Sam returned to the pit to grab her jacket and a portable radio to take with her.“Cruz, let’s roll.”
“Where you headed?”Gonzo asked.
“To see a possible fourth victim who survived but doesn’t remember anything.”
“Got it.”
To Gonzo and the others, she said, “Keep me posted on any developments.”
“Will do.”
Sam started to walk away but turned back to her sergeant.“I’m hoping to get over to Ninth Street later this week to do a few things to make it ready for new occupants.”
“Thanks, Sam.We can’t wait to move in.”
“No sense having it sit empty for the next few years.”
“It’s a huge upgrade for us.We really appreciate it.”
“Glad to make it happen.”Sam had another thought as she walked toward the morgue exit with Freddie—it was probably time to remove the ramp Nick had installed outside their home so her dad could visit in his wheelchair.The thought of removing that ramp and everything it stood for—especially how Nick had made their home accessible to her dad—hit her in all the feels.
She thought about the day she’d come home to find their front steps in rubble.Suspecting someone had detonated a bomb, she’d called in the bomb squad.That was when she’d found out that Nick had hired their contractor neighbor to build the ramp.Funny, endearing and mortifying all at the same time.
Those memories hit her hard.
Taking down that ramp, and the one at her dad’s house, would be further proof that he was truly gone forever.Not that she needed more proof of his gaping absence.She felt that loss every single day.Sam wondered how Angela could cope with the double whammy of losing their dad and then her husband a few months later, while expecting her third child.
How could she bear it?Sam asked herself that all the time, but somehow, Angela was powering through, taking care of her children and preparing to welcome a new baby.
Later, Sam would ask Nick to reach out to the Ninth Street neighbor who’d built the ramp at their house about taking down both ramps in anticipation of new tenants.
“Everything okay?”Freddie asked as they approached the morgue, where Dr.Trulo waited for them.
“Yeah.”
“I’m excited to ride in a Secret Service vehicle,” Dr.Trulo said, grinning.
“It’s nonstop excitement.”Outside, she introduced him to Jimmy.“He’s pumped for his first Secret Service adventure.”
“We’ll try not to make it memorable,” Vernon said.
Sam laughed.“Their job is to make it boring and routine.”
“I understand and approve,” Trulo said.“We want to keep our favorite lieutenant safe at all times.”
She told Vernon where they were going and why.
“Any chance that the people who took her know where she is?”Vernon asked.
“Archie would’ve been careful about that.”
“We’ll need to do a full sweep before you go in.”
“Okay,” she said, resigned to this taking way longer than it would have before Nick became president.
Chapter Ten
“I’m the good doctor’s favorite,” Sam said when they were on their way.“Did you hear that, Cruz?”
