Page 29 of State of Retribution

“We wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary.We want to find the person who took Nate from you.”

She hiccupped on a sob that seemed to take her by surprise.“He was my big brother.My hero.”

“We’re so very sorry for your loss.”

The woman stepped back.“Please come in.”

“What’s your name?”Sam asked.

“Jenna Andrews.”

“I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances.”

“Me, too.Normally, I’d be freaking out.Now… I’m just numb.”

Jenna showed them to the living room.They could hear the low buzz of voices coming from the next room.“I’ll see if Emily can talk to you.”

“Please tell her we’d never disturb her unless we had to.”

Jenna nodded and walked away.

Sam took a seat on the sofa.On the table was a wedding photo of a young, gorgeous couple beaming at each other on the happiest day of their lives.Next to that was a framed photo of them with a little girl with blonde curls and a new baby.

Heartbreaking.

Nate’s wife was escorted into the room by an older couple, each of them gripping one of her arms as if she wouldn’t remain standing if they let go.They held on to her until the three of them were seated on a sofa.

“I’m Ryan Goodman.My wife, Susan, and our daughter, Emily Andrews, Nate’s wife.”

“We’re so very sorry for your loss.”

Emily wept silently, as if she was afraid to make a sound lest she start screaming and never stop.

“It’s unfathomable that anyone could hurt Nate,” Ryan said.“He’d literally give you the shirt off his back.I’ve seen him do it.He gave his sweater to a homeless man once because the man was cold.”Ryan shook his head.“How could anyone want to hurt him?”

“I wish I had the answers you need.We’re doing everything we can to find the person who did this.Do you know if Nate was having any problems with anyone?At work or personally?”

“No,” Susan said.“Everyone loved him.He had so many friends and was moving up quickly in his career.”

“Is it possible someone he worked with was resentful of his promotions?”

“I… I don’t know,” Susan said.

Emily shook her head, keeping her eyes on the floor.“He was friends with his coworkers.They loved him.”

“And personally, no conflicts with neighbors or extended family?”

“Nothing like that,” Emily said.“We kept to ourselves mostly.We have two young children…” Her voice broke as she choked on a sob.“What’re we supposed to do now?What will I do?”

Her parents wept with her as they wrapped their arms around her.

Sam put her card on the table.“If you think of anything that might be relevant, even the smallest thing, please call me.Even if you aren’t sure it matters, call me anyway.”

“We will,” Ryan said.

“Can I please get your contact information so I can keep you updated?”She wrote down the number he gave her and stood.“Please don’t get up.We can show ourselves out.”

Outside, Sam took greedy breaths of the fresh, cool spring air as her eyes blurred with tears.“I fucking hate cases like this.Regular, nice people going about their lives, not bothering anyone, until they’re killed for no good reason.”

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