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“Are we looking hard at the father?”
“The grandmother is adamant that he never would’ve hurt his family. By all accounts, he was a devoted family man. I want to talk to the business partners in his practice.”
“Did the grandmother say any more about the wife possibly having an affair?” Freddie asked.
“Just that he’d suspected something was up. When Green arrives with the phones, let’s prioritize the wife.”
“I’ll send him and Archie a note about that. According to the next-door neighbor, the wife’s best friend was named Kelly Goodson, who lives about two blocks from the Blanchets. The neighbor said they met at the playground when their oldest kids were little.”
“Let’s talk to her and the husband’s medical partners.”
Freddie grabbed his coat and followed Sam to the morgue entrance.
Lindsey McNamara met them in the foyer. “Brutal.”
“Always is when kids are involved,” Sam said.
“Murder-suicide?”
“I’m keeping my mind open to numerous possibilities.”
“I’ll get started and get you my report ASAP.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Sam said. “We’ve called in Dr. Trulo to provide support as needed. If you need it, ask for it.”
“I will, thanks.”
Dr. Byron Tomlinson, the deputy ME, pushed a gurney with a small body bag on top through the door. For once, he had nothing to say as he nodded and went past them into the morgue.
“Lieutenant!”
Sam turned at the sound of a familiar voice.
Dr. Anthony Trulo, the MPD’s psychiatrist, walked toward them at a rapid pace. “I’m glad I caught you.”
“Hey, Doc.” He’d put her back together more than once after trauma on the job, and she’d be forever thankful to him for his support and friendship. “What’s up?”
“I’d like to meet with your team at shift change. I thought I’d include the ME and her team as well.”
In the past, Sam would’ve balked. She would’ve put the impetus on her team to ask for help if they needed it. But she’d learned they’d never ask, and that could lead to disaster. “I’ll make sure everyone is there.”
“See you then.”
CHAPTER FOUR
As all his days in the White House did, this one passed in a blur of meetings, briefings, decisions and nonstop demands.
Nick sat in his study off the Oval Office, eating a late lunch while he watched Christina’s press briefing. She’d no sooner walked into the room than reporters began hammering her with questions about his mother.
“I have a few remarks, and then I’ll take some questions. Once again, I’ll reiterate our statement from earlier. President Cappuano has no relationship with his mother. While those might seem like handy words to describe the situation, I’d like to elaborate on what those words actually mean.”
Nick sat up straighter as he wondered where this was going. Christina hadn’t consulted with him about how she planned to handle the briefing. He trusted her implicitly, but as always, the subject of his mother was fraught for him.
“His mother wasn’t at his high school graduation. She didn’t attend commencement when he graduated from Harvard University with honors. She wasn’t there when he took the oath of office as a senator, vice president or president. The only reason she was at his wedding is because she crashed it, and his bride decided not to make a scene that would ruin the day for him. She was escorted from the premises after the ceremony was completed. She has never met his children. President Cappuano has been my close friend for nearly two decades. I have never met his mother, nor have I ever heard him casually speak of her. She is not in his life. As such, he isn’t privy to her business dealings, her daily routine or anything else about her. The only time he ever hears from her is when she needs money.”
A massive lump formed in his throat, and tears filled his eyes as he listened to Christina’s recitation of the facts of his life. The emotional reaction infuriated him. Here he was, the most powerful man on earth, once again being brought low by the woman who’d given birth to him. The scent of Chanel No. 5 still sent him reeling all these years later any time he encountered his mother’s signature perfume, which was another thing he hated.
A knock sounded at the door, forcing him to pull himself together so he wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of whoever had come to find him.
