“Our son asking us what it means to be a ‘real’ kid.”
“No.”
“He heard it at school and didn’t know what it meant.”
“Sam…”
“I know. It’s infuriating, and we thought it might be fun to tell the reporter who asked the question what she started.”
“I’d give anything to be there to see you two walk into her office.”
“You can come if you’d like.”
Lindsey laughed. “Thanks, but I’ll wait to hear about it from you.”
“I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“God help that woman. She has no idea what’s about to hit her.”
“Nick and I can take whatever shit they fling our way, but don’t come for our kids, you know?”
“Absolutely. You’re doing the right thing and teaching her a lesson she’ll never forget.”
“Let’s hope so. Have a good day, Doc.”
“You too. Let me know how the visit to the TV station goes.”
“Will do.” On the way to the pit, she took a call from Haggerty. “Hey, so the ME has determined our cause of death was most likely a Garden Weasel or a similar implement that would’ve caused a ragged wound.”
“Got it. We’re back on the scene today finishing up. I’ll let you know if we find anything that fits the bill.”
“Thanks very much. Was there anything else useful?”
“Not yet. We took a ton of prints and collected lots of other evidence. It’s all with the lab. Today, we’re working on getting the prints of anyone who had regular access to the house so we can rule out family members.”
“Perfect. Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
When the line went dead, she smacked the phone closed and jammed it into her back pocket. In the pit, she signaled Cameron Green to come into the office.
Squared away as always in a starched light blue dress shirt and matching tie, Green came in carrying a file folder. “Can you ask Cruz and McBride to join us?” he asked.
Sam picked up the phone and buzzed Freddie’s extension.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Come into the office, and bring McBride with you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She put down the extension and waited for them to come in.
Freddie closed the door behind them. “What’s up?”
“I’ve got something on Ramsey,” Green said.
Sam’s backbone tingled the way it did when something was about to break on a case. “Do tell.”
“He’s having an affair.” Green put a series of photos on the desk.
Sam, Freddie and Jeannie leaned in for a closer look.
“The woman’s name is Amy Turnblat. She’s thirty-five and works as an executive chef at La Belle Vie in Potomac. I tailed him over a week, and he spent three nights with her and four at home in Columbia Heights.” Cam put more pictures on the desk, all of them taken from Facebook. “He’s been married to Marlene Ramsey for thirty years, and they have four adult children.”
“Holy bombshell,” Sam said, her mind racing with thoughts of how they could use this info to force Ramsey to back the hell off.
“It was actually kind of fun,” Cam said, smiling. “Nothing like catching a scumbag being a scumbag.”
“How do we use this to get him off our backs?” Freddie asked.
“I was just trying to figure that out myself.”
“If I may suggest something?” Cam said.
Sam waved her hand to give him the floor.
“Send the photos in an interoffice envelope with a note that says something like, ‘When you dig for shit on your colleagues, they do the same.’ Nothing more, nothing less. Just that.”
“I love that,” Jeannie said.
“Let’s do it. Type the note on plain white paper and wear gloves so there’s no evidence to trace this back to us.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Cam said.
“Are we all in agreement?” Sam asked.
Freddie hesitated. “I worry about making it worse somehow.”
“How can it get any worse than him basically ruining Gonzo’s career?” Sam asked him.
“I don’t know, and I’m not sure I want to find out.”
“If we don’t do something to put him on notice that what goes around comes around, he’ll continue to make our lives a living hell in every way he possibly can,” Sam said. “We have to do something.”
“I don’t disagree with that. I’m just worried about what his next move might look like.”
“If he makes another move, we send the pictures to his wife,” Sam said. “He’ll understand that without us having to spell it out.” To Cameron, she said, “Do it. Just like you said.”
“Will do.” He handed her another stack of pages. “I split up the McLeod investors list by locals and out-of-towners, figuring we’ll