“No thanks necessary.”

“Captain Martin said they had lunch for us, and I’m sure Jimmy is ravenous by now.” They’d commiserated over their young partners’ appetites and unfair metabolisms.

“He’s probably chewing on tree bark out there.”

Just when she wouldn’t have thought it possible, Sam laughed.

Chapter Five

When they returned to the District, Vernon delivered her to the morgue entrance at HQ and helped her carry in the evidence bags she’d brought from the cabin. Thanks to Captain Martin’s assistance, there would be no jurisdictional headaches to contend with, and for that, Sam was thankful. No one else knew—yet—that Sam would be investigating her brother-in-law’s case as a potential homicide.

“Cruz, Gonzo, my office,” Sam said when she entered the pit with Vernon and the bags. “Thank you again, Vernon.”

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

“Close the door,” Sam said to Freddie.

“What’s all this?” Gonzo asked.

“The stuff from Angela and Spencer’s cabin at Camp David.” She held up the plastic evidence bag containing the small packet of pills. “Including the pills that probably killed him.”

“They let you take this?” Freddie asked.

“The CEO was a cop before she joined the Navy. She was very cooperative and understanding when I explained to her that the actual crime, if there was one, took place in my jurisdiction, not hers. Vernon was with me to assert the chain of custody.”

“We would’ve gone with you,” Freddie said.

“I know, but I wanted to do this myself in case there’s any blowback. Then the story will be I went rogue, not we went rogue. Can you guys take care of logging it in and getting it to the lab?” She handed the bag containing the pills to Gonzo, knowing it was critical that her name not be anywhere on the reports for this case.

He took a long look at the innocuous white envelope. “We’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you. Obviously, I want a rush on all of it.”

“We’ll let them know.”

After they left the room, Sam withdrew the bag containing Spencer’s cell phone from her pocket and placed it on her desk. Then she picked up the receiver on her desk phone and called Lieutenant Archelotta in IT.

“Archie,” he said, sounding rushed as always. His was one of the busiest divisions in the department.

“It’s Sam.”

“Oh, hey. I didn’t notice the extension. How are you?”

“Never been better.”

“I’m so sorry. It’s such a tragedy.”

“Yes, it is.”

“How’s your sister?”

“Awful—and pregnant.”

“Jeez… I forgot about that.”

“I need a favor.”

“Anything.”

“Can you come down?”

“Sure, I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks, Archie.” Sam didn’t want to risk going upstairs to IT and running into Sergeant Ramsey, who worked across the hall from IT in Special Victims. Things were extra tense with Ramsey since his son was shot and killed after taking a woman hostage in Rock Creek Park.

Captain Malone, who’d ordered the shot, was still on leave, as was sharpshooter Officer Offenbach. It’d been a clean shot, and Sam had every confidence they’d both be back on the job soon. They’d taken out a rapist/murderer who was threatening the life of an innocent woman. That he also happened to be Sergeant Ramsey’s son had turned it into a nightmare for everyone involved. Ramsey was threatening legal action against the department, even though he’d heard his son’s confession on numerous rapes and murders the same way the rest of them had. Despite that, Sergeant Ramsey had gone to the media with his rants, and the local and national press was eating up the connection to the first lady and her squad.