Chapter Fourteen
“I’ll pass on that, but what’s this about?” Freddie asked.
“People are going apeshit since Nick’s announcement went public.” Sam gestured toward the unusually large gathering of reporters outside the main door to HQ. “And now I’ve got a temporary detail.”
“Holy crap. You agreed to it?”
“My husband asked me nicely, and since he sounded incredibly stressed by the fact that they’d already doubled the size of the kids’ details and tripled his, I agreed to it.”
“Damn. So people are making threats over him deciding not to run?”
“Something like that. He said Brant was pissed that Nick didn’t give the Secret Service a heads-up before the announcement. But like he said, why would he think they’d need to know?”
“Because people are crazy, and they’re going to be disappointed he’s taking himself out of the running.”
“Why would anyone feel he has an obligation to run for president? That boggles my mind.”
“I think it’s more that they wanted him to run so badly, they’re devastated he’s not.”
“Devastated to the point they’d threaten his wife and children with harm?”
“Like you said, people are crazy.”
“They’re proving he did the right thing by getting the hell out of there. Being VP is bad enough. I can’t imagine what it’d be like for him to be president and have to put up with a whole other level of crazy.”
Twenty minutes later, while they sat in standstill traffic on Memorial Bridge, Sam gazed toward Lincoln, her favorite of the memorials.
She often went there when she needed to think.
In the distance, the eternal flame marking President Kennedy’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery stood out in the encroaching darkness, a stark reminder of the sacrifices some past presidents had made in service to their country.
The sight of that flame made her even more grateful that her beloved wouldn’t be joining their ranks.
“I hate how early it gets dark this time of year,” Sam said.
“I know. It’s depressing.”
“So is this traffic. I don’t know how anyone can stand to commute around here and have to deal with this every day.”
“Agreed. We’re lucky to live in the city.”
It took almost an hour to get to the neighborhood where Ken McLeod Jr. lived in a brick-faced townhouse. More bricks.
Sam eyed the clock to gauge whether she’d make it home in time to see the twins before bedtime. It wasn’t looking good, which made her ragey. “He’d better be freaking home.”
“I hope so. Lights are on, so that’s a good sign.”
Ignoring the agents, who’d gotten out of their SUV, Sam and Freddie went up the stairs and rang the doorbell. A young man who shared his father’s light-brown hair came to the door wearing a Georgetown T-shirt and basketball shorts.
Sam showed her badge through the storm door. “Lieutenant Holland, MPD. Could we have a minute of your time, please?”
He opened the door. “My sister said the second lady wanted to talk to me.”
“Right now, I’m not the second lady. I’m the homicide detective investigating your mother’s murder.”
“Come in.”
Ken led them to a family room at the back of the stylish house where the TV was set to ESPN. Judging from the smell, he was cooking dinner.
Sam’s stomach growled.
Using the remote, he reduced the volume and gestured for them to have a seat on a gray leather sofa. “Let me turn down the stove.” When he returned, he sat across from them in a recliner. “What can I do for you?”
“We’re investigating your mother’s murder and wondering if there’s anything you can tell us that might help.”
“Why would I want to help when she ruined my life and my sister’s?”
“Because no one deserves to be murdered.”
He let out a harsh laugh. “Some people do, and she’s one of them.
She got exactly what was coming to her, and I hope her final moments were as horrible as she’s made my life and Mandi’s since her scheme came to light.
My closest friends won’t return my calls or texts because she scammed their parents.
They can’t believe I didn’t know what she was doing, but I didn’t.
Why would I? I haven’t lived at home in years. How would I know what she does?”
“Were you close to your mother before this?”
“Close as in talked every day? No, but we saw each other, had dinner occasionally, did holidays, the usual stuff. I’m busy. She was busy.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t all the time, but we weren’t estranged or anything.”
“But you were after you found out about the investigation?”
He gave her an incredulous look. “Yes, we were estranged after I found out what she did.”
“Did you talk to her about it?”
“What was there to talk about? After seeing the list of victims, I was too busy throwing up to talk to my mother. Everyone close to us was on that list. Can you imagine what it would be like to find out that your own mother scammed the people closest to you? Your friends’ parents?
Everyone thinks their money bought me this place, when that’s not the case.
But who would believe that with more than twenty million gone missing?
And the Audi R8 she gave me for Christmas?
I refuse to drive it, and when I sell it, the money is going toward restitution. ”
“Where were you on Sunday afternoon?” Sam asked.
He gave her a blank look. “Are you asking if I killed my mother?”
“Did you?”
“No, but I’m not surprised that someone else did. And I was with my flag football team all afternoon. I can give you twenty people who can verify that.”
“Two will be good. Were you sad to hear she’d been killed?”
After a long hesitation, he said, “I’m sad to have lost the mother I used to think she was, the mother who raised me and cared for me and gave me birthday parties and came to my baseball games.
I’m very sad to have lost that mother, but apparently, I lost her quite some time ago and didn’t know it until recently.
Am I sad that the woman who scammed the people closest to us is dead?
Absolutely not. That woman was a monster. ”
“Do you have any idea who might’ve been angry enough to murder her?”
“A lot of people were and with good reason. She ruined their lives.”
“Anyone specifically that you know of?”
He shook his head. “Even if I did know exactly who did it, I’m not going there.
People have suffered enough because of my family.
Whoever took her out did us all a favor.
At least now we don’t have to be dragged through a trial.
” Taking a breath, he released it and seemed to sag somewhat.
“I’m not a heartless bastard, in case you’re wondering.
There was a time, not that long ago, when the thought of my mother being murdered would’ve been horrifying.
But after what she did…” He grimaced. “I don’t care. ”
“Have you spoken to your dad?”
“Briefly.”
“What’s your feeling on what he knew and when?”
“I think he knew all along, but he swears that’s not the case, and the polygraph supported his claims. Who knows what to believe?”
As always, Sam handed over a business card. “I understand how difficult your situation is, but if you think of anything that might help our investigation, please give me a call. My cell number is on there.”
“Have you heard anything about whether there’s going to be a funeral for my mother?” he asked.
“I haven’t, but I presume your father would know that.”
“He’s not answering his phone.”
“That’s probably because he’s currently in a jail cell at MPD HQ.”
His mouth fell open. “He’s in jail? Why?”
“We wanted to talk to him. He wanted his lawyer, and the lawyer didn’t get there before our shift ended. So he’s spending the night.”
“His attorney probably isn’t coming. The guy he would’ve called was on the list of people my mother scammed.”
“Wouldn’t he know that?”
“He might’ve thought his old friend would come anyway. He won’t.”
“That’s good info to know. Thank you for your time.”
Sam gestured for him to lead the way to the door. She never turned her back on anyone during an investigation, even someone she didn’t suspect of murder.
At the door, he glanced at her. “Will we be notified if you catch our mother’s killer?”
“Do you wish to be?”
He thought about that for a second. “I guess.”
“Then we’ll make sure to update you if or when we close the case.”
“Thank you.”
They stepped outside into cold, dreary darkness that depressed her.
“I freaking hate this time of year,” she said, glancing at the rearview mirror and seeing the two Secret Service agents getting back into their SUV.
“Me, too. Except for the part about eating my body weight in turkey. I like that day a lot.”
“You would. You’re a bottomless pit.”
“I’m a growing boy.”
“I can only hope you start growing in the wrong direction. Nothing would make me happier.”
“You’re being a nasty cow.”
“I’m always a nasty cow.” Sam laughed, relieved, as always, for the rapport she shared with him. It made the unbearable bearable on a daily basis. “Am I dropping you back at HQ?”
“Nah,” he said. “I’ll take the Metro. It’ll get me home faster.”
“Lucky you.”
“I’ll be super lucky when I get home.”
“Do you two newlyweds ever take a night off?”
“Do you?”
“None of your business.”
“And yet my sex life is your business?”
“You made it my business when you turned your phone off to get lucky the first time.”
“Oh my God, seriously? That was almost two years ago.”
“Some things never get old, like you finally getting laid and then getting yourself shot.”
“That was a hundred percent your fault for being a nasty cow.”
“No, that was me teaching you a lesson that you had to go and learn a little too well.”
“You were scared I was going to die.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were.”
Sam pulled into the closest Metro station and brought the car to an abrupt stop. “Get out.”
“Love you, too.”
“If you’re still talking, you’re not doing what you were told.”
“Have a lovely evening, Lieutenant.”
“You, too. Don’t sprain anything.”
“It does get rather athletic at times.”
“Out!”