Page 30 of State of Alert

“Other than revenge for messing up their plans—and their lives—I don’t know the answer to that, but I sure do wish I’d done more to protect him.”

“What could you have done?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know, but I could’ve done more than go about my life like his hadn’t been turned upside down.”

“Did you ever feel personally unsafe after this started?”

“Not really.”

“What does that mean?” Sam asked.

“I didn’t feel like anyone was out to get me personally, but there was this… I don’t know how to describe it. Like an aura of tension, I guess I’d call it. I kept my wits about me when I was out and about, and I know Juan did the same.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us that you think might be relevant? We tell everyone to really drill down because often it’s the smallest thing that can blow the lid off an investigation.”

“I’ve been drilling for days and not finding anything other than the gigantic Joint Chiefs elephant in the room.”

Sam put her card on the table. “Call me if you think of anything else.”

He picked up the card and gave it a close examination. “Is it weird?”

“What?”

“To be investigating a case tied to your husband the president?”

“Every single thing about my life is weird. Everything.”

“What she said,” Freddie added, making the young man smile.

“I imagine it’s about to get even weirder.”

You have no idea, Sam thought.

“We’re going to need you to relocate while Crime Scene detectives examine your apartment. Is there somewhere else you can stay?”

“Can I stay if I’m not in their way?”

“I’m afraid not. We have a warrant for the search.”

Freddie handed him the piece of paper.

“I’ll call a buddy and borrow his sofa.”

They waited for Isaac to pack and then called a Patrol officer to deliver him to his friend’s place, after getting a key and promising to keep him informed. They had walked out onto the street when Freddie’s cell phone rang.

“It’s Gonzo,” he said to Sam. “Hey, what’s up?” After a second, he said, “Let me check with her. He says we’ve been called to a homicide in Crestwood. What do you want to do?”

Sam thought about it. “Go see if you can track down Juan’s FWB at the coffee shop while I go to Crestwood.”

“What’s an FWB?”

“Friend with benefits. I forget you never had one of those. You married the first woman you f?—”

He scowled. “Do not finish that sentence.”

Sam gave him a shit-eating grin. “Is any part of that sentence false?”

“Go to Crestwood. You’re irritating me.”

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