Page 61 of State of Retribution

“Think about what youbringto the investigations.Like the fact that we’re here to talk to this woman because you asked Harlowe the right questions.”

“You would’ve gotten here eventually.”

“It never would’ve occurred to me to ask her the last thing she remembers.”

“Yes, it would have.”

“I was focused on what she was doing in DC, where she’s from, where she lives in the city.That kind of thing.I wasn’t thinking about taking it back to the last memory.You did that.”

“Well, you’re very kind to say so, but I still hate the time being wasted when we have three bodies in the morgue and a traumatized young woman who may or may not be our fourth victim.”

“Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control.It doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.We’re working the case, doing the job, even if it takes a tiny bit longer than usual.It’s no big deal.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.Now knock it off.”

Sam laughed and realized she felt a little better.

Vernon returned to the SUV, opened the back door and signaled for them to come with him.

They took an elevator to the couple’s third-floor apartment, where two agents Sam didn’t recognize were positioned outside the open door.

“Hey, I’m Joe.Come in.”The man was tall and handsome, with sandy-brown hair, brown eyes and a lean build.

“This is my partner, Detective Cruz, and Secret Service Agent Vernon Rogers,” Sam said as Vernon followed her and Freddie inside.“Sorry for all the uproar.”

“No problem.It’s not every day that the first lady stops by.”

She showed him her badge as a formality.“I’m in detective mode right now.”

“Of course.Deb is eager to help in any way she can.We can’t believe what happened to Harlowe.It’s terrible.Deb is finishing up a meeting.Can I get you something to drink?”

“Ice water would be great.”

“For you?”he asked Freddie.

“Water is good for me, too.”

Joe served the drinks to them at the island where they’d taken seats on stools.

“How long has Deb known Harlowe?”Sam asked, eager to proceed as the day got away from her.

“A couple of months now.They met in a Saturday-morning yoga class and started having coffee afterward.From there, she came to dinner with us a few times with other friends and attended a get-together we had here, where she met my friend Archie.You know him.”

“Yes, I do.”Better than you can imagine.

A pretty young woman with light tan skin and brown eyes came rushing into the room.She was fully made up, wearing a cream-colored silk blouse with sweats, and her dark hair was pulled back in a clip.“I’m so sorry I didn’t have time to change out of my work-at-home getup before you arrived.I’m Deb Martland.It’s such an honor to have you visit our home.”

Sam shook her hand.“I love the outfit.Wish I could get away with that at work.”

“It’s the work-at-home mullet—business on the top, party on the bottom,” Deb said.

Sam laughed.“I see how it is.”

“Working from home is awesome, except for when the first lady stops by.”

She showed Deb her badge.“Just a cop right now and looking for whatever you can tell me about your outing with Harlowe before she went missing.”

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