Page 63 of State of Alert

“Will do. How’s your day?”

“Strange.” She was unaccustomed to being at odds with her colleagues. “Yours?”

“About to go into lunch with the governor and mayor.”

“Have a good lunch. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Love you, babe.”

“You, too.”

“So you really didn’t tell him?” Freddie asked.

“I’d rather not talk about that.”

“Whatever.”

They didn’t exchange another word before arriving at the two-story colonial-style home of Frank Myerson’s sister, Diane, who had a mini freak-out at finding the first lady on her doorstep.

“Oh my God! Frank told me you were working on the case, but now you’re at my house and…holy shit.”

Annoyed, Sam showed her badge. On a normal day, she’droll her eyes at Freddie, but today wasn’t normal. “Lieutenant Holland and Detective Cruz. We’d like to speak with Mr. Myerson and his daughters, please.”

“I, um, yes, of course. Come in.” She led them into a lovely home full of restored antiques and paintings depicting events in U.S. history. Sam recognized the Gettysburg Address and a long-ago inauguration. They were shown to a sitting room where a painting of George Washington crossing the Potomac spanned the length of a sofa. “I’ll get them.”

“This place is like a museum,” she said.

“Uh-huh.”

Few things in her life had hurt more than knowing Freddie, of all people, was truly angry with her. Or maybe it was more accurate to say she’d disappointed him with her lack of trust and candor.

Frank Myerson had aged five years since the last time Sam had seen him, or at least that’s how it seemed to her when he came into the room, wearing a T-shirt and sweats. His hair was a mess, and he hadn’t shaved. His daughters followed him, similarly attired and looking exhausted.

“These are my girls, Jada and Zoe.”

Both had light brown hair. Jada had green eyes, and Zoe’s were blue.

“I’m very sorry for the loss of your mother,” Sam said to the girls.

“Thank you,” Zoe said for both of them while Jada burrowed into her dad’s embrace.

“I hope you understand that there’re certain routine questions we have to ask you.”

“It’s fine,” Zoe said.

“Where were you yesterday during the day?”

“My boyfriend and I hung out at his house.”

“Where’s his house?”

“In Arlington.”

“Was anyone else there?”

“No, just us. His parents and two sisters were at a horse show for the sisters.”

“His name?”

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