Page 155 of State of Retribution

“It’s the least I can do for you after everything you’ve done for me, and don’t say anything about it taking too long.You got justice for us and helped me find a community of fellow travelers through the grief group, so we’re square.”

Sam hugged her again.“You’re the best.”

“As are you.I’m sure there’ll be others from the grief group speaking out before the day is over.Danita is as fired up as I am.”

Danita’s son, Jamal, had been shot during the sniper siege that’d led to Offenbach’s downfall.

“You’ve helped to turn around this day, and I’ll never forget it.”

“We love you.We support you.We owe you.We won’t forget either.”Lenore kissed Sam’s cheek and was gone as fast as she’d come.

Sam fanned her face.“Holy moly.”

“You deserve it, Lieutenant,” Cameron Green said.

“The squad has prepared a statement that I’ll read on behalf of the others,” Gonzo said.“Just an FYI that I’m heading out there now.”

“You guys…”

“If you expected any of us to take this lying down, you don’t know us at all,” Freddie said fiercely.“And you know us as well as anyone does.Come on, guys.Let’s do this thing.”

As they left the pit, each of them gave her a pat on the arm.

“We got you, LT,” O’Brien said.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Not wanting to miss whatever was about to happen, Sam went into the conference room to watch the ongoing coverage of the explosive news story that had two MPD officers threatening the lives of their colleague, the first lady, and her husband, the president.

Though she always hated when she was the story, she sure as hell hadn’t started this one.

Her team gathered behind Gonzo, who stepped up to the podium.Even Carlucci and Dominguez were there when they should’ve been at home sleeping.

“I’m Detective Sergeant Tommy Gonzales, second-in-command to Lieutenant Holland in the MPD Homicide division, and the people behind me make up our squad.Sam Holland is my boss and one of my best friends in this world.Everyone who reports to her would say the same thing about her being a friend, a mentor and a role model to all of us.We meet people on the worst day of their lives, when they’ve lost someone they love to murder.No one works harder to get justice for the victims and their families than Sam Holland.

“She’s tireless, dogged, aggressive and often downright obnoxious if that’s what’s needed to get the job done.She’s everything you’d want on the case if someone you loved was murdered.To the rest of the world, she’s the first lady of the United States, but if you were to ask us or anyone else close to her, we’d tell you that she’s a detective first and foremost.This is not just what she does.It’s who she is, and we consider ourselves blessed to work for someone who cares as much as she does about a job that most people—including the two cowards who posted that video—could never do.

“When my partner was murdered on the job, Sam Holland was there for me through every second of the nightmare that followed, right up to and including the conviction of the man who took Detective Arnold from us.She supported me through my dependence on pain meds and never gave up on me, even when most bosses would have.I’m here today, clean, sober and living my best life in large part because of her love and support.When any of us needs help or support, she’s our first call because she’s always there for us—on and off the job.

“My colleagues and I are proud members of the Metropolitan Police Department, which is made up of more than four thousand men and women, human beings who make mistakes just like everyone else.A very small percentage of them are criminals hiding behind the badge.It’d be a terrible mistake to indict the hardworking members of this department or our leadership due to the sins of the few.No one wants them out of this place more than we do.And we’ll work around the clock to support our federal colleagues in apprehending Dylan Offenbach and making sure he and Jim Ramsey spend the rest of their sorry lives in prison.Thank you.”

Sam was mopping up tears as the news anchors returned to comment on Gonzo’s statement.

“An enthusiastic endorsement from Holland’s closest colleagues and further proof that Ramsey and Offenbach certainly don’t speak for everyone inside MPD headquarters.We’ll stay on this breaking news story with updates as they develop in the manhunt for Dylan Offenbach.”

Sam went out to greet her team as they returned to the pit, giving each of them a hug as they came in.“Thank you.”

“No, Lieutenant,” Charles said vehemently, “thankyou, for everything you are and everything you do.And while you’ll say I’m sucking up again, I’ll risk it to tell you it’s an honor and a privilege to work under your command.”

“Thank you, Neveah.It’s an honor and a privilege to work with all of you, too.Now, let’s get back to it and help the Feds find this guy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said together.

Sam went back into her office and sat behind the desk, putting her head back against the chair as she tried to catch her breath.When she’d first seen that video, she’d feared her tenure at the MPD was over.Her colleagues and Lenore had said otherwise.She was filled with gratitude for the show of support, but she wouldn’t rest easy until the man who’d conspired with Ramsey to threaten her—and Nick—was behind bars.

Sittingwith Harlowe on the sofa, Archie watched the ongoing coverage of the manhunt for Offenbach and the endless replay of the video released by him and Ramsey.

“I need to notify them that you recognized Offenbach,” he said after they watched Gonzo’s impassioned statement in support of Sam.

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