First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 4)

“Good.”

“We’ll need to talk to Tuck and John and Colleen.”

“I can arrange that. Tuck is still in the hospital. The children are staying at Pam’s sister’s house in Bethesda.”

“And we’ll need access to the crime scene.”

Michelle added, “The FBI will have all the forensics evidence. We’ll need to see that too if we’re really going to get anywhere.”

“I’ll see what I can do. After all, this is my family.”

“Okay,” Sean said slowly, watching her closely.

“So you’ll do it?” She laid her hand over the top of Sean’s.

He looked at Michelle, who gave a quick nod. “We’ll do it.”

CHAPTER 11

THEY LEFT THE CHURCH. The Town Car was not waiting for them.

“I guess we didn’t pay for a round trip,” muttered Michelle.

They were starting to walk across Lafayette Park when Sean said, “Hold on to your organs. Here they come.”

The two men were marching with a shared purpose. One was Sour Face, the FBI agent. The other one Sean knew well, as did Michelle. He was Secret Service, higher-up Secret Service named Aaron Betack. The man’s distinguished career at the Service had swiftly propelled him from the trenches to the power tower, and Sean noted he had quite the spring in his step right now.

They blocked Sean and Michelle’s way.

Sean feigned surprise. “Hey, you guys out for a stroll too? Great minds and all.”

Sour Face said, “We know where you’ve been and who you just talked to and we’re here to put the kibosh on it right now. The last thing we need are two cowboys—” He paused and leered at Michelle. “Excuse me, and cowgirl screwing this up.”

“I never did get your name,” said Sean pleasantly.

“FBI Special Agent Chuck Waters, WFO.”

“That’s good to know,” put in Michelle. “Because I’ve just been referring to you as dickhead. ”

“Maxwell,” snapped Betack. “You show some damn respect.”

“Show me something I should respect and I will,” she shot back.

Waters inched closer to her and waggled a finger an inch from her nose. “You just back the hell off, little lady.”

Since Michelle was nearly four inches taller than Waters, she said, “If I’m a little lady that must mean you’re a dwarf.”

“And just so you know, Chuck , this little lady here can kick all of our asses without breaking a sweat, so back off,” said Sean.

Betack, who was the same size as the six-foot-two King with even broader shoulders, cleared his throat and gave his FBI colleague a cautious look and then a shake of the head. Waters’s face flamed red but he did take a noticeable step back.

Betack said, “Sean, you and Maxwell are not investigating this case. Period.”

“Last time I looked at my pay stub it didn’t mention Uncle Sam.”

“Nevertheless—”

“There’s no nevertheless. We met with a prospective client. We have agreed to represent said client. This is America. They allow that sort of thing here. Now, we have a case to get working on.”