The limousine that usually transported Nelson was idling at the curb with a massive number of other vehicles lined up in front of and behind it. That ramped-up security presence served as further proof that everything had changed.
On the ramp that led out of their home to the sidewalk below, it occurred to her that they needed a Bible. “Nick,” she said, “I should grab the Holland family Bible.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He’d used the O’Connor family Bible to be sworn into the Senate and when he took the oath as vice president.
“Is it okay if I tell Celia what’s going on?”
“Yes, but please ask her not to tell anyone until the news is announced.”
“I will.” Sam moved to the left, heading for her late father’s home three doors down from theirs.
“Mrs. Cappuano,” Brant said. “Where’re you going?”
“To get our family Bible.”
Brant nodded to one of the other agents, indicating that she should follow Sam.
Sam wanted to remind him that she wasn’t officially under their protection, but she’d be fighting that battle in the days to come. She went up the ramp to Celia’s front door and knocked. A few seconds later, the outside light came on as locks were disengaged.
Celia, who was wearing a robe, seemed surprised to see Sam there. “Come in.” She opened the storm door. “What’re you doing out so late? And why are you all made up?”
“I need to tell you something that you can’t tell anyone else.”
“All right…”
“President Nelson passed away.”
Celia gasped. “What? When?”
“He was found dead a short time ago.”
Her eyes went wide as the implications seemed to hit her all at once. “So that means… Dear God, Sam.”
“Believe me, I know. I was hoping I could borrow the Holland family Bible.”
“Of course. Do you know where it is?”
“The last time I saw it, it was on the bookshelf in Dad’s room. Do you mind if I run up and see if I can find it?”
“My home is your home. You know that.”
Sam kissed Celia on the cheek. “Thank you.”
She ran up the stairs to the room that had been her dad’s before he was shot on the job four years ago and left a quadriplegic. The last time she’d been in there, shortly after his death in October, she and her partner, Detective Freddie Cruz, had been looking for the messenger bag Skip had carried on the job. She hadn’t been in there again since, and when she crossed the threshold and encountered the faint scent of the Polo cologne Skip used to wear, a million and one memories hit her in a tsunami of emotions.
Oh, how she missed him.
She found the Bible on the small bookshelf that also held numerous volumes about investigative techniques as well as fictional thrillers, held it to her chest and gave herself a second to wallow in the presence of Skip Holland in this place that had been his private sanctuary.
“Dad, if you can hear me, things are about to get crazy for me and Nick and the kids. Keep an eye on us, will you? Do whatever you can to keep him safe and give me a clue of how I’m supposed to deal with this. I’ll take whatever you’ve got. I miss you every minute of every day, but never more so than right now.”
Knowing Nick was waiting for her and time was of the essence, she left the room and went downstairs.
“I’m glad you found it,” Celia said. “Please let me know what I can do for you, Nick or the kids. Anything you need, I’m right here.”
Sam put down the Bible and hugged her. “I’m so scared.” She could count on one hand the number of times she’d said those words out loud in her adult life. Sam wasn’t known for being scared, but this…
“I’m sure you are,” Celia said. “But if anyone can pull this off, you can. I have complete faith in you.”
“Thank you. I needed that. I’ll call you later.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you. I’ll pray for you and Nick. Our country is lucky to have you both.”
She retrieved the Bible. “Keep telling me that, okay?”
“Anytime you need to hear it.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Sam went outside and down the ramp to the sidewalk, where the Secret Service agent waited for her. She hurried to the waiting limousine and got in the back seat next to Nick. Scotty sat across from them, his brows furrowed with the same anxiety she was feeling.
Nick reached for her hand. “I was just telling Scotty that the limo used to transport the president is known as The Beast.”
“Why do they call it that?” Scotty asked.
“Because it’s heavily armored and fortified against every form of threat, even a bomb.”
“Whoa.” Scotty looked outside the window. “Is the motorcade way bigger than it was before?”
“Yep. The president gets a lot more security than anyone else.”
“Does the Secret Service call it The Beast too?”
Nick shook his head. “They use the name Stagecoach for the president’s car.”
“Ah, okay.”
“This car has a lot of the same survival features I had put into Mom’s car when I had it tricked out for safety,” Nick said. “I had it done at the same facility that produced this car. Like with hers, we could live for days inside this car if we ever had to.”
“Let’s hope we never have to.” Sam couldn’t bear to think of him being in that kind of danger. “You really should call your dad. He shouldn’t hear this on the news.”
“I was thinking that too.” Nick retrieved his phone and placed the call to his dad, Leo, putting it on speaker so Sam and Scotty could hear.
“Hey,” Leo said. “Didn’t I just see you?”
“You did. I’m in the car with Sam and Scotty, and we have some news to share, but you have to keep it confidential.”
“Okay… Is everything all right?”
“President Nelson passed away earlier tonight. We’re on the way to the White House so I can be sworn in as president.”
“Oh my God, Nicky. Wow. How do you feel?”
“Uh, can I get back to you on that?”
Leo laughed.
“I didn’t want you to hear it on TV.”
“Thank you for the call, and… I don’t even know what to say, son.”
“Right there with you. We’re a little speechless ourselves.”
“Do you know what happened to Nelson?”
“Not yet.”
“If there’s anything we can do, anything at all, just call.”
“We will. Thanks, Dad.”
“I’m so proud, Nicky. So very proud.”
“Thank you. We’ll be in touch when we can.”
“Take care, son. You too, Sam and Scotty. We love you guys.”
“Thanks, Leo,” Sam said. “We love you too.”
Nick ended the call and put his phone back in his pocket. On the short ride to Pennsylvania Avenue, he held on tight to Sam’s hand.
The feel of his hand wrapped around hers calmed her as parts and pieces of his words from earlier echoed through her mind. Nothing will change. The most important thing is us and our family. We can do anything if we do it together.