“Me, too,” Green said as he headed for the door.
“Call if you have any questions,” Gonzo added.
Freddie stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”
Gonzo wasn’t surprised that his friend understood his torment. “Yeah, just… you know… A drug addict relapsed while away from his family. Somehow that probably led to his death.”
“What do you need?”
In a past life, he might’ve lied to his friend and said he was okay. He’d learned that lying about stuff like that led to the kind of trouble that ruined lives and careers. “I think I need a meeting.” He’d attended daily Narcotics Anonymous meetings for months after leaving rehab. These days, he attended only as needed.
“Do you want me to find one nearby for you?”
“I can do it, but thank you for offering.”
“I’d go with you if you needed me to.”
“I know, and I appreciate that. Stay here and keep working the scene. That’s what I need from you right now.”
“Will you check in with me after the meeting, so I know you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Don’t forget.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Gonzo gave his friend a tired smile as he left the room.
In the elevator, he put his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, beyond exhausted from the sleepless night and emotionally charged case. What had seemed like a “routine” murder, as those things went, had turned into something much more fraught for him as a recovering addict.
At times, he still couldn’t believe those words applied to him. Recovering addict. But that’s what he was and what he’d be for the rest of his life. With a wife and a son counting on him, another baby on the way and coworkers he considered family, Gonzo had many good reasons to protect his hard-won sobriety. He was lucky to still have a job, and he’d never forget the way his colleagues had stood by him through the epic struggle.
With them and his family in mind, he looked up the closest NA meeting and headed for the exit as he called his wife to say good morning.
“Hey,” Christina said when she answered. “You never made it home. Good thing I know you don’t have time for other women.”
“Haha, as if I’d want anyone else when I’ve got the woman.”
“Good answer on no sleep. Props. Are you on your way home?”
“I’m going to hit a meeting first. Are you working today?” As Nick’s White House spokesperson, it wasn’t unusual for her to work weekends.
“For a few hours. I can work from home if you need me.”
“I always need you, but I’m okay. Just had a somewhat routine case take an unexpected turn that left me a bit shaky.”
“Tommy… Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure, honey. It’s safe to go to work.”
“I’ll stay home anyway. It’s fine.”
Knowing she’d be waiting for him at home immediately lifted his spirits. “Then I guess I’ll see you shortly.”
“I love you.”
“Love you, too. More than you’ll ever know. You’re my reason. You and Alex and the baby…”
“And you’re ours. Don’t ever forget that.”
