“You’ve given us more than we had coming in here. If it turns out that Shane was involved in her murder, we’ll need you to testify.”

“Whatever I can do to nail the bastard who took her from us.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

They left Lily with promises to keep her apprised of the investigation. Back in the SUV, Freddie gave Vernon the address of the restaurant.

Sam put her head back and closed her eyes for a second as pain radiated from her hip. She was doing too much and would pay for it later, but they finally had something to work with, so she couldn’t stop now.

“I could go talk to Cassie if you want to go home,” Freddie said.

“Not going home.” From her coat pocket, she found the pain pills she’d stashed there earlier and downed them with water from one of the bottles Vernon and Jimmy kept in the back of the SUV. The agents were handy to have around. She hadn’t needed pain pills in a while, so taking one felt like a setback. But she’d learned to stay ahead of the pain.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they had to deal with the stunned reactions of staff and patrons alike when they realized the first lady was there.

Sam and Freddie showed their badges to the hostess. “Lieutenant Holland, Detective Cruz, MPD. We’re looking for Cassie Richardson.”

“Is she in trouble?” the hostess asked.

“No, she isn’t. Can you get her for us, please?”

“Sure.”

The hostess took off on heels so high, she could hardly walk.

“I don’t understand the allure of heels that high,” Sam said. “They must be five or six inches. That makes no sense.”

“Heels make no sense to me in general, but I sure do love what they do for my wife’s spectacular legs.”

“Ew.”

“What? My wife’s legs are in fact spectacular.”

“Knock it off.”

“You started it.”

“Is everyone staring at me, or does it just seem that way?”

“They’re all staring.”

“Awesome. Where’s that hostess?”

Sam went around the hostess stand and made her way to the back of the restaurant, where the hostess was conferring with a dark-haired young woman. “Are you Cassie?” Sam asked the woman.

“I am.”

“Get lost,” Sam told the hostess, who gave her a testy look.

“Do it,” Freddie said. “You don’t want to make her mad.”

During the long weeks on the sidelines, Sam had forgotten how fun this job could be with him as her wingman.

Sam introduced herself and Freddie to Cassie. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“Is this about Ling?”

“Yes.”

“Will you keep an eye on my tables?” Cassie asked another waitress.

“Sure,” she said, eyeing Sam.

Cassie led them to a break room and closed the door.