Page 147 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“They’re not so bad,” Sam said to Freddie as they walked into HQ.

“Not so bad at all, and Vernon already loves you like a daughter.”

“You think so?”

“Absolutely.”

“That’s sweet. I miss my dad so much.”

“I miss him, too. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you and your family.”

“You were family to him, too, Freddie. You know that.”

“I’d love to ask him what the heck we do about this latest development.”

“Yeah, he’d definitely have an opinion.”

When they reached the pit, Sam said, “Everyone to the conference room. Freddie, call the captain—and the chief.”

“Oh, hello,” Gonzo said. “What’s up?”

“You won’t believe it.”

“Do we have a lead?”

“Do we ever.”

They waited fifteen minutes for the chief to arrive. “Sorry, I was on a call with the mayor, who’s busting her buttons over the big news. Detective McBride, we’re so proud of you.”

“We’re so proud,” Sam added. “My dad would be thrilled to see you in his old office.”

“Thank you all. Your support means everything to me—and I’m going to need it when the word gets out that a detective is being promoted three ranks.”

“We’ve got your back,” O’Brien said. “Couldn’t be happier for you.”

“Back to business.” Malone used his chin to gesture to the chief. “Tell him what you told me.”

“Our investigation has led to Ramsey’s son Shane.”

Gonzo gasped. “Shut. Up.”

“We’re not saying he’s our guy. We’re saying he hassled one of our victims in a bar about ten days before she was raped and murdered. The night they met he told her she’d be sorry she wasn’t receptive to his advances.”

“That makes him our first person of interest,” Jeannie said.

“It does. And since Ramsey has a massive hard-on for me—”

“Disgusting,” Freddie muttered.

“—Gonzo, I want you and Jeannie to find Shane Ramsey and bring him in. Captain Malone, I need you to go directly to a judge with what we have to get a warrant for his DNA. He threatened her, and she turned up dead a short time after. That should be enough to get a warrant, but I don’t want any nosy courthouse people or the sheriff’s deputies that work there talking about this before we have it locked and loaded.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Malone said. “Find him somewhere other than the house where he lives with his parents and make sure he has no time to notify anyone he’s being brought in. Let’s keep this quiet until we know for sure if he’s involved.”

Sam gave Gonzo and Jeannie the address of the auto repair shop where he worked as well as the name of the bar where he was known to hang out.

“We’re on it,” Gonzo said.

After he and Jeannie left, O’Brien went back to the pit, leaving Sam and Freddie alone with the captain and chief.

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