Page 108 of State of Retribution

On the way to HQ, Sam thought about what Vernon had said earlier, about how she made history every time she left the White House to go to work.While she’d known that was true, she’d never given it much thought because going to work was so much a part of who she was and what she did every day.

“Hey, Q?”

“Yes, Sam?”

“Thanks for stepping in for Jimmy.”

“No problem, ma’am.”

“It’s easier to go with Sam than ma’am when it’s just us,” Vernon said.

“Yes, sir.”

Vernon glanced at Sam in the mirror and rolled his eyes.“Another grasshopper to train.”

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Inside joke,” Vernon said with a smile for Sam.

“What do you guys think of Jimmy’s theory about it being a warning shot?”

“It has merit,” Vernon said.“Either they intended to miss, or they’re amateurs.I’m not sure which is worse or more dangerous.”

When they pulled up to the morgue entrance, Vernon instructed Quigley to stay with the vehicle while he accompanied Sam inside.

She walked into the pit, feeling like a conquering emperor back from battle or some such dramatic thing.“Howdy, citizens.”

They startled—she loved when that happened—and turned to her.

“Thought you were out today, LT,” Gonzo said.“We were getting ready to have a party.”

“Sorry to ruin your fun.What goes on here?”

“Cruz and I just got back from seeing Joshua Saulnier’s fiancée, Mandy.”Gonzo shook his head.“Horrific.They’d been together since the ninth grade.”

“Oh damn.Does she have anyone with her?”

“One of his school friends is there, and their parents are due in from the West Coast later today.”

Sam was anguished for people she might never meet.“What’s our next move?”

“We’re digging into Saulnier and looking for connections between our four victims but not finding anything relevant.”

“Listen, I had a thought about the shooting.”She shared Jimmy’s take on the matter without quoting him.

“That’s true,” Freddie said.“If they were aiming for you, they were way off.”

“So we’re either looking for someone incompetent with a weapon or extremely deliberate.Let’s pass this on to Agent Hill.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Gonzo said.

“Oh, hey, LT,” Green said.“Sergeant Fitzgivens from sharpshooting was looking for you.”

“What’d he want?”

“Didn’t say but asked you to swing by if you get a minute.”

“I think I’ll do that now.Be back in a few.Vernon, we’re off to sharpshooting.”

---