Page 36 of State of Retribution

“Yes, ma’am,” Charles said, eager to please as always.

Sam loved working with her and predicted big things for her career.

Chapter Eight

Sam went into her office and sat at her desk, needing a few minutes to think about next steps.She’d barely taken a breath when Jesse Best, commander of the U.S.Marshal Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, came in and shut the door.At six and a half feet tall, he cut an imposing figure and rarely smiled.

“Sorry to intrude.”

“No worries.What can I do for you?”

He handed her a six-inch-thick file.

Sam glanced up at him, her gaze connecting with his.For the briefest of seconds, his brown eyes conveyed a level of devastation she’d never seen in him, before it was gone as fast as it’d come.“What am I looking for specifically?”

“Anything I’ve missed.I’ve looked at it too many times to be objective anymore.”

“Can you give me the highlights, or lowlights, such as they are?”

He sat in one of her visitor chairs.“It’s my sister Jordan’s case.She went missing when I was eleven and she was seven.I’ve looked for her ever since and have never found a trace.It’s like she vaporized into the mist or something, which of course isn’t what happened.And before you say it, I know she’s probably long dead.But I want to know who took her from me.”

His every word was laced with agony.

“Of course you do.”

“I should give it up and get on with my life, but how the hell do I do that?”

“You don’t.You can’t.I never would either.”

“I knew you’d get it.”He looked down at the floor and then back up at her.“I’ve never asked for help before now.”

“Why now?”

“I’m out of ideas.I’ve tried everything I could think of, and nothing has ever panned out.So I’ve brought it to the best detective I’ve ever worked with.No pressure, though.”

Sam laughed.“Not at all.”

“I mean that.I’m not expecting you to pull a rabbit out of a hat for me.I just want another set of eyes.”

“I’m honored that you chose me, and I’ll do my best for you.”

“I have no doubt.I’m sorry to add another thing to your already-full plate.”

“Don’t sweat it.I’m always happy to help a friend if I can.God knows you do enough to help me.”

“That’s work.This is personal, and we both know it.”

“Regardless.I owe you a million favors I’ll never be able to return.”

“No, you don’t.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.”

The left half of his face lifted into the barest hint of a smile as he got up to leave.“Thanks for your time.”

“This isn’t the only copy of the file, is it?”

He tipped his head.“What do you take me for?A rookie?”

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