Page 91 of State of Alert

Sam slapped the phone closed and immediately opened it again to call Roni Connolly, her communications director at the White House.

“Hey,” Roni said. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going. I was just reminded that I have to deliver a eulogy for U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester on Wednesday morning, and I could use some help with that.”

“I heard you were speaking and started some notes in case you asked for help.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

Roni laughed. “Likewise.”

“Oh, I’m a real treat. A gift that keeps on giving.”

Roni and Freddie both laughed at that while Sam gave her partner the side-eye. He wasn’t allowed to agree with her.

“I’ll put something together for you. I assume you want thefocus on your professional relationship with him as well as his accomplishments as the USA.”

“You assume correctly. We had a close working relationship that was full of respect and admiration—at least from me to him. Sometimes, I think he wanted to smack me.”

“We’ll leave that part out.”

“Probably for the best.”

“I’ll be in touch shortly.”

“Thank you again for this.”

“My pleasure.”

She closed the phone. “Thank God for qualified people who know what they’re doing.”

“And who make you look good,” Freddie said.

“That, too. I feel kind of guilty outsourcing such a personal thing.”

“I have no doubt you’ll put your own personal spin on whatever she comes up with.”

“I will for sure.”

“Don’t feel guilty, Sam. You can only do so much.”

“I’ve been having a bit of an existential crisis since Sunday.”

“What? Why?”

“Me, sitting in the comms truck while the rest of you were on the front lines. Doesn’t sit well.”

“You came up with the idea, put the whole thing together and ended up making the arrest. We’d still be looking for him without you leading our team.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but asking you guys to take risks I can no longer take myself gives me a pit in the stomach.”

“Don’t let it. No one is thinking a thing of it.”

“I am. Ruiz had plenty to say about it, too.”

“Who cares what she thinks? The team that surrounds you doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her opinion.”

She gave him a scandalized look. “Are youswearing, young Freddie?”

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