Page 64 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“That’s a good idea, too,” Sam said. “We’ll do that after the football coach. In the meantime, the rest of you can stay on the computers, digging into each member of the family. As you know, no detail is too small. I want reports on the kids’ social media as well.”

“We’re on it,” Gonzo said. “We’ve got a few things to talk about from Stahl’s files, too.”

“Like what?”

“A missing teenager who was never investigated, to start with.”

“Ugh,” Sam said. “Tell me that’s the worst of it.”

“That’s the worst of what we’ve found so far,” Gonzo said.

“Is it safe to assume it was a Black teenager?” Sam asked.

“It is, a girl.”

“Why did I know you were going to say that?”

“Because Stahl was a scumbag, and now we’re finding out he was even more of one than we thought.”

“He was a racist scumbag on top of all his other charms,” Jeannie said fiercely. “With your permission, I’ll dig into that unsolved case.”

“Please do,” Sam said. “Keep me posted.”

“I will.”

“All right, everyone, let’s get to work.”

Sam and Freddie found Mark Ouellette at a nondescript office on Rhode Island Avenue with several employees working at desks in the outer office. Although he immediately recognized Sam, he didn’t overreact, but he did seem nervous.

“You’re here about Pam,” he said. “We’re all just shocked and heartbroken.”

“How did you find out about her death?”

“My son, Aidan, heard it from some other kids on the team. He plays with Pam’s sons, Lucas and Justin.”

After he closed the office door, he gestured for them to sit in visitor chairs on the other side of his messy desk.

“Do you own this business?” she asked.

“I do. I have to make my own schedule to accommodate my second job as a football coach. What happened to Pam? No one has been able to find that out.”

“She was found bound and gagged in her minivan in Southeast.”

“Oh my God.” He rubbed a trembling hand over his face. “And you’re sure it’s her?”

Sam gave him a perplexed look. “Of course we’re sure.” After a beat, she continued. “I have to be honest with you, Mr. Ouellette. Your reaction seems intense, considering we’re talking about the mother of some of the kids you coach. You seem incredibly upset.”

“I am incredibly upset. Pam was a wonderful person. She helped so much with the management of the team. I’ll be lost without her.”

“And that’s all it was between you and her?” Sam asked, working a hunch. “The management of the team?”

He gasped with outrage. “What’re you asking?”

“You know what I’m asking. Were you involved with her beyond the team?”

“No, I wasn’t. She’s happily married, and so am I. I have a wife and four children. She has three kids and has been with Bob forever. Our families were connected through football for many years. I considered her a close friend, so yes, I’m very upset that she’s been murdered.”

While his words were convincing, the tingle that attacked Sam’s backbone told her to look closer, to dig deeper. She’d learned to trust those tingles. “I’m going to say this once and only once, Mr. Ouellette. If you know something that might be relevant to this investigation, I urge you to come forward with it now. If we have to come back here, the next visit won’t be friendly.”

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