In their suite, she found Nick in his office, bent over a pile of correspondence. She cleared her throat to let him know she was there.

He turned to her, smiling, and her heart skipped an actual beat at the sight of him in the sexy dark-framed reading glasses he’d recently acquired.

She fanned her face. “Those glasses really do it for me.”

“Is that right?”

“That’s right, Clark Kent.”

He stood and came to hug her, leaving the glasses on. “Rough day, huh?”

“It was a strange day. Full gamut of emotions.”

“Thank God he was convicted.”

“Yes, definitely. But like Gonzo said, it doesn’t bring Arnold back.”

“No, but you got justice for him and his family, and that matters.”

“We’re trying to tell ourselves that. What went on around here today?”

“Nothing much.”

Sam laughed. “Right. Is the fate of the free world secure for another day?”

“It is, although the North Koreans are continuing to vex me. But I don’t need to think about them now that my lovely wife is finally home.” He shut off the light on his desk and directed her into their sitting room. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Stand by.”

While she sat on the sofa and put her right foot on a pillow, he called for her dinner. Life at the White House had its perks.

“How’s the hip?”

“Aching.”

He went into their bathroom to get her two Motrin and returned with the pills and a glass of water.

Sam took the pills. “Thanks.”

“Did you do too much today?”

“Define ‘too much.’”

He gave her a stern look. “I knew you’d overdo it.”

“I was very glad to be back. This case that’s now got four victims—that we’re aware of—is making us all crazy. Tonight, at the grief group, Audrey Olsen’s boyfriend, Wes, had us in tears talking about how difficult the not knowing is. We’ve got to find this guy.”

“You will. I have every confidence.”

“We’re hoping to try something we’ve never done before.”

“What’s that?”

“Family DNA search.”

“How does that work?”

“We run the rapist’s DNA through the system, looking for familial matches. The guy we’re looking for isn’t in the system, but a family member might be. If we can isolate the family, we can work from there.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“It’s also illegal in DC and Maryland.”

“Why?”

“Due to the disproportionate number of people of color in the system, it often targets minorities unfairly and involves innocent people in a murder investigation.”

“But if it can get a vicious criminal off the streets, why wouldn’t they at least try it?”

“That’s the argument we’re taking to the mayor and U.S. Attorney. It’ll be a tough sell. The mayor is adamantly opposed. She spearheaded the legislation to outlaw it.”