Page 90 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

The woman’s moan came through the phone. “Because of that asshole Eddie?”

“It was related.”

“Of course it was. I’ve been trying to get her to leave that monster for years. I hope he’s locked up.”

“He was killed in the incident.”

“Good. He doesn’t deserve to live in a world with civilized people. He’s the reason none of us has seen her in more than a year.”

“I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. Are you able to be with her in the hospital?”

“Did she really ask for me?”

“She gave me your number.”

She released a deep sigh. “I’ll be there shortly. Thank you for calling me.”

“Of course. No problem.”

“I’ve been waiting for this call for a long time while praying it wouldn’t be the worst possible news.”

“It’s going to take a while, but she’ll get through this.”

“I really hope so.”

They said their goodbyes, and Sam slapped her phone closed, feeling satisfied that she’d made a difference for one family that day, which was one of the many reasons she loved this job so much.

“Gonzo emailed me Evans’s sheet. It’s long and ugly.” Freddie handed his phone to her. “He’s been in and out of trouble for most of his life. Mostly in.”

Sam scanned the lengthy sheet that included burglaries, drug charges and assaults. “How is this guy still on the streets?”

“That’s a very good question.”

She handed the phone back to him and checked the clock to make sure she still had plenty of time before her meeting with Mrs. Nelson. “Let’s look in on Gigi and then go pick him up. Tell Gonzo to meet us there with backup in thirty minutes.”

Gigi was asleep when they dropped by her room, so Sam left a note that they’d been there and were hoping she felt better. I’ll check in later, she added before signing her name and Freddie’s.

Back in the car, Freddie put the Anacostia address for Kelvin into the maps app on his phone, which gave them the fastest route.

“That’s pretty cool.”

“What is?”

“The way the phone gives you the fastest way to get there.”

“You too could have this technology if you upgraded from the flip.”

“Shut your filthy mouth. Me and my flip are ride or die.”

Thanks to her peripheral vision, she caught him rolling his eyes. “They’ll probably make you have a BlackBerry now that Nick is president.”

“That may or may not have already happened.”

“Really?” he said, laughing. “I would’ve liked to have seen that conversation.”

“We were naked in bed. Still wish you were there?”

“Ew.”

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