He replied with the eye roll emoji. I’m at the airport about to get on a flight back to DC from NOLA. I’ll fill out the form for you and send it to your email. What’s the name of the deceased?

Angelo Diaz.

Got it. Will shoot it over shortly. You’ll need to fill in the narrative justifying the request.

Can do. You’re the best.

I know.

Haha. Get your ass back here. I need you!

Working on it.

“Malone said we need a warrant to exhume. He’s filling out the form for me and sending it to my email.”

“That’s good of him,” Gonzo said.

“Yeah, because God forbid I ask Andrews for that. What the hell am I going to do when Malone and Farnsworth retire? The whole department will turn against me.”

“You’ve got a very powerful ally in the deputy chief’s office now, don’t forget, and if Webster is still mayor when Farnsworth retires, she’ll promote Jeannie in a heartbeat.”

“That does make me feel a little better,” Sam said, “but I get so sick of jackass men hating me because I’m good at my job and refuse to stroke their fragile little egos.”

“I’m sure it gets old after a while.”

“It does, and it’s only gotten worse since the recent developments.”

“You mean your husband becoming president, making you the first lady?”

“Yeah, that.”

“People resent success, Sam. You know that. They’re jealous.”

“So that means they’re abrupt and even nasty with me when we’re forced to interact?”

“That’s their issue, not yours.”

“It becomes my issue when I have to deal with it.”

“I hate to say you might have to get used to it, because the higher your profile rises, the more out of joint they’ll get.”

“Awesome. Something to look forward to.”

“Try to ignore it,” Gonzo said. “What do you care if they’re resentful? They’d all like to be you.”

“It bugs me because I’ve worked hard my entire career to be a team player. I’ve always got the backs of my colleagues, even if they’re stabbing me in mine.”

“The people who matter know that. The rest can go fuck themselves.”

Sam laughed.

“Who cares what they think? You’re great at your job, and now the whole world knows it. You’re a superstar, and they’re not. It’s that simple.”

“And that complicated.”

“Just keep doing your job and try not to sweat what other people think.”

“I’ll work on that.”

“Here we are,” Vernon said when he pulled up to a brick house that took up at least half the block.

“Wow,” Sam said when she looked out at the palatial home. “Fancy.”

“Says the lady who lives at the White House,” Gonzo said.

“Not because I want to!”

Gonzo laughed.

“But don’t tell Nick I said that.”

“Your secret is safe with us,” Gonzo said.

Vernon gave a thumbs-up to agree with him.

“I really hope you guys don’t decide to write a tell-all or something.”

“You’ve got enough worries without adding that to the list,” Vernon said as he helped her out of the car.