Fatal Fraud - Marie Force Page 0,51

they’d need to know?”

“Because people are crazy, and they’re going to be disappointed he’s taking himself out of the running.”

“Why would anyone feel he has an obligation to run for president? That boggles my mind.”

“I think it’s more that they wanted him to run so badly, they’re devastated he’s not.”

“Devastated to the point they’d threaten his wife and children with harm?”

“Like you said, people are crazy.”

“They’re just proving he did the right thing by getting the hell out of there. Being VP is bad enough. I can’t imagine what it’d be like for him to be president and have to put up with a whole other level of crazy.”

Twenty minutes later, while they sat in standstill traffic on Memorial Bridge, Sam gazed toward Lincoln, her favorite of the memorials. She often went there when she needed to think. In the distance, the eternal flame marking President Kennedy’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery stood out in the encroaching darkness, a stark reminder of the sacrifices some past presidents had made in service to their country. The sight of that flame made her even more grateful that her beloved wouldn’t be joining their ranks.

“I hate how early it gets dark this time of year,” Sam said.

“I know. It’s depressing.”

“So is this traffic. I don’t know how anyone can stand to commute around here and have to deal with this every day.”

“Agreed. We’re lucky to live in the city.”

It took almost an hour to get to the neighborhood where Ken McLeod Jr. lived in a brick-faced townhouse. More bricks.

Sam eyed the clock to gauge whether she’d make it home in time to see the twins before bedtime. It wasn’t looking good, which made her ragey. “He’d better be freaking home.”

“I hope so. Lights are on, so that’s a good sign.”

Ignoring the agents, who’d gotten out of their SUV, Sam and Freddie went up the stairs and rang the doorbell. A young man who shared his father’s light-brown hair came to the door wearing a Georgetown T-shirt and basketball shorts.

Sam showed her badge through the storm door. “Lieutenant Holland, MPD. Could we have a minute of your time, please?”

He opened the door. “My sister said the second lady wanted to talk to me.”

“Right now, I’m not the second lady. I’m the homicide detective investigating your mother’s murder.”

“Come in.”

Ken led them to a family room at the back of the stylish house where the TV was set to ESPN. Judging from the smell, he was cooking dinner.

Sam’s stomach growled.

Using the remote, he reduced the volume and gestured for them to have a seat on a gray leather sofa. “Let me just turn down the stove.” When he returned, he sat across from them in a recliner. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re investigating your mother’s murder and wondering if there’s anything you can tell us that might help.”

“Why would I want to help when she ruined my life and my sister’s?”

“Because no one deserves to be murdered.”

He let out a harsh laugh. “Some people do, and she’s one of them. She got exactly what was coming to her, and I hope her final moments were as horrible as she’s made my life and Mandi’s since her scheme came to light. My closest friends won’t return my calls or texts because she scammed their parents. They can’t believe I didn’t know what she was doing, but I didn’t. Why would I? I haven’t lived at home in years. How would I know what she does?”

“Were you close to your mother before this?”

“Close as in talked every day? No, but we saw each other, had dinner occasionally, did holidays, the usual stuff. I’m busy. She was busy.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t all the time, but we weren’t estranged or anything.”

“But you were after you found out about the investigation?”

He gave her an incredulous look. “Yes, we were estranged after I found out what she did.”

“Did you talk to her about it?”

“What was there to talk about? After seeing the list of victims, I was too busy throwing up to talk to my mother. Everyone close to us was on that list. Can you imagine what it would be like to find out that your own mother scammed the people closest to you? Your friends’ parents? Everyone thinks their money bought me this place, when that’s not the case. But who would believe that with more than twenty million gone missing? And the Audi R8 she gave me for Christmas? I refuse to drive it, and when I

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