“File that under things you shouldn’t be allowed to say to your boss.”
A snort of laughter came from the front seat.
“I can say it if it’s true.Just because you know something about me doesn’t mean you get totellother people that stuff.”
“You got shot, Freddie?”Jimmy asked.
“He sure did.Ask him how it happened.It’s a good story.One of my favorites, actually, but only because he didn’t die.”
Freddie gave her a filthy look.“That’s ancient history and not a good story at all.”
“I disagree.I’ll fill you guys in sometime when he’s not here.”
“No, you won’t!”
Sam laughed so hard, she had tears in her eyes.After yesterday’s fear and panic, the laughter was medicinal.There was comfort in the normal, the bickering, the banter, the day-to-day grind that was made so much more fun by having Freddie by her side.
“If you tell them, I’ll know.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Children, behave,” Vernon said with a grin for Sam in the mirror.
“What fun is that?”Sam asked.
“She loves to drive me crazy.I bet I could sue the department for workplace abuse at this point.”
“Knock yourself out.”
“You’re the one who knocks yourself out.Regularly, in fact.”
Sam chuckled.“Oh, that was a good one.Well played, grasshopper.”
They pulled up to the home of Lorraine Sweeny and immediately returned to professional mode.
Vernon stayed close to Sam as they made their way to the front door of a brick-fronted rowhouse in Southeast.As they moved toward the front door, a woman approached, carrying a huge, covered platter.
“Hold up,” Vernon said as he put himself between her and Sam.
“Can I take that for you?”Jimmy asked her.
“Oh, thank you,” she said.“That’d be great.”She handed the platter to Jimmy and shook out her arms.“I wanted to bring some food to the family.They’ve been our neighbors for twenty-two years.I can’t believe anyone would harm Lorraine.She was just the sweetest person.”
Moved by the woman’s grief, Sam knocked on the door.When a young woman answered, the first thing Sam noticed was that her soft brown eyes were red and swollen.
Sam showed her badge.“I’m Lieutenant Holland with the MPD.This is my partner, Detective Cruz.We wondered if we might speak to Lorraine Sweeny’s family.”
The woman’s eyes flooded with tears.“My mother would be honored to have you visit our home.I wish she was here to meet you.”
“I do, too.”
“Come in.”
Sam gestured to the woman standing by the agents.“Your neighbor was hoping to deliver some food.”
“Oh, hi there, Mrs.Diaz.Thank you so much.”
