“Whatever I can do to help.”

“Freddie?” Sam called to her partner. “Will you arrange to meet Ms. Pearson here tomorrow around this time to identify other potential witnesses?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“This is my partner, Detective Cruz.”

“Yes, I know who he is.”

“Can we please have your address and phone number?”

Lillian recited the information.

“I’m going to ask the Patrol officers to see you home, unless you feel like you need medical attention.” Sam gestured to Freddie to set that up.

“I don’t. I was just… I was shocked.”

“Understandably so. Officer Keeney will see you and Josie home.” Sam handed the woman a business card. “If you think of anything else that might help, please call me. My cell phone number is on the back.”

“I will. Thank you for all you do. We’re very excited about your husband’s administration.”

“That’s nice to hear. Thank you.” Sam helped her down from the ambulance.

“Right this way, ma’am,” Keeney said, taking the dog’s leash from her and extending his arm to her.

Sam appreciated his care with the traumatized woman and made a note to say so to the Patrol commander.

Chapter Ten

Lieutenant Haggerty, the Crime Scene Unit commander, approached her.

Sam led him to the body, which Lindsey hadn’t moved yet.

“Ah, damn,” Haggerty said when he saw the young woman. His gaze darted around the area, already looking for evidence. “We’ll take it from here.”

“I’m going to notify the family.” Sam’s stomach turned the way it always did at times like this. Having to give people news that would change their lives forever never got easier, no matter how many times she had to do it. She walked back to the cars with Freddie. “I can take it from here if you want to go home. My family is out of town.”

Freddie held up his phone. “Actually, they’re on their way back to the White House.”

“What? Why?”

“Blizzard warning. They didn’t want Nick trapped on a mountaintop in an emergency.”

“Ugh, he’ll be so bummed.” Then another thought occurred to her. “So, wait, my entire family is currently on a helicopter?”

“Well, your sisters aren’t on the helicopter.”

“You know what I mean!”

“They’ll be fine, Sam, and I’ll go with you to Audrey Olsen’s place. Elin is working late tonight, and besides, no one should do that job alone.”

“I’m still stuck on my family being on a helicopter without me.” She withdrew the secure BlackBerry that she used to communicate with Nick and found the text from him. “I guess the vacation is over before it started.”

They got into Sam’s car to drive to Adams Morgan.

“That’s such a bummer.”

“True confession?”

“Always.”

“I was freaking out up there.”

“About?”