Page 80 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

She heard him typing on a computer.

“She’s in the ICU.”

“Am I allowed to see her there?”

“Let me know when you’re coming, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

“Haven’t seen you in a while. You must be due for some sort of disaster by now.”

“Shut your mouth!”

He hung up laughing.

Sam ended the call. “Cheeky bastard.” Despite her overall disdain for people in general, she’d made some good friends through her job, and they often came in handy. She drove through quiet Sunday morning streets and was at HQ twelve minutes later. For once, the place wasn’t surrounded by media trucks, as the press probably didn’t expect her to be there on a Sunday.

Their absence made it possible for her to enter the building through the main entrance, which was a rare treat. Usually, she had to sneak in through the morgue to avoid reporters holding out hope that she’d one day comment on her husband, his public persona, their personal lives, etc. The only thing she was ever willing to comment on—and willing was a stretch—was her cases. Otherwise, they could kiss her ass. She’d never give them anything about Nick, no matter how many times they asked.

The first person she encountered was the one she least expected to see there on a Sunday—Chief Farnsworth.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she said. “No church this morning?” For as long as she’d known him—and she’d known him all her life—he’d never missed weekly Mass.

“We went last night. I prayed for you and your husband as you begin this challenging new journey.”

“Thank you,” she said softly. “We need all the prayers we can get.”

“You’re going to be a terrific first couple. I have no doubt about it.”

“He’ll be a great president. I have no doubt about that. The jury’s still out on the first lady, however. I hear she’s a ball-busting cop who’s refusing to give up her day job.”

Smiling, he said, “She’s the best ball-busting cop on this force, and I, for one, am very relieved that she’s stubbornly clinging to her day job. She makes me look good on the regular.”

“She does what she can for the people. Are we done speaking of her in the third person?”

“We can be. How are you?”

“I’m strangely okay. Talk to me when I have to move, which I hear is happening as soon as later this week. Did you know they come in, pack up all your crap for you and then unpack it there?”

“Is that right? Well, I suppose it’s the least they can do with the way you’re turning your lives upside down in service to the country.”

“Yes, that’s true. So what’re you doing here?”

“I have a meeting with Agent Hill about the investigation later this morning, and no, I don’t have anything new to report. In addition to that, the mayor has been blowing up my phone wanting to talk to me—and to you.”

“I heard about that. What’s she want with me?”

“She’s on her way over here, so you can find out for yourself.”

Sam grimaced. “Like, now?”

He checked his watch. “Any minute now. She was coming to talk to me, but she’ll be thrilled to hear that you’re here too.”

“I’m only here because I caught a new case last night. I’ve got real work to do.”

“The mayor wants to talk to you. That’s your job at the moment.”

She scowled at him. “I never should’ve come here today.”

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