Page 93 of State of Alert

“Then you’ve answered your own question.”

They pulled up to a raised-ranch-style home in Manassas a few minutes later. As there were several cars in the driveway, Sam was hopeful they’d find Chuck Corrigan at home.

The woman who came to the door seemed to go stupid in the head when she saw Sam standing on the doorstep. “Oh my God,” she said. “Is the first lady working on Elaine’s case?” Her eyes got even bigger when she spotted the Secret Service SUV at the curb.

Sam wanted to bitch-slap her, but instead she showed herbadge. “I’m Lieutenant Holland, and this is my partner, Detective Cruz. We’re looking for Chuck Corrigan. Is he at home?”

“Uh… He’s here, but this isn’t a great time.”

“We’re sorry for the intrusion, but every minute matters in a homicide investigation. We’d like to see him, please.”

“Um, come in. I’ll see if he’s available.”

Sam didn’t respond to the “available” comment. When cops came to your door, you were always available. This woman would find that out soon enough if she didn’t produce Chuck.

They were shown to a small living room.

“I’ll be right back.”

“You showed nice restraint there. Our little girl is growing up.”

Sam snorted. “Easy, grasshopper.”

“The first lady reaction is always entertaining to those of us who get the pleasure of witnessing it.”

“Glad you’re entertained. That’s what really matters here.”

“We see eye-to-eye on that.”

Smiling, she looked over at him, next to her on a floral sofa. “Thanks for this, for what you said before, for all of it.”

“I do what I can for you.”

“That’s trademarked.”

“No, you doing what you can for thepeopleis trademarked. My comment is not.”

She scowled at him. “Semantics.”

The sound of footsteps approaching had them snapping out of the banter and back into professional mode. Sam was relieved to see a heavyset middle-aged man with gray hair accompanying the woman who’d met them at the door. She so didn’t want to have to fight with grieving people today.

Sam stood. “Chuck Corrigan?”

“That’s me.”

“Lieutenant Holland with the Metro PD. This is my partner, Detective Cruz.”

“This is about Elaine,” Chuck said.

“Yes, sir,” Sam said as she returned to her seat.

He sat across from them in an upholstered chair.

The woman hovered nervously.

Sam gave her a look as if to say,Get lost, hoping she could read between the lines.

“Give us a minute, Jane.”

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