Page 18 of State of Retribution

“Onward,” he said with a wave as he departed.

Sam appreciated how he’d tended to business before expressing concern for her and Nick, knowing how she hated to be the story, especially at work.If she allowed herself to contemplate the level of distraction she was these days, or what some of her colleagues were probably saying behind her back, she wouldn’t be able to function.Three grieving families needed her functioning at the highest level, so she doubled down on the prep work until she felt ready for the briefing.

She took her notes with her when she left the pit to head to the main entrance.The media gathered outside the doors year-round, in all kinds of weather, waiting for updates.Judging by the larger-than-average crowd, they were looking for more than just information about her new cases.Sam stood frozen for a second, trying to find the fortitude to push through the doors to face off with them—and to fend off their questions about yesterday’s events.

Chief Joe Farnsworth joined her.“Morning.”

“Morning.”

“I’d ask how you are, but…”

Sam smiled at the man she’d called Uncle Joe growing up, as he’d been her father’s best friend.“I’m just great.”

“Heard you’re doing the briefing.”

“You heard right.”

“Figured you might need some help fending off the idiots who’ll be asking about yesterday.”

“Judging by the size of the crowd, that’s a safe assumption.Shall we?”

“After you, my friend.”

“Is it weird that this feels scarier than it did before yesterday?”

“Not at all.It’s totally understandable, and we do have other people who could do this.”

“No,” she said firmly, “it has to be me, or whoever is gunning for us will celebrate running me out of the job.I can’t give them the satisfaction.”

“Proud of you,” the chief said quietly.“And he would be, too.”

“Don’t make me cry before I face the jackals.”

“My apologies.Please proceed.”

Having him—and Vernon—by her side made her feel better about stepping into the scrum of reporters, who began clamoring for information the second they cleared the doorway.As usual, Sam stood at the podium and stared at a spot in the distance until they quit shouting questions at her.She spotted Jimmy and two other agents she recognized but couldn’t name off the top of her head positioned around the perimeter of the gathering.Vernon stood behind her.

The reporters finally realized they’d get nothing until they shut up.She found it amusing that they had to relearn that lesson every time.

“On Saturday evening at around eleven thirty, Lorraine Sweeny, age sixty-two, was walking home in Southeast after taking the Metro from her job as a nurse at Green Acres Nursing Home.While walking through a poorly lit area, she was struck in the back of her head by an assailant.When she didn’t arrive home at the usual time, her husband checked her location on his phone, saw that she wasn’t moving and ran to find her.She was deceased when he arrived.Lorraine was the mother of four, the grandmother of five and was weeks away from retirement.”

“What are you hearing about the investigation into the drones that were set on attacking the Easter Egg Roll?”

Sam glanced at the reporter who’d asked the question and gave him a look that she hoped made his balls shrivel.“I’m briefing you on three homicides that transpired in recent days.If you’re here for information about anything other than that, you’ll leave disappointed.On Sunday evening, while out jogging in Adams Morgan, thirty-six-year-old Nate Andrews, an analyst at the Department of Labor, was similarly struck in the back of the head.He was transported to GW Trauma and passed away this morning.He leaves his wife and two children, one of them a newborn.

“In the early hours of this morning, after leaving work at the restaurant where she waitressed, twenty-two-year-old college student Alexa Prescott was hit from behind on 14thStreet and died at the scene.After growing up in the foster system, Alexa was attending Marymount on an academic scholarship.

“The MPD is asking the public for any information you may have on any of these deadly attacks.”Sam recited the number for the tip line twice.“In addition, we’re urging citizens to be vigilant while walking at night, especially in poorly lit areas.I’ll take a few questions about this case—and only this case.”

She nodded to a TV reporter with brown hair.She didn’t recognize her as one of the regulars.“As first lady, is it safe for you to be outside right now?”

“Next.”She pointed to Darren Tabor, her sorta friend fromTheWashingtonStar, hoping he’d play by the rules.

“Are there security cameras in the areas of the attacks?”

“Our IT team is actively looking for any video that might’ve been captured, but the attacks took place in dark areas, which we believe was intentional to avoid camera detection.Citizens and visitors need to be extremely careful about walking outside at night while this suspect is still at large.”

“Are you treating the cases as related?”another reporter asked.

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