With tremendous sorrow we announce that our colleague and friend, Senator John Thomas O’Connor, Democrat of Virginia, was found murdered in his Washington home this morning. After Senator O’Connor failed to arrive for work, his chief of staff, Nicholas Cappuano, went to the senator’s home to check on him. Mr. Cappuano found the senator dead. At the request of the Metropolitan Police, we’ll have no further statement on the details of the senator’s death other than to say we will do everything within our power to assist in the investigation. Subsequent information on the investigation will come from the police.

We will make it our mission to ensure passage of the landmark immigration legislation Senator O’Connor worked so hard to bring to the Senate floor and to continue his work on behalf of children, families and the aged.

Our hearts and prayers are with the senator’s parents, Senator and Mrs. Graham O’Connor, his brother Terry, sister Lizbeth, brother-in-law Royce, niece Emma and nephew Adam. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will be announced in the next few days. We ask that you respect the privacy of the O’Connor family at this difficult time.

Nick nodded with approval and read it again before he turned to Sam. “Can I run this by you?”

“Sure.” She listened intently as he read the statement to her. “Sounds like they covered every base.”

“The part about the investigation was okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Nick placed a call to Christina. “Hey, green light on the statement. Go ahead and get it out.”

Christina replied with a deep, pained sigh. “This’ll make it official.”

“Tell Trevor to just read it and get out of there. No questions.”

“Got it.”

“You guys did a great job. Thank you.”

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” she said, her voice hoarse.

“I’m sure.”

“So, um, how’d it go with his parents?”

“Horrible.”

“Same thing with the staff. People are taking it really hard.”

“I’m on my way back. I’ll be in soon.”

“We’ll be here.”

Nick ended the call.

“Are you all right?” Sam asked.

“I’m fine,” he said stiffly, still pissed that she had talked alibis with the O’Connors so soon.

“I was just doing my job.”

“Your job sucks.”

“Yes, a lot of times it does.”

“Do you ever get used to telling people their loved ones have been murdered?”

“No, and I hope I never do.”

As bone-deep exhaustion began to set in, he put his head back against the seat. “I appreciated you saying the words for me back there. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

She glanced over at him. “You were very good with them.”

Surprised by the unexpected compliment, Nick forced a weak smile. “I was in uncharted waters, that’s for sure.”

“You’re close to them.”

“They’re family to me.”