Fatal Invasion

by Marie Force

  “I wish my dad was here to tell me what to do. He always knew what to do.”

  “He and Cleo put tremendous faith in you by making you the children’s guardian,” Sam said. “You’ll do the right thing, Elijah.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY passed in a blur of details, paperwork and press briefings as the full story of the murders made the national news, thrusting Sam and her team into the spotlight she detested. She went through the motions, dotting the is and crossing the ts to make sure there was no way Klein and Baker wouldn’t be convicted and sent away for life. All the while, she tried not to think about what might happen next with the kids.

  For now, Elijah was following their advice to take his time to make the best possible decisions for the kids. The three of them attended the memorial service for Jameson and Cleo Armstrong, going out of their way to avoid the aunt and uncle who had upset them.

  On Friday night, Sam was awake for hours after she went to bed, which didn’t bode well for the pictures at Freddie’s wedding the next afternoon.

  “What’re you thinking about?” Nick asked.

  “I thought you were asleep.”

  “Not going to happen tonight. Too much on my mind. I can’t stop thinking about that horrible couple who had no idea how to deal with traumatized kids. Not that we know much better, but anything would be better than them.”

  Sam shuddered. “They were horrible.”

  “I’m glad Elijah spoke up, and I didn’t have to beg him not to give the kids to them.”

  “I know. Me too.”

  Sam turned over and curled up to him. “We have no business offering to take them in.”

  He put his arm around her. “Maybe not, but if they need us, we’ll make it work. Somehow. I just want you to remember—our family was perfect before them, and we’ll be perfect after them, no matter what Elijah decides.”

  “I know, but we’d be much more perfect with them.”

  “Samantha.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m keeping it real.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yeah.” She said what he needed to hear but didn’t want to think about Aubrey and Alden—or even Elijah—exiting their lives.

  Though she hadn’t expected to sleep, she awoke from a deep, dreamless sleep at nine o’clock. She looked over to find Nick’s side of the bed empty and forced herself to relax while she could. Hair and makeup people were due at two to beautify her for the four o’clock ceremony. She sent a text to Freddie.

  How you holding up?

  Fine.

  You need me over there?

  Absolutely not.

  Sam chuckled at his reply.

  I’m hurt.

  No, you’re not. You want to be home with your family today.

  You’re right. But I’m here if you need me.

  I need you at three thirty at the observatory.

  I’ll be there with bells on. The midget strippers are coming too.

  Before his bachelor party, she’d tortured him with hints of what she had planned, which was in fact an elegant dinner party for him and Elin.

  Shut up, Sam.

  Make me.

  I’m getting married today. Leave me alone.

  She laughed at the predictable reply and responded with one of her own.

  Why should today be different from any other day?

  Her beloved Freddie was getting married. The thought brought tears to her eyes, probably the first of many on what promised to be another emotional day.

  Sam heard whispers outside the door and wondered what was going on. A soft knock on the door had her sitting up in bed and pushing her hair back from her face.

  Nick poked his head in the door. “We made breakfast. Are you interested, and more important, are you decent?”

  “As decent as I ever am.” She’d slept in one of his T-shirts, but she pulled the covers up around her waist anyway.

  “Go ahead,” Nick said.

  Scotty carried the tray while Aubrey and Alden “helped” him.

  “What’d you guys make?” Sam asked.

  “Pancakes, bacon and eggs,” Aubrey said.

  Alden was, as always, quieter than his sister, but he took in the goings-on with interest. “This looks yummy,” Sam said, smiling up at Scotty when he placed the tray on her lap. “Did you cook?”

  “I helped,” Scotty said, “but Dad did most of it.”

  “We helped too,” Aubrey said.

  “I’m sure you did,” Sam said, ruffling her hair. “You want some of my bacon?”

  “Scotty and Lijah are going to take us to the park,” Aubrey said. “We just hafta wait until...” She looked to Scotty. “Who has to go with us?”

  “My Secret Service detail,” Scotty said.

  “Oh yeah,” Aubrey said. “They have to come. What’s Secret Service again, Scotty?”

  “My dad is the vice president, so they keep us safe.”

  “I wish my dad had been vice president,” Aubrey said solemnly.

  Before they could react to that heartbreaking statement, Debra Nixon, the lead agent on Scotty’s detail came to the door. “Pardon the interruption, but we’re set to go, Scotty. If you’re ready.”

  “We’re ready,” Scotty said. “Come on, guys. Let’s go.”

  Aubrey and Alden bounded off the bed and followed Scotty out the door.

  “It’ll be good for them to get outside after being cooped up the last few days,” Nick said as he closed the bedroom door and then stretched out next to Sam on the bed.

  “Definitely.” She took a bite of bacon and fed some to him. “Thanks for breakfast in bed.”

  “Glad you got to sleep in.”

  “Did you sleep at all?”

  “A little.”

  “It’s going to be a long, emotional day and I’m already emotionally drained.” Waiting for Elijah to decide what to do with the kids had taken a toll on them both over the last few days, but they were giving him space and breathing room to think.

  “I know, babe. So am I. But we’ll rally for Freddie and Elin.”

  She linked her fingers with his. “Yes, we will.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  THE BRIDE AND GROOM had given Sam carte blanche to wear whatever she wanted as Freddie’s best man-woman. As always, Sam blazed her own trail with a halter-style black cocktail-length dress, which matched the color and length of Elin’s bridesmaids’ dresses. In deference to her status as a groomsman, Sam added a black wraparound bow tie to her outfit.

  Her hair had been done in long spiral curls and her makeup was subtle but effective enough that she wouldn’t ruin the pictures. Over the wound on her left arm, she wore a flesh-colored bandage. Standing before the mirror, she decided she looked as good as she ever did.

  Nick came into the bedroom, decked out in a tux, and Sam’s mouth went dry at the sight of him. He was always gorgeous, but the tuxedo took him to a whole other level of dashing.

  “You look beautiful, babe.”

  “Funny, I was just thinking the same about you.”

  Smiling, he said, “Are you ready?”

  “Just a minute.” She put on the engagement ring she only wore for special occasions and gazed lovingly at the diamond key necklace Nick had given her as a wedding gift. Normally she would wear it on a day like this, but today she wore the bow tie instead. Then she stepped into the black Louboutin heels Nick had given her for Christmas and declared herself ready.

  She took the arm he extended to her and walked with him down the stairs where Scotty waited for them wearing the new blazer and khaki pants they’d bought him for the wedding. He’d grown so much in the last few months that he would soon be taller than his mother but had more growing to do before he would catch up to his six
-foot-four-inch father.

  “You guys look really nice,” Scotty said.

  “So do you,” Sam said, smoothing the hair back from his forehead. “Where are Elijah and the kids?”

  “In the kitchen.”

  Sam and Nick went into the kitchen to check on their guests before they left.

  Elijah sat with the kids at the table, watching over them as they played Candy Land.

  “We’re off to the wedding,” Sam said. “If you need us for anything, text Scotty and he’ll let us know.” They’d given him all their phone numbers, so he could reach them at any time.

  As Elijah nodded, Sam noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “Have a good time and don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. We’re going to meet Milagros for dinner, so she can see the kids.”

  “That’ll be fun.”

  “You look pretty,” Aubrey said with a shy smile.

  “Thank you,” Sam said, returning her smile and bending to kiss her and Alden. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sam, Nick and Scotty went outside to where the motorcade awaited them.

  Down the street, Sam noticed Celia helping her dad into the specially outfitted van the police union had bought for him after his injury. Sam waved to them.

  “See you there,” Celia called to her.

  The motorcade left Ninth Street, headed northwest toward Number One Observatory Circle and the Naval Observatory, the traditional home of the vice president.

  “Did you know the Naval Observatory houses one of the nation’s oldest scientific agencies and is the keeper of the Master Clock?” Nick asked when they were underway.

  “History lessons by Vice President Nick Cappuano,” Scotty said in a deep voice as he grinned.

  “Well, did you know?” Nick asked, amused by his son.

  “No, Dad, I didn’t know.” Scotty rolled his eyes at Sam. “What does this Master Clock do, exactly?”

  “I’m so glad you asked.” Nick referred to his phone. “According to Wikipedia, it ‘provides precise time to the GPS satellite constellation run by the United States Air Force.’” He read more about time interval, earth orientation, astronomy and celestial observation duties performed at the observatory and mentioned the world’s largest astrophysical periodicals collection.

  “Well, there’re a few things I didn’t know when I woke up this morning,” Sam said dryly.

  “I do what I can for the people,” Nick said.

  “That’s her line,” Scotty said, using his thumb to point at Sam.

  “And it’s copyrighted,” Sam added.

  “What you’re basically telling us,” Scotty said to his father, “is that we could be living in the coolest place in the world and instead we’re stuck in a boring double townhouse in Capitol Hill.”

  “Basically, yes,” Nick said, grinning.

  “Good to know.”

  Sam didn’t bother to mention that they lived where they did so they could remain close to her dad, because Scotty already knew that and was a frequent visitor to Skip’s home.

  “What’s the deal with there being no traffic today?” Sam asked. “Have aliens landed or something no one told me about?”

  “It’s a rare Saturday with no home games for any of our teams and no huge rallies of any kind,” Nick said.

  “Freddie and Elin picked a good day to get married,” Scotty said.

  In addition to the less than average traffic, the weather was also cooperating with a day well into the seventies, with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky. “I love this time of year,” Sam said.

  “I hate it,” Scotty said, scowling. “Summer is the best.”

  “Aw, come on! Autumn is so beautiful with the leaves changing and the weather warm but not scorching.”

  “Blah, blah, blah,” Scotty said in a teasing tone. “Autumn means school. Summer means freedom. I pick summer any day.”

  Nick smiled at Sam, who shook her head in amusement. She couldn’t really argue with her son. She’d felt the same way at his age when school had been such an awful struggle for her, with undiagnosed dyslexia plaguing her.

  “Hey, buddy,” Sam said, tentatively, “the other night you said something that’s had me thinking ever since.”

  “What did I say?”

  “That not all foster homes are the same—”

  “You knew that already.”

  “Yes, but it made me wonder if you were in bad places before you ended up with Mrs. Littlefield.” Sam had struggled for days to find the opportunity to discuss it further with him. In the motorcade, he was a captive audience.

  He shrugged. “They were mostly fine. Sometimes the people care more about the money they get from the state than the kids.”

  Nick squeezed Sam’s hand. “Here’s what’s been making me crazy since Mom told me you said that—the fear that someone was unkind or cruel to you.”

  “I was really young, so I don’t remember much about the people, but they weren’t mean. More like indifferent. Not like you guys at all.” Grinning, he added, “Sometimes I wish you were a little more indifferent. I could do without all the homework nonsense that goes on in our house.”

  Nick laughed. “Too bad. You’re stuck with me and my determination to get you into Harvard.”

  Scotty rolled his eyes. “We need to aim a little lower.”

  “Not happening. I have no doubt that you’re fully capable.”

  “It’d be far more likely if you were to succeed in outlawing all forms of math.”

  Nick laughed. “I don’t think even I have the power to make that happen.”

  “If there’s ever anything you want to talk to us about,” Sam said, “I hope you know you can.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

  “That’s all that matters to us.”

  “You guys are awesome parents, even when you’re making me do my math homework and kissing all the time.” He glanced at Sam. “Could I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Are we going to get to keep Aubrey and Alden?”

  “We don’t know yet.” He knew they’d offered to keep the children, but that it was up to Elijah. “We might not know for a while. Elijah has some decisions to make, and we’ve told him to take the time he needs.”

  “It would be cool to have siblings.”

  “I know,” Sam said, moved by his statement, “but let’s take a wait-and-see approach to them for now. I don’t want any of us to end up heartbroken if they have to leave us.”

  “I think we’ll all be a little heartbroken if they leave,” Scotty said.

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “You’re probably right about that.”

  They arrived a short time later at the observatory, and Nick pointed out the digital Master Clock outside the gates.

  “How many times have I driven by that and paid no attention to it?” Sam asked.

  “You should know this stuff, Mom. You grew up here.”

  “Chastised by my thirteen-year-old.”

  Scotty laughed. “We should have a contest to see who knows more about this city—me or you.”

  “You’d probably win,” Sam said.

  “Um, I’d definitely win,” Scotty said.

  Nick nodded in agreement.

  But when Sam sent him a challenging look, he shook his head. She laughed at the way he played both sides, like the nimble politician he was.

  They pulled up to the front entrance a minute later. The first person they encountered inside was Shelby Faircloth, dressed to the nines in a sexy pink suit and sky-high pink heels. She wore a headset and carried a walkie-talkie. “The vice president, second lady and Scotty Cappuano have arrived,” she said into the radio.

  “Shelby,” Scotty said, his eyes wide with surprise. “You look so pretty!”

  �
�This is how I used to look every day, sport,” she said. “You want to give me a hand?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Come back in a few so I can show you around,” Nick said.

  “We’ve got all day to look around,” Scotty said, hooking his arm through Shelby’s.

  Over her shoulder, Shelby said, “Freddie’s upstairs. Go on up.”

  Sam started up the stairs with Nick following, taking the opportunity to slide his hand up her leg.

  “Stop!” she said, laughing.

  “Don’t wanna stop.”

  They found Freddie with his parents in one of the smaller bedrooms. Judging by the noise coming from down the hallway, Elin and her bridesmaids had taken over the master suite.

  At the sight of her partner in a tuxedo, Sam rested a hand over her heart, overcome by what was sure to be the first of many emotional moments during the course of this day. She walked over to him and hugged him while Nick shook his hand.

  “Thank you, guys, for being part of this,” Freddie said.

  “We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else today,” Sam said.

  Juliette Cruz hugged them both. “It’s such an honor to have you both here and as such special friends to our Freddie.”

  “We love him,” Sam said bluntly. Today was not the day to pretend otherwise. Today was a day to celebrate her best friend, her partner, the brother of her heart.

  * * *

  A FEW MINUTES after they arrived, Nick was called into duty to help escort the guests to their seats for the ceremony that would take place in the backyard. A huge tent stood ready to host the reception. Each of the one hundred and fifty guests had been vetted by the Secret Service. The details assigned to Nick and Scotty had promised to be discreet during the day, but they were always watching. After closing the Beauclair case, Sam was more grateful than ever for their presence, even if it was intrusive at times. Nothing like the horror perpetrated on the Beauclairs would ever happen to her family on the Secret Service’s watch.