“What’re the lawyers saying?”
“That they have no case. Jameson and Cleo were very clear who they wanted making decisions for Aubrey and Alden, and that’s Elijah.” Their older brother was a junior at Princeton and had designated Sam and Nick as the children’s legal guardians while he was still in school. The three of them made all the big decisions about the kids together, and Elijah had become part of their family, too.
“Then it should be okay, right?”
“‘Should be’ are the key words there. They’re making a BFD about custody now that Nick is president. They don’t want the kids in the spotlight or in danger because of their proximity to him.”
“They say that as if the twins aren’t protected by the finest security in the world.”
“Exactly, and the ultimate irony is they wanted nothing to do with the kids before their parents’ killers were caught. The minute we solved the case, they tried pulling the concerned-family act. Elijah thinks they’re far more interested in the billions in inheritance that come with the kids than they are in the kids themselves.”
“He may be right about that. I know it’s hard not to go to the worst-case scenario with this situation, but you have the parents’ wishes working in your favor. The courts take that very seriously and would have to find fault with Elijah to even consider overturning the parents’ request. The grandparents’ case is a huge long shot, and they know that as well as you do.”
“Still, the stress is real.”
“I’m sure it is. You and Nick have invested a lot of yourself in those kids and their brother.”
“It was the strangest thing, Doc. It took all of a day for them to feel like ours.”
“Amazing how that happens, huh? All those years of fertility struggles, and now you’re the mom of three and a half kids.”
“I know. Nothing happened the way we thought it would, but we wouldn’t trade this family for anything.” Sam’s cell phone rang, and when she checked the caller ID, she didn’t recognize the number. “I probably ought to grab this.”
“Go ahead. I’ll see you back at the house. Reminder that my door is always open to you, Lieutenant.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Sam squeezed his arm and then opened her flip phone. “Lieutenant Holland.”
“Um, hello, this is Marlene Peters. I’m a friend of Cameron Green’s. We spoke during the Armstrong investigation.”
“Oh right. What’s up?”
“I heard something through the PTA grapevine that I thought might be of interest to you.” Her children attended the exclusive Northwest Academy on Connecticut Avenue, where Aubrey and Alden were kindergarten students.
“What’s that?”
“The name of the person who leaked the photos of the president at Aubrey and Alden’s birthday party.” Those photos had caused a shitstorm for Nick, who’d taken advantage of a break between meetings during a tense standoff with Iran to come to their former home on Ninth Street to celebrate the twins’ birthday. One of the other parents had violated the nondisclosure agreement everyone had signed by leaking pictures of Nick with the kids while the secretary of State was being detained by the Iranians.
“You’re right. That’s info I’d very much like to have.”
“It won’t come back to me, will it?”
“Absolutely not. Your name will never be mentioned.”
“His name is Bryson Thorn. His son Sebastian is in class with Alden and Aubrey.”
“How do you know it came from him?”
“Multiple reliable sources. That’s all I can say, or it’ll come around to bite me in the ass.”
“Any idea why he’d do it?”
“I don’t know him, but one of the people who told me it was him said he’d do it for the attention and to stir the pot.”
“Who’d want that kind of negative attention with everyone pissed at him, not to mention potential legal exposure for violating the NDA?”
“You know that saying about how some people will take any attention, even bad attention? I think that applies here.”
“I’ll never understand people.”
“Right there with you. I’ve also heard that he’s spouted off about your husband’s youth, inexperience and reluctance to be president.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
She provided an address in the swanky Spring Valley neighborhood.
“What does he do for a living?”
“Stockbroker. The wife is a piece of work. None of the other mothers like her.”
“I appreciate this info, Marlene.”
“I think it’s egregious that he leaked those photos. Just about everyone I’ve spoken to agrees. Your husband wasn’t doing anything wrong, and Bryson did it with the sole purpose of causing trouble for him. He may not align with him politically, but he was a guest in the man’s home.”
“It’s good to know others see it the same way we do.”
“Many others do. People are pissed, and the word’s getting out that he was the leaker.”
“Thanks again for letting me know.”
“You got it.”
Sam ended the call and thought about how she wanted to handle the info Marlene had given her. She’d planned to go right to HQ and change out of the uniform that had gotten a little snug since she’d worn it at her dad’s funeral. She needed to quit with the comfort eating.
However, the uniform might come in handy on this mission. Opening her phone, she put through a call to her friend Lieutenant Archelotta, who ran the department’s IT division.
“Hey, Sam. Saw you on TV this morning. The place is buzzing about it.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“Mostly. People love the grief group and think it’s a great idea. Well, Ramsey doesn’t, but no one listens to him.”
“I wish he’d find someone else to obsess about. But I didn’t call to talk about that jackass. I need a personal favor.”
“Um, okay, but I thought we weren’t doing that anymore?”
Sam laughed at the unexpected comeback from the only fellow officer she’d ever fooled around with when she was between marriages. “Shut up.”
Archie sputtered with laughter. “What can I do for you?”
“I found out who leaked the photos of Nick at the twins’ birthday party, and I could use some proof that they came from his IP address.”
“I’d have to investigate something like that after hours.”
“Understood, and I’d be happy to pay for your time.”
“No charge. I’d love to help you nail the guy who did that.”
“You’re the best. I’ll send you his info.”
“I’ll get on it tonight and let you know what I find.”
“Thanks, Archie. It means a lot to have friends watching our backs in this new situation.”
“Situation,” he said, snorting with laughter. “You mean the situation with you guys being the first couple?”
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“We got you covered. I’ll text you later.”