“We’ve heard that some of these dealers wear the deaths like a badge of honor.”

“That’s so fucked up.”

“Sure is.” Sam’s phone rang, and she took the call from Malone. “What’s up?”

“I’m not sure. Michael Wilkinson just called me. He’s been trying to get in touch with Jeannie, and her phone has been going right to voice mail for some time now.”

“She went to see Jaycee Patrick’s mother hours ago,” Sam said as panic overtook her. “We need to get people out there right now.”

“Give me the address.”

Sam tried to remember it, but her mind went blank. “Dani would have it. She went there with her yesterday. You don’t think…” Her knees buckled, and she had to sit before she fell. “Cap…”

“I’m on it. Calling Dani now, and we’ll send the cavalry.”

“Please.”

“Breathe, Sam. She knows how to take care of herself.”

“I sent her there and never even checked on her when I didn’t hear from her.”

“It’s not like you’ve been twiddling your thumbs. I’m calling Dani. I’ll keep you posted.”

The line went dead.

“Oh my God,” Sam whispered.

Nick sat next to her and put his arm around her. “What’s going on?”

“Jeannie went to talk to Jaycee Patrick’s mother, and now she’s not answering her phone. Michael was worried enough to call Malone.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.”

“What if the mother is as unhinged as the daughter was, and I sent her into an ambush?”

“You didn’t send her anywhere. She outranks you now, remember? If she didn’t want to go, she wouldn’t have.”

“Still… She went to try to defuse the situation on our behalf.” Sam blew out a deep breath. “If anything happens to her… I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“She’ll be fine. She’s savvy and has been in far worse situations than this and survived.”

“Keep telling me that, will you?” Sam wanted nothing more than to go right back to work to help find her friend, but that wasn’t an option. At times like this, the push-pull of the professional and personal was so strong, she didn’t know whether she was coming or going.

She moved through the motions of changing her clothes and making herself somewhat presentable. Then she went upstairs to find Angela, knocking on the door to her room.

“Come in.”

She stepped into the room where Angela was seated on an office chair, wearing a smock while Ginger and Davida saw to her hair and makeup.

Sam had asked Gideon to send the White House hair and makeup team up to tend to Angela, after asking her sister if she’d like a little pampering. “How’s it going?”

“This is some nice service you provide at the White House,” Angela said, looking slightly better than she had in days.

“These ladies are my miracle workers.”

“Which is what I needed today,” Angela said. “A miracle.”

“You’re beautiful,” Davida said. “We just enhanced what you already had.”

“You’re too kind,” Angela said. “I know how awful I looked.”