He stood and cleared his throat. “Thank you, President Cappuano and Lieutenant Holland, for this beautiful evening in honor of our son. He’d be amazed to see us celebrating him at the White House, of all places. Thank you, Gonzo, Jeannie, Will, Freddie, Dani, Gigi, Cameron, Captain Malone, Chief Farnsworth and the entire MPD for the way you’ve honored AJ over this last difficult year. Nothing can prepare a father, mother, sisters or devoted girlfriend for this kind of sudden, shocking loss. But the love and support we’ve received from AJ’s brothers and sisters in blue has gotten us through it. He loved you all so much, and on behalf of our family, we thank you for the many ways you continue to honor his memory.”

By the time he handed the microphone back to her, Sam had a huge lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. She would never get over the senseless loss of such a promising young officer.

Nick squeezed her hand as she stood to finish her remarks. “When we planned this event, we had no idea we’d also have something big to celebrate tonight, and that is the promotion of our wonderful friend and colleague, Deputy Chief Jeannie McBride.”

Sam led a round of applause for Jeannie, who smiled as widely as Sam had seen her smile since her wedding day.

“Jeannie, we’re so incredibly proud to call you our friend, our colleague and our deputy chief. And I just want to add… Skip Holland would be busting his buttons if he were here to see you wearing his former rank.”

“Thank you, Sam, and everyone for your support. I appreciate it so much—and I’m going to need it going forward.”

“You have it,” Sam assured her.

After that, the butlers brought in chocolate cake and served after-dinner drinks. They ate, they reminisced, they laughed, and they remembered Detective Arnold even as they celebrated Deputy Chief McBride.

“How’re you feeling, babe?” Nick asked Sam.

“Incredibly emotional. Freddie said it best earlier. It’s the circle of life, and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Jeannie was sworn in today, of all days.”

“I don’t think it was either. Skip’s up there rubbing his hands together with glee after having orchestrated it all.”

Sam rested her head on Nick’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“Neither would I.”

The next day, Sam was staked out again with Freddie and Gonzo, watching, waiting and hoping Shane Ramsey would fuck up.

“What if he never gives us anything?” Freddie asked.

“He will,” Sam said with more confidence than she’d felt when she first settled on this surveillance plan.

Her phone rang with a call from Elijah, which she found odd. He rarely called her, especially during a workday. “Hey, what’s up? Everything okay?”

“Everything is great.”

“I take that to mean things are going well with Candace?”