Page 138 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“You may as well tell everyone at the same time.” Sam turned to return to the pit. “Listen up, everyone! Jeannie has something to tell you.”

Gonzo, Cruz and O’Brien gave her their full attention. Green, Dominguez and Carlucci would find out soon enough.

“Mayor Brewster has asked me to take the deputy chief’s job, and I’ve accepted her offer. And no, I can’t believe this any more than you can.”

“Holy shit, Jeannie,” Gonzo said. “That’s fantastic. Congratulations.”

“I’m so happy for you, Jeannie,” Freddie said. “And so proud.”

They hugged her and celebrated her until Jeannie was wiping away tears. “Thanks so much, you guys. I’ll need your support when everyone else finds out and complains about me being promoted over sergeants, lieutenants and captains.”

“Let them complain,” Gonzo said. “We all know firsthand that you’ve earned this.”

“I love you all so much. Please tell me you’ll still be my best friends.”

“Always,” Freddie said, speaking for all of them.

He and Sam left through the morgue door a few minutes later and got into the SUV. Sam recited Wes Hambly’s address, which Jimmy punched into the GPS.

“Thanks, guys.”

“No problem, ma’am,” Vernon said.

“This is pretty sweet,” Freddie said of the Secret Service SUV.

“Don’t get used to it. I’ll be back to driving you in no time.”

“I plan to enjoy this while it lasts. I bet Vernon will be more sympathetic to my regular need to eat than you are.”

“His regular need to eat happens hourly, Vernon, so don’t be too sympathetic.”

Vernon cackled with laughter.

“Don’t ruin it for me,” Freddie said. “So, what’s the plan with Hambly?”

“To ask all the same questions again. And then we’ll take our show on the road and talk to Woo’s friends. I never got to interview them the first time around, so I’ll start fresh.”

“If we’re going to be dealing with grieving friends and family all day, I’ll need food. Lots of it.”

“You see what I deal with, Vernon?”

“I see it, and I empathize. Young Jimmy is equally ravenous.”

“And does he eat nothing but crap and not gain a pound, like my partner?”

“Yep. Life isn’t fair.”

“I say that every day.”

“We can hear you,” Freddie said for himself and Jimmy, who was laughing in the front seat.

“Good, then hear this—your disgusting diet will catch up to you someday, and I’m living for that day.”

“Don’t be a jealous cow, Sam. I’ve told you before it’s not a good look on you.”

Vernon and Jimmy both cracked up.

Sam smiled at her partner, thrilled to be back to doing what they did together after weeks of being sidelined. This was what she’d needed to set things right in her world—a case to sink her teeth into and some bickering with her partner. “How about our girl Jeannie, huh?”

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