“This is the first time in more than a decade that young children have lived at the White House,” Hoda said. “What’re they enjoying the most?”
“Scotty, who just turned fourteen, loves the movie theater, and the twins, who are six, are partial to the pool. They want to swim every night after dinner.”
“Who’s on lifeguard duty?” Hoda asked. “You or the president?”
“Mostly him, but I’ve done a few shifts.”
“We asked you to come on today to discuss the grief group for victims of violent crime that you’ve initiated within the MPD,” Savannah said. “Can you tell us about that?”
Sam looked to Dr. Trulo, who signaled for her to take the lead. She’d get him for that later. “As you may have heard,” she said with a laugh, “I’m a homicide detective. In the course of my work, I encounter family members and others deeply affected by the violent loss of loved ones. For some time, I’ve wished there was a mechanism in place to better support the secondary victims of violent crime. When I mentioned the idea to Dr. Trulo, he suggested a grief group.”
“And you’ve formed the group within your department?” Hoda asked.
“We have,” Dr. Trulo said. “We’ve had the first meeting and feel it was a big success. People who’ve lost spouses, children, parents and friends attended the meeting, and we’ve heard from several of them that they’ve met up again outside the meeting.”
“That’s amazing,” Hoda said, “that they’re making friends and finding additional support.”
“That was our hope,” Dr. Trulo said, “and we also hope our model might be adopted by other police departments across the country. Grief groups are a source of tremendous support to people suffering from loss. We wanted to provide an extra level of support to those grappling with violent loss, which often involves a protracted criminal proceeding that adds to the agony. The justice system moves slowly, and the families need support sometimes for years.”
“There’s such a huge need,” Savannah said. “How do you narrow down who’s invited?”
“It’s open to anyone who feels they need it,” Sam said, “but we do ask that the people attending have been touched by violent crime.”
“You’ve had experience with that in your family as well,” Hoda said.
“That’s right,” Sam said. “My father, Skip Holland, who was the MPD deputy chief at the time, was shot on the job and left a quadriplegic for nearly four years before he succumbed to his injuries in October.”
“We’re so sorry for your loss,” Savannah said.
A picture of Sam with her dad from before the shooting came on the screen, triggering a tidal wave of grief that caught her off guard and unprepared to manage it while on national television. It took a huge effort not to let the pain show. “Thank you. We miss him.”
“If other departments are interested in finding out more about your grief program, how can they get in touch?” Hoda asked.
Dr. Trulo gave his email address. “Or they can call the MPD and ask for me. I’d be happy to talk to anyone about what we’ve done so far and what we hope to do in the future.”
“Definitely call him,” Sam said. “You’re more likely to get a reply.”
“What she said,” Dr. Trulo added, smiling.
The hosts laughed, thanked them for coming on the show and wished them luck with the grief group and with her new role as the first lady.
“Thank you so much for having us,” Sam said, breathing a sigh of relief that she’d gotten through the interview without embarrassing herself or Nick.
“That was great, guys,” Savannah said after the show went to commercial. “I’m sure you’re going to hear from departments all over the country who are interested in your program.”
“We appreciate the chance to talk about it,” Sam said.
“And we appreciate the first national interview with the new first lady,” Savannah said, smiling.
“I do what I can for the people,” Sam said, trotting out her trademarked saying, which the hosts found amusing.
After they said their goodbyes, another young woman appeared to help remove Sam’s microphone. She couldn’t get free fast enough. Even though it was for a good cause, seeking publicity would never fall into her comfort zone.
Sam had shit to do and no time for delays. Starting today, she and her squad were reexamining unsolved cases overseen by disgraced officers Stahl, a former lieutenant, and Conklin, former deputy chief, to make sure they’d been handled properly. After recently solving the fifteen-year-old murder case of Calvin Worthington in a single afternoon, Sam was afraid of what they might find.
“You did good, kiddo,” Dr. Trulo said as they followed Yvonne through the winding hallways that hopefully would lead them out of there.
“Thanks, you did, too. I hope you’re ready to be inundated with requests for info.”
“I’m ready. I typed up a program description and a list of suggestions for getting started that I can send to anyone who requests it.”
“Of course you did. I keep hoping I’m going to wake up one day as the kind of person who comes prepared, but so far it hasn’t happened.”
Dr. Trulo cracked up. “Good thing you’re surrounded by others who can handle the prep work for you.”
“Thank God for that, especially lately.” She never would’ve survived the last couple of weeks without a cadre of dedicated family, friends and colleagues who’d helped her, Nick and the kids through the biggest transition of their lives. Everything would be going as well as could be expected if it hadn’t been for the custody battle that loomed over every breath she took.
“Do you have time for a brief parking-lot consult?” she asked.
“I’ve always got time for you.”
“In case I’ve never told you, you’re one of the people I’m thankful for.”
“Aw, thanks. It’s a pleasure to work with you and to be your friend.” In a whisper, he added, “My friend is the first lady of the whole United States!”
“Hush with that nonsense.”
His laughter made her smile as they walked out together with Vernon leading and Jimmy bringing up the rear.
Sam would never get used to the Secret Service detail, but had compromised by agreeing to have two agents with her at all times. Mostly, she tried to ignore them and pretend they weren’t there.
“Now, what can I do for you this fine morning?”
Sam glanced up at the dark clouds that hung over the nation’s capital and shivered in the late autumn chill. With Christmas right around the corner, the days were getting shorter, and every day seemed colder than the last. “Are you one of those people who loves the winter?”
“I love all four seasons for different reasons.”
Sam leaned against the black BMW Nick had outfitted to protect her from just about anything that could happen over the course of an average workday. “The twins’ maternal grandparents have filed for custody of them.”
“Oh damn. I hadn’t heard that.”
“We’ve kept it quiet so it won’t turn into a three-ring circus. That’s the last thing they need. The twins don’t even know about it, and if I have my way, they never will.”