Page 26 of State of Denial

But it was more than that.

Something was off inside her, and she couldn’t say what it was. While she had a minute, she texted her sister Tracy.Have you talked to Ang today? How are they doing?

Sam had liked it better when Ang and the kids were staying with them at the White House so she could see them every day. However, she respected Angela’s decision to return to their own home, where she could work on putting her life back together after her husband’s sudden death.

Maybe it was Spencer’s death and the senselessness of it all that had her by the throat. He’d often gotten on her nerves with his big opinion of himself, but he’d loved Angela and their kids with all his heart. No one could deny that. Sam gave Angela credit for pushing forward when Sam would’ve been catatonic if she’d lost Nick.

People said you found a way through it when things like that happened. She wouldn’t find a way through losing him. No way. The thought of it was enough to wreck her. And why was she thinking about that? How could she not after a loss like that had struck so close to home? She’d never admired her sister more than she had in the last few weeks as Angela made the adjustment to being a widow and single mother to two young children with a third on the way.

Her phone chimed with a text from Tracy.Talked to her earlier. Jack didn’t want to go to school this morning, but they worked through it and got him there a little late. She said he had a good day. Ella is getting molars, so she’s miserable, and Ang is feeling nauseous. Mom is there now and making dinner.

I’m glad Mom is there helping.

She’s staying with them for a little while.

That’s good.

I think so, too. How are you?

New case. Parents, four kids murdered. Staged to look like murder-suicide, but I’m not convinced.

Jeez, Sam. Don’t know how you do it.

Someone’s gotta.

How’s Nick holding up with the mother shit?

Okay, I guess. Anxious to get home to him. Gotta meet with Trulo first. Tough crime scene earlier. Mandatory shrinking.

Glad you’re getting that support. Don’t be difficult about it.

What? Me, difficult?

Tracy replied with laughing emojis.

It’s not that funny.

YES, IT IS. Call me later.

Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t.

That got her an eye roll emoji that made her snort with laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“Tracy rolling her eyes at me.”

“That happens so often in the course of a day, I’m surprised you still find it funny,” Freddie said dryly.

Vernon coughed to cover a laugh.

Jimmy laughed out loud.

Sam glared at Freddie. “This shall be remembered at annual review time.”

“I’m scared.”

“Good. You should be.” The banter with him and the laughter with her sister and the agents helped to take the edge off an awful day. She’d had a lot of awful days on this job, so it was hard to say why this one felt different. Something was wrong when she was looking forward to a session with Dr. Trulo.

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