Chapter Twenty-Four
Nick didn’t make it back to the residence before the kids left for school with their details, which had Sam wondering how bad the fresh hell had been that morning.
She’d find out soon enough, she thought as she finished getting dressed in a black pantsuit, in deference to her upcoming court appearance.
She quickly packed a bag with jeans, a sweater and sneakers to change into afterward.
She’d received an all-hands text that most of the HQ building had been deemed structurally sound, and it was safe for them to return to work that morning.
As she went downstairs to meet her detail a little before eight, she was surprised to find Vernon waiting for her.
“What’re you doing here?” she asked him, noting the bruise on his forehead.
“Last I checked, I work here.”
“You’re injured.”
“I’m fine. I got a bump on the head, took a couple of painkillers, and I’m good to go.”
Q joined them, carrying a cup of coffee to go.
“Let’s get to it,” Sam said. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, as well as a trip to court.”
“Ah, that explains the suit.”
“I can look professional when I need to.”
“So I see. What’re you hearing about your chief and deputy chief?”
“He’s having surgery on his broken wrist today, and she’s settling into new motherhood six weeks earlier than planned.”
“Our briefing this morning was all about Russians,” Vernon said as he held the back door to the SUV for her.
“I’m sure it was.”
“What do you make of that?” he asked when they were on the way to HQ.
“They set off the bomb so they could grab a body out of our morgue. The ambassador was told to have the body and the innocent bystander they took at the same time returned, and they did that, which confirms their guilt.”
“Do you know what went down with the VP?” Vernon asked.
“I do, but I can’t talk about it. Sorry.”
“No worries.”
“I feel for Nick, though. He’s reeling. Again.”
“It’s hard to be the one in charge when the people who work for you disappoint you,” Vernon said.
“It is indeed.”
While Vernon drove her to HQ, Sam texted Lindsey to check on Amara, Jeannie to ask about her and the baby and Marti Farnsworth for an update on the chief.
Michael responded for Jeannie. Mom and baby had a good night. I’ll make sure she checks in later.
Give her our love—and take some for you, too.
He responded with heart emojis.
Tell me when you’re ready for a visit.
Probably when we get home. The NICU has strict rules.
Of course they do! I’ll check on you guys later.
Lindsey replied five minutes later. Amara cried when she saw the cake and couldn’t believe it came from the WH. We had a lovely evening. She’s not up yet, but I’m going to wait a bit to come to work so I can check in with her and get her breakfast.
That’s so sweet about the cake. Thank you again for stepping up for her.
Entirely our pleasure.
Sam was walking into the pit when Marti Farnsworth texted to say Joe slept well and felt better this morning, but wasn’t happy to hear he’d be out of work for a couple of weeks after the surgery to repair his wrist.
I understand that he wants/needs to be with his people, Sam replied, but he has to take care of himself before he can care for everyone else.
Couldn’t agree more.
Tell him we’re taking care of things here, and he needs to rest up and get better so he can get back here as soon as he’s ready. Also, tell him I love him.
I will, honey. Thanks for checking on us.
I’ll come by later if I can.
“What’s up?” Freddie asked when she walked into the pit.
“Checking on the people. Jeannie and her little one had a good night, as did Joe, who’s trying to bust out to come into work. But Marti has that covered. And Lindsey said Amara loved the birthday cake Terry got for her.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet. She’ll never forget her cake from the White House.”
“What goes on here?”
“Louis Bingham is demanding the opportunity to speak with us to, and I quote, ‘set the record straight’ about whatever we think he did.”
“Is that right? Has he lawyered up?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Well, let’s get an AUSA over here and then get him in a room so he can further implicate himself before he lawyers up.”
“I’m on it.”
Sam unlocked her office and draped her coat over a chair. She booted up her computer and checked her email while she waited for Freddie to return.
When Archie knocked on her door, she waved him in.
“What’s up?”
He came in and took a seat. “Hell of a day around here yesterday, huh?”
“Unreal.”
“Is it true that it was the Russians?”
Sam gave a brief nod.
“What the hell, Sam? They can’t just bomb our building and get away with it.”
“I’m sure there’re multiple investigations underway that’ll hopefully deal with that.”
“Yeah, I guess. It’s just so infuriating. Our colleagues were killed. June Mercer was the nicest person in this building. I want to see them do hard time for her and the others.”
“I agree. It’s heartbreaking.”
“Did you know June was due to retire next month? She and her husband were planning to travel for a whole year to all the places they’ve always wanted to go.”
Sam sighed at the senseless loss. “I’m so sorry to hear that. She helped me so much when I was investigating my dad’s case.”
“She was lovely.”
“For a minute or two yesterday, I was afraid it might’ve been directed at me.” Saying it out loud brought back the horror she’d experienced while thinking she’d brought such a thing down on her colleagues.
“Oh man. I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking it had something to do with the first lady who insists on keeping her job.”
“I didn’t hear a word of that.”
“They know we’re friends. You wouldn’t hear it.”
“I’d pick up a vibe if there was one.”
She didn’t believe that was true but kept the thought to herself. “How’s Harlowe?”
“Doing better every day. She’s doing some work part-time from home, and the normalcy of that seems to be helping.”
“Has she recovered more memories?”
He shook his head. “I’m thankful she can’t remember the assault, but I worry about what else she might not remember that she needs to know. And afraid Offenbach will walk on the assault charge because she doesn’t remember it.”
“He won’t walk on any of it. Our case is airtight.”
He stood to leave. “I sure as hell hope so. I’ll let you get to work.”
“I’m here if you need me.”
“I know that.” He smiled at her over his shoulder. “Why do you think I stopped by?”
Sam was still thinking about how lucky she was to have such great friends at work when the best of them returned to her office.
“Hope is here,” Freddie said, “and Louis is in interrogation two.”
“Let’s see what he has to say.”
On the way to the interview room, she stopped to say good morning to Detective Neveah Charles. “Could you do me a favor and get me the address of where Gretchen Henderson lived before she became vice president?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m on it.”
“Thank you.”
Sam went down the hallway toward the interrogation room, and through the open door to observation in interview one, she could see that the bomb blast had shattered the glass between the rooms.
Hope stood outside the observation room for interrogation two, checking her phone. She straightened when she saw Sam and Freddie coming. “Faith said to expect to be called in the Nelson trial this afternoon.”
“Okay,” Sam said, her stomach dropping as she thought about having to revisit the nightmare Christopher Nelson had perpetrated.
“What’s this about?” Hope asked, gesturing to the interrogation room.
“Your guess is as good as ours. He asked to speak to us.”
“All right, then.”
With Hope in observation, Sam and Freddie stepped into the room where Louis Bingham waited for them, dressed in an orange jumpsuit.
He had deep circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept a wink, and his graying hair was a mess.
After what he’d done to King, she hoped he was suffering as he contemplated his future in prison.
Freddie activated the recording device on the table and recited Louis’s rights once again.
“Do you understand your rights in this matter?”
Louis nodded.
Freddie gestured to the recording. “We need words.”
“I understand my rights.”
“I’m Detective Cruz. This is my partner, Lieutenant Holland. You requested this meeting.”
Louis took a long look at Sam, so long that she nearly snapped at him to get on with it. “You’re the first lady.”
“Am I? I had no idea.”
He scowled at her. “I’ve heard you’re rude.”
“You asked to speak to us, Mr. Bingham. What can we do for you?”
“I want to know why I’m being held without charges.”
“The charges are coming. I expect you’ll be arraigned tomorrow morning.”
“On what charge?”
“First-degree murder of your stepson, King Robinson.”
He recoiled. “What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t kill anybody.”
“We have multiple witnesses who’d say otherwise.”
“What witnesses?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“You can’t just arrest someone—at their workplace, no less—and then not tell them anything.”
“We just told you. Do you have any other questions?” After a long, awkward pause, Sam said, “Actually, I have a question. Did you know Amara witnessed you killing King?”
His face went hard as stone.
“That, coupled with Thelma’s testimony, which was exactly the same as Amara’s, ought to seal the deal for you.”
“Shut your fucking mouth. They know better than to ever breathe a word about me to anyone, let alone cops.”
“Well, guess what? They’re not afraid of you anymore.” She leaned in so her face was two inches from his. “It’s going to give me great pleasure to watch you get taken down for being the total scumbag loser you are. See you in court, Mr. Bingham.”
Sam and Freddie stood.
“Wait.”
“If you have something to say to us, now is the time.”
“I didn’t do whatever you think I did. They’re lying because they hate me.”
“You can certainly present that as your defense in court. I hope that works out for you the way it should.”
Freddie shut off the recording device and followed Sam from the room.
“Sorry to waste your time,” Sam said to Hope when they met up in the hallway.
“You didn’t. I’ll inform Catherine that we’re moving forward with the arraignment tomorrow based on the statements from Amara and her mother.”
“Are you charging Thelma, too?”
“I need to talk to Catherine about that. My inclination would be to charge for failing to report the murder and covering it up, but she may want Thelma charged as an accessory, so it doesn’t appear we’re letting her get away with her role in the murder.”
“Accessory charges might be overkill. I think she was afraid for her life and did what she was told to protect herself and her daughter.”
“I’ll mention that to Catherine.”
“Thanks, Hope.”
“You got it. We’ll keep you posted.”
To Freddie, Sam said, “After you get Louis resettled downstairs, let’s head out to find Gretchen Henderson.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
While she waited for him, she asked Detective Charles what she’d found out about Gretchen’s home of record.
She handed Sam a slip of paper with an address in Arlington, Virginia. Great. They’d have to leave the District, which always made Sam cranky.
“Thank you,” she said to Neveah. “How’re you doing?”
“A little rattled after yesterday, but everyone is. My dad wants me to consider a whole new career.” She was adorable, with dark brown skin, shoulder-length curly hair, soft brown eyes and a warm, engaging smile.
“Just so you know, that was our first-ever bombing. It’s not something you usually need to worry about on the job, and I’m sure there’ll be enhanced security measures put into effect after this.”
“Captain Malone said metal detectors will be installed at the main door.”
That was the only entrance the public had access to.
“I suppose that’s a good call, but it’ll take officers off the streets to work security.”
“I thought the same thing.”
“Whatever it takes to keep our people safe.”
“People are saying the Russians did it so they could steal Ivanov’s body from the morgue.”
“That’s what I heard, too.”
“What do we even do about that?”
“We’re letting the FBI and ATF handle the bombing investigation while we focus on trying to figure out who killed Ivanov.”
“So that’s still our case?”
“Sure is. Happened in our jurisdiction. In fact, former Vice President Henderson is my first stop in that investigation.”
“What?” Charles asked on a gasp.
“More will be revealed soon, but suffice to say she knew him personally, so I’m interested in what she has to say.”
“Holy Moses.”
“That about sums it up, my friend.”
“So, I wanted to ask you… I know it’s the worst-possible time, but do you think I could request an afternoon off later this week? A friend wants to take me to see the Federals game because I’ve never seen a live baseball game before, and he thinks I’ll enjoy it, and… I’m rambling.”
Sam had never seen the young woman so flustered. “He thinks that, does he?”
“He does,” Charles said with a smile.
“Of course you can take time off, but only if you tell me all the tea that you’ve obviously been keeping from me.”
Neveah laughed like Sam hoped she would. “I can’t tell my boss those things.”
“I’d hope you could tell your friend, and if you cry because I said we’re friends, I’ll take it back.”
“I would never do that, ma’am.”
“Right. Anyway…”
“I met him on the plane when I traveled to Spokane for the Carver case. We got to talking, exchanged numbers, and we’ve been hanging out a bit.”
“What do we know about this guy?”
“He’s a good one. Don’t worry.”
“I will worry. What’s his name?”
“Jeremy.”
Sam pulled out her notebook. “Jeremy what?”
“LT… It’s cool. I checked.”
Sam eyed her cautiously and then put her notebook away. “You’re being careful?”
“I don’t know any other way to be. He’s very nice and sweet, and I… I like him. A lot. He makes me laugh.”
“That’s a very important thing.”
“I agree.”
“This makes me happy for you, Neveah. Keep me posted.”
“He can’t believe that you’re my boss.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “I hope you tell him what a special honor I am to be around.”
“I tell him that and so much more about you.”
“You’re not sucking up, by any chance, are you?”
“Would I do that?”
Sam walked away, laughing. She adored the earnest young detective and predicted big things for her career. Her phone rang, and she took the call from Faith Miller.
“You’re on in thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.”
“See you soon.”
Sam texted Vernon that she was on her way out and headed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue Northwest. Then she told Freddie where she’d be. “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
“We’ll be here. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”