“I’m on it.”
Sam unlocked her office and draped her coat over a chair. She booted up her computer and checked her email while she waited for Freddie to return.
When Archie knocked on her door, she waved him in.
“What’s up?”
He came in and took a seat. “Hell of a day around here yesterday, huh?”
“Unreal.”
“Is it true that it was the Russians?”
Sam gave a brief nod.
“What the hell, Sam? They can’t just bomb our building and get away with it.”
“I’m sure there’re multiple investigations underway that’ll hopefully deal with that.”
“Yeah, I guess. It’s just so infuriating. Our colleagues were killed. June Mercer was the nicest person in this building. I want to see them do hard time for her and the others.”
“I agree. It’s heartbreaking.”
“Did you know June was due to retire next month? She and her husband were planning to travel for a whole year to all the places they’ve always wanted to go.”
Sam sighed at the senseless loss. “I’m so sorry to hear that. She helped me so much when I was investigating my dad’s case.”
“She was lovely.”
“For a minute or two yesterday, I was afraid it might’ve been directed at me.” Saying it out loud brought back the horror she’d experienced while thinking she’d brought such a thing down on her colleagues.
“Oh man. I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking it had something to do with the first lady who insists on keeping her job.”
“I didn’t hear a word of that.”
“They know we’re friends. You wouldn’t hear it.”
“I’d pick up a vibe if there was one.”
She didn’t believe that was true but kept the thought to herself. “How’s Harlowe?”
“Doing better every day. She’s doing some work part-time from home, and the normalcy of that seems to be helping.”
“Has she recovered more memories?”
He shook his head. “I’m thankful she can’t remember the assault, but I worry about what else she might not remember that she needs to know. And afraid Offenbach will walk on the assault charge because she doesn’t remember it.”
“He won’t walk on any of it. Our case is airtight.”
He stood to leave. “I sure as hell hope so. I’ll let you get to work.”
“I’m here if you need me.”
“I know that.” He smiled at her over his shoulder. “Why do you think I stopped by?”
Sam was still thinking about how lucky she was to have such great friends at work when the best of them returned to her office.
