The news took her breath away for a second. She held up a finger to tell Vernon she needed a minute and walked away from the car so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Oh God. What happened?”
“A shocking series of events has taken place that has hit me and my administration like an earthquake. I asked the Secret Service to bring the kids home early from school. I don’t want anyone hassling them when word gets out.”
“Did you tell them to say we’re okay?” They’d be terrified otherwise, especially Scotty, who’d know something was wrong if they were being taken home early.
“I did.”
“Okay, good. What can I do?”
“Nothing right now, but things are about to get turbulent. Again.”
Maybe this was why her anxiety had gone nuclear over the weekend. She’d felt the storm coming. “You must be reeling, love. I wish I was there to hug you.”
“I wish you were, too.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you more than anything.”
“Love you, too.”
Sam had never been so sorry to have been right about someone. Goddamn it. This would be a massive, ugly blowup, with her precious husband right in the middle of it when all he ever tried to do was the right thing. What in the hell had Gretchen done?
“Sam?”
She turned toward Vernon.
“Is everything all right?”
Sam shook her head. “The shit is hitting the fan at 1600.” Not for the first time, she was torn between what she needed to do and what she should do. Her husband needed her. At the open door to the vehicle, she said, “Freddie, can you hitch a ride back to HQ with Patrol?”
“I can do that. Is everything okay?”
“Nick needs me.”
“Is he all right?”
“He’s dealing with something upsetting, and I need to be there for him. Malone was going to check with Hope to see if she had any objections to Amara staying with Lindsey and Terry for now. If that’s a go, will you introduce Amara to Lindsey?”
“I’ll take care of it, and I love that idea.”
“I do, too.”
“What’re we doing with the parents?”
“Process them and allow them to call lawyers if they request them.”
“No conversation?”
“I don’t think we need one. They’ll know why they’re being charged.”
“But they don’t know it’s because of Amara.”
“I bet at least her mother has by now made the connection to today being her eighteenth birthday. Who knows if Louis has any idea when her birthday is?”
“True.”
“Keep Louis and Thelma separated at all times and check in with me later.”
“Will do.”
