He checked his watch and then followed her upstairs to their bedroom where she dropped her clothes and sneakers into the washer located in their bathroom, dumped in twice the usual amount of detergent and set the water to the hottest setting.

Then she turned the water to boiling in the shower. “I’ll be quick,” she said to her husband.

“I’d rather you be thorough.”

That drew a laugh from Sam as she stepped under the hot water and got busy scrubbing every square inch of her body. The last time she’d scrubbed her skin so hard was after Clarence Reese blew his brains out while standing right next to her. Thinking about that awful day made her shudder as she turned her thoughts to the latest case.

Where to even begin figuring out who killed Willie when every person in the metropolitan area had motive after his blunder cost the home team an easy victory the night before?

As she worked conditioner through her long hair, she pondered that question and others, including whether she’d even be allowed to work the case. That was a battle she’d willingly fight as the most seasoned homicide detective in the city. Farnsworth would be crazy to trust such a potentially explosive case to anyone but her, and while the chief could be stubborn at times, he was far from crazy.

By the time she emerged from the shower, she was fortified and ready to do battle with her superiors on behalf of Willie Vasquez. Whoever killed the star ballplayer had better be ready to deal with her, because she was coming after them, and she would find them.

Nick was sitting on their bed when she came out of the bathroom wearing a white robe and her hair wrapped up in a towel.

Even though neither of them had time, she plopped down next to him and reached for his hand. “Are you okay?”

“I’m thinking about Scotty.”

“I have been too.”

“Is there any chance of him hearing about this at school?”

“I don’t think so. We’re keeping it quiet until we notify Willie’s family and figure out how to proceed.”

“I’m going to pick up Scotty at dismissal time so he won’t hear it from anyone else.”

“Do you have time to do that?” His schedule was insane as the campaign wound toward the election.

“No, but I’m going to anyway. I’ll let Shelby know.” He turned to face her. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“It’s not really, but I have a feeling you’re not going to like it.”

She braced herself, preparing for whatever he might say. “Hit me.”

“I got a call from the White House this morning.”

“It still blows my mind to be married to someone who says things like that.”