Chapter Eleven
“We have an identity for our Jane Doe,” Gonzo announced when Sam and Nick emerged from her office with Lilia and Harry after painfully extracting the words necessary to properly convey her sympathy about her ex-husband’s murder without getting into the fact that she’d often wanted to murder him herself. Fine line, that.
“Who is it?” Sam asked.
“Her name is Rose Samuels, a known prostitute and drug addict from Fairfax County. Went missing about four weeks ago.”
“Have you been in touch with Fairfax?”
“Cruz is on the phone with them now. They’re making arrangements to transport the body to their morgue so their ME can take a look. They’ve been investigating her disappearance for weeks now and have asked to take the lead.”
“Let them know we’re here to help if they need it.”
“Will do.”
Chief Farnsworth came into the pit with Captain Norris, head of the Public Affairs division, and his civilian subordinate, Tara, who always reminded Sam of a frightened puppy.
“We’ve got to do something about the press,” Farnsworth said, sounding harried. “They’re about to storm the gates looking for info about your ex-husband’s murder.”
“I’d be happy to brief them if that would help,” Lilia said, earning Sam’s eternal love and gratitude. “We have a statement prepared that Vice President and Mrs. Cappuano have approved.”
“It would be highly irregular for someone from outside the department to make a statement on our behalf,” Norris said.
“It’s not on the department’s behalf,” Sam said, wanting to suggest he pull the stick from his ass. “It’s on my behalf, and I say she’s the perfect person to handle the briefing.”
“I agree,” Farnsworth said. “This is personal for Lieutenant Holland. She’s calling the shots here.”
Sam could tell by the hateful glare Norris directed her way that he didn’t appreciate being dressed down by the chief. Great, another enemy to add to the growing list of people who hated her for one reason or another. Not that she could be bothered to care about such bullshit today.
“What’re we hearing from Crime Scene about Peter’s apartment?” Sam asked Malone.
“They’re still processing it, but whoever attacked him did a good job of covering their tracks.”
“I want to rip Peter’s life apart,” Sam said. “I want to talk to everyone he saw on a daily basis—coworkers, friends, neighbors. Someone knows something, saw something.”
“I agree,” Malone said.
“And I’m sure the next thing you’re going to say is it’s a huge conflict of interest for me to be involved in this case.
” Before they could object, she plunged ahead.
“Let me assure you, I had and have zero interest in Peter Gibson. I admit to being shocked and sickened by what was done to him, but I’m past that now.
I have no remaining emotional ties to him that would impair me from doing my job. ”
“There’s still the matter of the threat hanging over us,” Nick interjected, his terse tone letting her know he didn’t approve of her desire to be involved in Peter’s case. Shocker.
“That was focused on the kids, not me,” Sam said. “They’re all safe, and I won’t be alone at any time.” She looked up at Nick when she said, “I need to be part of this. I need it.”
His jaw tightened the way it did when he was upset or stressed. She hated being the source of either of those things, but she felt strongly enough about being on this case that she didn’t back down even to ease his worries.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” Farnsworth said. “You’ve been divorced from the guy for years and might be an asset, as you knew him better than any of the rest of us.”
“Unfortunately,” Nick said under his breath.
Sam didn’t blame him at all for his animosity toward Peter.
As long as she lived, she would never forgive the man who’d pretended to be her friend and confidant as he intentionally kept her from the love of her life.
That alone would’ve been unforgivable without everything else he’d done to mess with her life.
All combined, his transgressions had earned him a place in hell as far as she was concerned.
Despite that, he’d been tortured and murdered in her city, and that made him hers regardless of their personal history. She would see that justice was done on his behalf, no matter the toll it might take on her—and her marriage.
Compartmentalization. That was the word of the day.
In one compartment was the man who’d made her life a living hell.
In the other compartment was a murder victim in need of justice.
Sam could very easily separate one from the other to get the job done.
And when it was over, she would go on with her life knowing she’d done the best she could for a man who certainly hadn’t deserved anything from her.
“Would you like me to make the statement now?” Lilia asked Sam.
“That would be great. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you, Lilia,” Nick said. “Above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Happy to help, sir.”
“I’ll take you out and introduce you,” Farnsworth said.
“We’ll watch from the conference room,” Sam said. “Good luck and don’t make eye contact. They’ll smell fresh blood and take full advantage.”
“Lovely,” Lilia said with a bright smile that told Sam she was more than up for the challenge.
After Lilia left with the chief, Norris and Malone, Sam, Nick and Harry went into the conference room with Gonzo and Freddie.
“What’s her deal?” Harry asked Sam in a quiet tone meant for her ears only.
“Who? Lilia?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know her that well personally, but she’s been a fantastic support to me as I figure out how to do this second-lady thing. She’s very well connected and tuned into the rules of official Washington. So far she’s kept me from making any huge gaffes.”
“And for that she should be put up for some sort of presidential award.”
“Very funny.” She nudged him with an elbow. “So why the interest?”
“No reason. Just wondering.”
“No reason at all?”
“Knock it off, Sam,” he said with a good-natured smile.
“What’s she doing now?” Nick asked.
“I suspect she’s trying to play matchmaker.”
“Ohhh, you and Lilia? I could see that.”
“Right?” Sam said.
“Don’t you two have bigger things to be concerned about than my love life?” Harry asked.
“Yeah,” Nick said, “we do, so let us focus on your love life for a little while, will you?”
“Certainly,” Harry said like the good sport he always was. “Have at it.”
Sam squeezed his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
The good doctor, who’d long been one of Nick’s closest friends, had earned the same rank in her life over the last year and a half by always being there when she needed him.
She’d like nothing more than to see him happily in love with a wonderful woman worthy of the fabulousness that was Harry.
“After this crap dies down, we need to do something about our friend Nick’s sleep situation,” Sam said.
“I agree,” Harry replied. “I’m on it. Don’t worry.”
“I do worry, and he hides the full extent from me.”
“I’m in the room, as you would say,” her husband said drolly.
Gonzo and Freddie joined them, and Gonzo turned on the TV.
Sam focused her attention on the screen as the network went to a live feed from MPD Headquarters.
Looking cool, competent and professional, Lilia stepped up to the podium after a brief introduction from the chief.
“As Chief Farnsworth mentioned, I serve as the White House chief of staff to Second Lady Samantha Cappuano, known around here as Lieutenant Sam Holland. Vice President and Mrs. Cappuano would like to express their sympathy to the family of Peter Gibson, Mrs. Cappuano’s first husband.
It is no secret that Mrs. Cappuano and Mr. Gibson’s divorce and subsequent dealings have been contentious.
Despite that, Lieutenant Holland is interested in one thing and one thing only right now, the same thing she wants for all the District’s homicide victims. And that is justice.
We ask you to respect her privacy and that of the vice president at this difficult time. Thank you.”
“She did great,” Sam said.
Nick and Harry nodded in agreement.
“Now watch,” Gonzo said. “It’s about to get sporty.”
The second Lilia stepped back from the microphone, the questions started flying.
“Will Lieutenant Holland be working the Gibson case?”
“Is there any connection between Gibson’s murder and the threat levied against the Cappuano family?”
“Has the Secret Service allowed the family out of hiding or only the vice president and second lady?”
“What do we know about Gibson and his associates?”
Malone stepped up to the podium and raised his hands to quiet the rush of questions.
When he had their attention, he said, “We’re in the earliest stages of our investigation.
Lieutenant Holland and the Homicide squad have the lead and will be working this case the same way they work every other case. ”
“Is it a conflict of interest for her to investigate her ex-husband’s murder?” Darren Tabor from the Washington Star asked.
“She’s been divorced from him for years. We believe her involvement will help us close the case faster than we would without her, and that’s our primary goal and hers. Justice for Mr. Gibson.”
“After he allegedly tried to blow up her car, I would think she’d be celebrating his demise,” Tabor continued.
“You’d be wrong about that. Lieutenant Holland has devoted her career to hunting down killers.
She doesn’t condone violence of any kind, and this is no exception.
She’s determined to figure out what happened to Mr. Gibson and bring his killer to justice the same way she does for every other homicide victim in this city. ”
“Has the Secret Service said any more about the threat that was levied against the Cappuanos?” one of the TV reporters asked.
“Not to us, no.”
“Are you concerned about Lieutenant Holland’s safety after the threat?”
“The safety of all our officers is always paramount. She’s no different in that regard.”
“She isn’t?” another reporter asked. “Really?”