Page 64 of State of Retribution

“I want Joe to run for president so I can be the first lady and not work,” Deb said with a grin.

“Not gonna happen,” Joe said.

“He’s no fun,” Deb said.

Sam laughed.“Trust me, it’s not as much fun as it looks.”She’d no sooner uttered the words than she feared she’d said too much.“Please don’t ever repeat that I said that.I’d never want to come off like I’m complaining about the extraordinary privilege of living at the White House.”

“No worries,” Joe said.“We’d never repeat that to anyone, and P.S., we already knew it’s not as much fun as it might seem.I can’t imagine having that kind of responsibility or scrutiny on me.”

“That’s the hard part,” Sam said.

“I’m really pulling for your husband,” Joe said.“He seems like a very decent sort of guy.”

“Thank you for that.He cares deeply about doing the right thing and isn’t more worried about reelection than he is about doing the job.”

“So he’s not going to run in the next election?”

“He says he’s not, but I guess we’ll see.Again, that’s not public info.”

“We understand,” Deb said.“We won’t repeat anything you tell us.”

“We have a rule that what happens in the SUV stays in the SUV,” Freddie told them.

“It’s a huge honor for us to meet you,” Joe said.

“Wait until you get to know her,” Freddie said.

They laughed.

“He’s not funny.That’s a rule.”

They pulled up to Power Yoga on Columbia Road about ten minutes later.As usual, Vernon asked for a minute to secure the area before they got out.

“This is the annoying part,” Sam said as she watched the swarm of agents prepare a path for her that she didn’t feel she needed, but no one had asked her.

“Better safe than sorry, I guess,” Joe said.

Of course it was, Sam wanted to say, but the delay would always be frustrating for someone who had more to do in a day than could be done in a week.

Vernon did his best to move things along, as usual, and was back to the SUV in ten minutes.“Good to go.”

“Thank you, Vernon.”

The four of them got out, zipping coats against a stiff, cool breeze.

“This is the yoga studio,” Deb said.“We walked two blocks that way to a taco place we like afterward.”

“Show me.”Sam scanned the area for cameras.To Freddie, she said, “Text Walters and see what we’ve got around here and have him start reviewing the film from last Friday night.”

While he did that, Sam, Deb and Joe walked the two blocks to the restaurant, which was painted in colorful shades of purple and red.

“We joked about working out and then ruining it with tacos and beer,” Deb said.“We made the same joke every time.Harlowe loves their chicken nachos.She said she’s addicted.”

“Where did you last see her?”

“Right here.”Deb pointed to the curb outside the restaurant.“I was picked up by an Uber.She said she was going to walk home.I told her I’d see her at class on Monday, and she said to have a great weekend.”

“Was anyone else with you, or was it just the two of you?”

---