“Because you’d probably have to leave the job.”

“Among other things.” Since the thought of leaving her job to play full-time political wife made Sam feel twitchy and off center and more than a little sick, she couldn’t imagine what the reality would be like.

“You know, if his star continues to rise the way it has in the last year you may have to make some tough decisions at some point.”

“I prefer not to think about that. I’ve got enough on my mind with nine dead kids, a niece in the ICU and a father going under the knife next week. Nick said no to Nelson, and that’s that.”

“He said no to the president. What must that be like?”

“I don’t know.” Sam wanted out of this conversation immediately. The thought of Nick as vice president of the United States wasn’t something she was able to process, so she preferred to exist in her happy world of denial. “I gotta meet Hill. I’m heading out through the morgue.”

“Keep me posted on all the goings-on—police, political and personal.”

Sam rolled her eyes at him and headed for the corridor that led to the morgue. She ran into Lindsey McNamara, who was coming in as Sam went out. “What’s the good word, Doc?”

“Not many good words after a day like yesterday. I didn’t sleep too well.”

Sam appreciated that Lindsey took such a compassionate interest in all the victims that came through her lab, but she could attest to the awful toll the constant exposure to murder took after a while.

“Terry was very excited about his promotion,” Lindsey said. “Nick’s faith in him has been so critical to his recovery.”

“Oh... Sure. That’s great.” Sam had no idea what she was talking about. “Terry is very valuable to him. He says that all the time.”

“The promotion was a bright spot in an otherwise awful day.”

“Things seem to be going really well for you two.”

“Very well indeed,” Lindsey said with a smile as a faint blush flooded her cheeks. “I’m so glad I took a chance on him. It was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“I’m happy for you both,” Sam said sincerely, even though she still hated the way her world and Nick’s continued to overlap. In a perfect world, her professional and personal lives would be entirely separate. Sadly, she didn’t live in that perfect world, and she’d never begrudge great people like Lindsey, Terry, Gonzo and Christina their right to be happy just because their happiness sometimes inconvenienced her. “I’ve got to go. Hit me up when you have DNA results.”

“I will.”

As she walked to her car, Sam called her husband.

“Hey, babe. Miss me already?”