Page 197 of State of Alert

Sam hugged Lindsey. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”

After Lindsey walked away, Shelby came over to Sam, carrying the baby. “Maisie wanted to see her auntie Sam.”

Sam took the tiny bundle from Shelby and snuggled her in close as tears stung her eyes. She was an emotional basket case tonight. “She’s so beautiful, Tinker Bell. Just like her mama.”

“I think she looks like her gorgeous daddy.”

“I see both of you in her, which makes her a very lucky girl.”

“Are you okay?” Shelby asked. “You’re not yourself tonight.”

Sam kept her gaze trained on the baby’s little face. “I’m much better now after a very challenging week.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the dress looked incredible on you.”

“Thanks. I like it a lot.” Sam kissed the baby’s forehead andhanded her back to Shelby. “I need to get home to the kiddos since Dad is away.”

“Thank you again for the invite to Camp David. We’ve caved to enormous family pressure to bring baby Maisie to meet everyone since Avery is doing so much better.”

“Totally understand. We’ll see you Monday at the Easter Egg Roll, if not before?”

“Noah can’t wait.”

Sam gave Shelby a careful hug around the baby. “Thanks for taking such good care of my beloved Lindsey when it’s not really your job to plan weddings anymore.”

“Putting together weddings for people I love is a pleasure.”

“Have a nice Easter with your family, Tink.”

“You, too.”

Sam said her goodbyes to Lindsey and the other women and ducked out while they continued the celebration with talk of the upcoming bridal shower and bachelorette outing. Thankfully, that would be just one night and not an entire weekend.

Vernon held the door for her. “Where to?”

“Home, please.”

“You got it.”

On the ride home, Sam watched the world go by out the window as she contended with a plethora of emotions. Despair over Elaine’s murder by the same man who’d killed her sister and the long-term implications for the Myerson family, joy for Lindsey and Shelby. Sadness for herself and Nick and the baby they would’ve loved to have had together. Loneliness for him and worry over the story over her lies about Juan Rodriguez that refused to let up, though NCIS had finally announced he was alive and well.

They’d charged Goldstein and Wilson with conspiring to commit homicide by hiring someone to murder Juan. Both men had been arraigned in federal court that afternoon, in stunning falls from grace.

So why was it that the only thing the media wanted to talk about was how Sam had questioned Juan’s roommate and girlfriend about his murder even though she’d known he was alive?

Agent Truver had confirmed Sam’s story that she’d been asked to investigate the case the way she would any other homicide as NCIS worked to make the attempted murder case against Goldstein and Wilson. Sam had done what she’d been asked to do, Truver had said, and shouldn’t be held accountable for untruths told as a result of her cooperation with federal authorities.

Nothing anyone said mattered.

The media had decided to brand her a liar, and there was no putting that genie back in the bottle now that it had exploded into the public discourse.

Sam was determined to forget about all of it to focus on her kids. Since they were off from school tomorrow, she’d taken the day off, too, leaving the paperwork and cleanup on the Myerson case to Gonzo, Freddie and the others.

At home, she enjoyed dinner and a movie with the kids, followed by ice cream in the family dining room, four stories for the twins and a later-than-usual bedtime since no one had to get up in the morning.

After Sam and Scotty tucked in the twins, they walked downstairs to let out Skippy and then snuggled up to watch the end of the Capitals game on the sofa in her and Nick’s suite.

Nick called just as the game ended with a win for the home team.

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