Page 5 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“To get our family Bible.”

Brant nodded to one of the other agents, indicating that she should follow Sam.

Sam wanted to remind him that she wasn’t officially under their protection, but she’d be fighting that battle in the days to come. She went up the ramp to Celia’s front door and knocked. A few seconds later, the outside light came on as locks were disengaged.

Celia, who was wearing a robe, seemed surprised to see Sam there. “Come in.” She opened the storm door. “What’re you doing out so late? And why are you all made up?”

“I need to tell you something that you can’t tell anyone else.”

“All right…”

“President Nelson passed away.”

Celia gasped. “What? When?”

“He was found dead a short time ago.”

Her eyes went wide as the implications seemed to hit her all at once. “So that means… Dear God, Sam.”

“Believe me, I know. I was hoping I could borrow the Holland family Bible.”

“Of course. Do you know where it is?”

“The last time I saw it, it was on the bookshelf in Dad’s room. Do you mind if I run up and see if I can find it?”

“My home is your home. You know that.”

Sam kissed Celia on the cheek. “Thank you.”

She ran up the stairs to the room that had been her dad’s before he was shot on the job four years ago and left a quadriplegic. The last time she’d been in there, shortly after his death in October, she and her partner, Detective Freddie Cruz, had been looking for the messenger bag Skip had carried on the job. She hadn’t been in there again since, and when she crossed the threshold and encountered the faint scent of the Polo cologne Skip used to wear, a million and one memories hit her in a tsunami of emotions.

Oh, how she missed him.

She found the Bible on the small bookshelf that also held numerous volumes about investigative techniques as well as fictional thrillers, held it to her chest and gave herself a second to wallow in the presence of Skip Holland in this place that had been his private sanctuary.

“Dad, if you can hear me, things are about to get crazy for me and Nick and the kids. Keep an eye on us, will you? Do whatever you can to keep him safe and give me a clue of how I’m supposed to deal with this. I’ll take whatever you’ve got. I miss you every minute of every day, but never more so than right now.”

Knowing Nick was waiting for her and time was of the essence, she left the room and went downstairs.

“I’m glad you found it,” Celia said. “Please let me know what I can do for you, Nick or the kids. Anything you need, I’m right here.”

Sam put down the Bible and hugged her. “I’m so scared.” She could count on one hand the number of times she’d said those words out loud in her adult life. Sam wasn’t known for being scared, but this…

“I’m sure you are,” Celia said. “But if anyone can pull this off, you can. I have complete faith in you.”

“Thank you. I needed that. I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll be waiting to hear from you. I’ll pray for you and Nick. Our country is lucky to have you both.”

She retrieved the Bible. “Keep telling me that, okay?”

“Anytime you need to hear it.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Sam went outside and down the ramp to the sidewalk, where the Secret Service agent waited for her. She hurried to the waiting limousine and got in the back seat next to Nick. Scotty sat across from them, his brows furrowed with the same anxiety she was feeling.

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