Page 172 of State of Retribution

“Yes, he does, which is ironic.You weren’t the one screwing someone else when you were supposed to be at a work conference right before your sixth child was born.Were you?”

“No, ma’am.”

“I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to remind him that there was no one to blame for the situation he found himself in but him, but he never wanted to hear that.I asked to see you because I’m worried about your safety.He’s completely unhinged when it comes to you and Lieutenant Archelotta.”

“Are you aware of what happened to Archie’s girlfriend?”

Her eyes went wide.“What?No…”

“It might be better if you didn’t know.”

“Oh God.Is she… Is she dead?”

“No, he let her live so she could go back to Archie and force him to confront the fact that she got kidnapped and assaulted because of his work.”

Laura shook her head.“I always knew he was intense, but I had no idea he was capable of the things they’re saying he’s done or that he could hold a gun to Micah’s head and then lock us in a room for three days.Who does that to their own children?”

Sam didn’t have an answer that would satisfy her, so she handed her a tissue and waited for her to continue.“Did he say anything before he locked you in the room or after?”

“Just that he needed to keep us out of the way.I asked him what he meant, and he wouldn’t say.How were we in the way when we were at our home, minding our own business?”

“Maybe he knew you’d be the first stop law enforcement made when we connected him to the drones and the other crimes.”

“What did he do with drones?”she asked tentatively.

“He’s the one who flew them toward the Easter Egg Roll at the White House.They were armed with guns.”

“Oh God…”

“Fortunately, they were stopped.We found a 3D printer at his house that we believe was used to produce the drones.”

“That goddamned printer.”Her expression turned thunderous.“Do youknowhow much that thing cost?”

“I don’t.”

“Forty-five thousand dollars!”

“Where’d he get the money?”

“From a line of credit on the house I got in the divorce.He took the money before the divorce was final.That line of credit had been for emergencies.I found out about it after he’d already bought the printer, and now I’m stuck with the debt.If I’d had any idea what he planned to do with it…” Her voice caught on a sob.“I didn’t know, or I would’ve said something.”

Sam reached up to put her hand on top of Laura’s.“No one blames you for any of this, Laura.”

“I feel like I should’ve known he’d do something crazy.He was so, so angry after he got caught and demoted.He blamed you and the other lieutenant for all of it.I should’ve spoken up.I should’ve warned you.Maybe if I had, he could’ve been stopped before it came to this.”

Sam released her to grab another tissue to hand to her.

“Are you okay, Mom?”Micha asked.

“I’m fine, honey.Thanks for watching the kids.”Glancing at Sam, she said, “He’s such a big help to me, and he’s only eleven.I worry he’s losing his childhood as a result of his father’s actions.”

“Kids are remarkably resilient.”

“They’ll need intensive therapy after what we went through in that room.”

“I’ll ask Dr.Trulo, our department psychiatrist, to come by to see you.”

“Why would he help me when my ex-husband is causing all this chaos?”

---