni laughed and recited her address. “He’s funny.”

Sam lowered her voice. “He’s amazing. They both are. A pleasure to be with all day.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you have a bit of a reputation for—how shall I say this diplomatically—hating people?”

Sam snorted out a laugh. “You’re not supposed to know that.”

“It’s my job to know stuff about you, ma’am.”

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