Page 73 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“It’s come to our attention that she and your husband were involved. Romantically involved.”

For a heartbeat, Josie’s face went completely blank as she shook her head. “That’s not possible.”

Sam remained quiet to give the other woman a moment to wrap her head around what Sam was telling her.

“How do you know that?”

“He told us.”

She shook her head again with disbelief. “That’s ludicrous. He’s so busy, he barely has time to eat or sleep between running his business and coaching the team. When in the world would he have time for…” Josie stopped as if something had occurred to her that made her realize that what Sam was telling her might be true. She immediately began to weep.

Sam glanced at Freddie, who seemed as agonized over this as she was. “I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, Mrs. Ouellette, but we’re trying to figure out who would’ve been angry enough with Pam to do what was done to her.”

“It wasn’t me,” she said between sobs. “I didn’t know she was sleeping with my husband.”

Sam believed her. “Can you think of anyone else who might’ve had a beef with her?” She asked the necessary questions, even though she had to believe the affair played into what’d happened to Pam. It was the only thing out of the ordinary they’d discovered yet about the dead woman’s life.

Josie shook her head as she wiped away tears. “Everyone likes her. Or they did. Or so I thought. Who knows what’s true and what isn’t?” She used a paper napkin to mop up her tears and blow her nose. “Does Bob know?”

“He’s our next stop.”

“This will devastate him. He adored her. That was obvious to everyone who knew them. Why would she do something like this to him? To her children? To my family?”

Sam wanted to remind her that it took two to tango, but she’d come to that conclusion on her own soon enough.

“How old are your children?” Sam asked her.

“Aidan is nineteen. Grace is eighteen, Michaela is fifteen, and my baby, Alexis, is eleven.” She gave Sam a look full of despair. “What am I supposed to do now? My husband was having an affair with a woman who was murdered? And you’re here because you thought I killed her?”

“We had to rule you out.”

“I didn’t kill her. I had no idea I had cause to want her dead. I’ve been heartbroken over what happened to her, and now I find out she’d been sleeping with my husband. For how long? Did he say?”

“A year.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.” She got up and rushed for the bathroom that was around the corner from the kitchen. The sounds of retching soon filled the air.

“Today, I truly hate this job,” Sam said.

“Right there with you.”

Sam’s phone chimed with a text from her reporter friend Darren Tabor from the Washington Star. Got a text from Roni. She’s away until after the holidays. She said she’d check in with you and to please hold the job for her if you can.

Sam texted him right back. I’ll hit her up and let her know the job is hers whenever she’s available. Glad to hear she’s ok.

Define ok, though, you know?

Yeah, for sure. I feel for her.

Me, too, but I think the job is giving her something to look forward to, so thanks for that.

Excited to have her on the team. If you’re in the area and would like to come by the WH for a gathering on Christmas Eve, I’ll leave your name at the gate.

Shut up. Don’t mess with me that way.

I mean it! You’re invited as a FRIEND. Off the record.

I need a minute to process this.

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