Sam smiled, amused by him as always. “The one and only.”

“Well, this is truly an honor. How you doin’? I still can’t believe your old man is the president.”

“Neither can I.”

“Hey, I’m real sorry about your brother-in-law.”

“Thank you. I need a favor.”

“Anything for you.” After Roberto was paralyzed in the shooting at the Johnsons’ drug house, Sam had helped him get a job at City Hall in support of his effort to go straight. For the most part, anyway. “What can I do?”

“We think someone’s selling laced pain pills. You heard anything about that?”

“Give me a minute,” he said to someone else. “I’m talking to the first lady.”

Sam winced. She didn’t bother to remind him that she wasn’t the first lady on the job.

“She don’t believe me,” Roberto said. “Will you tell her?”

“Sure,” Sam said, rolling her eyes at Gonzo, who was trying not to laugh.

“Who is this?”

“Sam Holland Cappuano. Who’s this?”

“You’re really the first lady?”

“That’s what my husband tells me.”

“And you know Roberto?”

“We’re old friends. Could I please speak to him again?”

“Told ya,” Roberto said to the woman as he came back on the line.

“Back to my question…” She was becoming more frustrated by the minute by the delays that kept popping up. And she wasn’t telling anyone that her neck was starting to hurt, probably from the crash. “Have you heard anything about laced pills on the streets?”

“A rumbling here and there. My pal Dino had a friend who turned up dead outta nowhere. He had an issue with Oxy a while ago, but he’d been doin’ better. They don’t want to believe he relapsed, but hearing there might be bad shit out there, I guess it’s possible.”

“Can you get me the name of the guy who died and your friend’s contact info, too?”

“Yeah, I’ll send it over by text.”

“And you’ll let me know if you hear anything else on this subject?”

“You got it.”

“How’s Angel?” she asked of his longtime girlfriend, who’d figured into a case of hers a while back when Angel had been kidnapped and raped.

“She’s pregnant, Sam. Can you believe it? I did it. I got her pregnant.”

“That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you guys.”

“We’re gonna tie the knot one of these days. I’d invite you, but you’re too fancy for us now.”

“No, I’m not, and you’d better invite me.”

“For real?”

“Hell yes. I’ll even bring my old man.”

“Shut up. Angel will die, and so will my mom.”

“You know where to send the invite, right?”

“Yeah, lady cop,” he said with a low laugh. “I know where to send it.”

“Mark it personal. I hear that helps things get through the mailroom quicker.”

“I’ll drop it off at HQ to make sure you get it.”

“That works, too. Good to talk to you, Roberto. Glad to hear you guys are doing well.”

“That’s thanks in large part to you, boss lady. You set me straight. Wouldn’t be here without you.”