Page 196 of State of Alert

“This is Sam Holland. We’ve found your son, and we’re bringing him home.”

EPILOGUE

Normally, an arrest that solved two murders would be cause for great celebration. In this case, Sam couldn’t shed the sick feeling over how close she’d come to charging an innocent kid with her mother’s murder.

If Sergeant Walters hadn’t found that file on Elaine’s computer, Sam might’ve ruined the lives of innocent young people.

Thursday evening, she met Lindsey and several of her bridesmaids for the fitting at Shelby’s Georgetown studio. What should have been a joyful time with some of her closest friends was anything but as Sam pondered the fine line between success and failure and the consequences of getting it wrong.

Robinson’s fingerprints had been a match for those on the baseball bat and a rush of his DNA sample showed a match for the DNA found on Sarah Corrigan’s body. He’d been charged with both murders, and more charges would be forthcoming in the next few days. It’d given Sam tremendous satisfaction to call Detective Truehart with the news that the DNA was a match.

“All the credit goes to Elaine,” Sam had said. “Robinson never would’ve been on our radar without her efforts.”

“I’m sorry that she didn’t bring the info to me,” he’d said. “Maybe we could’ve saved her from such a terrible fate.”

“I wish she’d done that, too, but I’m sure she appreciated all your years of hard work on behalf of her sister.”

“No family deserves what happened to them.”

“I hope you can now enjoy your hard-earned retirement.”

“That’s the plan. I’m glad I got the chance to meet you, although I wish it had been under different circumstances. I admire your dedication to the job. You remind me of me.”

“I’m honored to be compared to you, sir.”

“Stay safe, Lieutenant, and don’t give the job everything you’ve got. Save some for yourself and your loved ones.”

“I will. Take care, Detective.”

“You do the same.”

The conversation with Truehart had run through her mind repeatedly in the hours since, as she picked over the scraps of the case and processed an outcome she hadn’t expected.

“Everything okay?” Lindsey asked as she came around with a bottle of champagne to refill glasses.

“Absolutely. The dress is gorgeous.” Sam had felt sexy in the navy blue dress that left one shoulder bare. “Thank you for not picking something hideous.”

“Would I do that to you?”

“Never.”

“Congrats on closing two cases for the price of one. I saw Elaine’s brother on the news earlier. He was in tears talking about how the same man took both his sisters from him and how thankful he is to you and your team for closing both cases.”

“Elaine solved Sarah’s case and ended up dead for her efforts. Her family is traumatized, with years of work ahead of them to pick up the pieces. It all feels kind of pointless at the end of the day.”

“Not to Elaine’s brother. You helped to give him answers that’d eluded his family for decades in Sarah’s case. Detective Truehart was interviewed, too. He said now he can finally retire in peace.”

“That’s the good news, I guess. I still feel sick about how close I came to charging Elaine’s daughter.”

“You followed the evidence you had to where it led, Sam. Zoe’s own father and sister suspected she might be involved. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself.”

“When I first told Nick about Juan, I reminded him how things are never as obvious as they appear, and then I didn’t take my own advice on this case.”

“Everything was pointing to the daughter until it wasn’t.”

Sam realized she was bringing down Lindsey’s festive mood. “Never mind about all that, and don’t worry about me. Go enjoy your friends.”

“I so appreciate you being here, especially on a day like this one.”

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