2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

A deadly serious affair...

The story breaks as Metro PD Lieutenant Sam Holland attends a dinner party with her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano: President Nelson is accused of having an affair. More shocking still, campaign staffer Tara Weber claims the president fathered her newborn son - while the First Lady was undergoing secret cancer treatment.

When a high-profile murder case hits Sam’s desk, she’s shocked to uncover a connection to the presidential scandal. With the department caught up in its own internal scandals, and the chief’s job hanging by a thread, Sam questions who she can trust as her team uncovers information that clouds an already-murky case. And with calls for the president to resign getting louder by the minute, Sam needs to close this case before she finds herself living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue....

Setting
Washington, DC

30 Chapters
Epilogue
Bonus Epilogue

Characters
(view spoiler)[
Samantha (Sam) Holland Cappuano: Washington DC metro police lieutenant in charge of city's homicide detective squad. She's married to Nick, mother of their adopted son, Scotty and Second Lady of the United States. She is 35-years old and has toffee-colored hair and pale blue eyes. She's on vacation with her family.
Nick Cappuano: Vice President of the United States. Married to Sam and father of their adopted son, Scotty. Former US senator from Virginia, who was elected to his first term after finishing out John O'Connor's. He's 37-years old and 6'4" with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
Scotty Dunlap Cappuano: Nick and Sam's adopted 13-year old son.
Frederico (Freddie) Cruz: Sam's partner. He lives with his fiancée, Elin.
Elin Svendsen: Freddie's fiancée who runs a gym. She's recuperating from the assault ordered by Stahl.
Juliette Cruz: Freddie’s mother.
Miguel Cruz: Freddie’s father.
Shelby Faircloth: Nick and Sam's personal assistant. She runs their household and Sam calls her Tinkerbell. She is the mother of baby Noah and is engaged to Avery.
Avery Hill: FBI special agent in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division. He and Shelby are engaged.
George Terrell: FBI agent and Avery’s deputy.
Jeannie McBride: Detective on Sam's homicide team. Engaged to Michael. Formerly partnered with Will Tyrone.
Michael Wilkinson: Jeannie's fiancé.
Will Tyrone: Detective on Sam's homicide team who quit after Arnold was killed. He was Jeannie's partner.
Tommy (Gonzo) Gonzales: Detective sergeant on Sam's homicide team. He's engaged to Christina and is baby Alex's father. He has full custody. He’s currently in rehab.
Christina Billings: Nick's former chief of staff who's engaged to Gonzo. She's now home full time taking care of Alex.
Alejandro (Alex) Gonzales: Gonzo's 2-year old son.
Arnold (AJ) Arnold: Detective and Gonzo's partner who was shot and killed in the line of duty recently.
Cameron Green: Former Fairfax County homicide detective, now on Sam’s squad and Gonzo’s new partner.
Matt O’Brien: Police officer Sam is promoting to her detective squad to replace Will Tyrone.
Erica Lucas: SVU detective.
Jacqueline DiMaio: Missing Persons detective.
Skip Holland: Sam's father, married to Celia. Quadriplegic who was shot in the line of duty. He recently died due to complications from his injury.
Celia Holland: Sam's stepmother, former nurse married to Skip.
Brenda Ross: Sam's mother.
Tracy Hogan: Sam's sister who is married to Mike and mother of their three children, Brooke, Abby and Ethan.
Mike Hogan: Tracy's husband.
Angela Radcliffe: Sam's sister, married to Spencer and mother of their son Jack and daughter Ella.
Spencer Radcliffe: Angela's husband and father of their two children.
Leo Cappuano: Nick's father, married to Stacy. They have 6-year old twin boys.
Stacy Cappuano: Nick's stepmother, married to Leo.
Graham O'Connor: Former US senator from Virginia who is married to Laine. He's the father of John, Terry and Lizbeth and is very close to Nick.
Laine O'Connor: Married to Graham and mother of their three children, Terry, John and Lizbeth. She's Nick's surrogate mother.
Terry O'Connor: Nick's chief of staff and son of Graham and Laine. He's Lindsay's fiancé.
Lindsey McNamara: Chief medical examiner. She's Terry O'Connor's fiancée.
Harry Flynn: Nick's friend and Sam's doctor. He’s dating Lilia.
Lilia Van Nostrand: Sam's chief of staff as Second Lady. She’s dating Harry.
Gigi Dominguez: Detective on Sam's homicide team. Carlucci's partner.
Dani Carlucci: Detective on Sam's homicide team. Gigi's partner.
Joe Farnsworth: Chief of police.
Marti Farnsworth: Joe's wife.
Jake Malone: Detective Captain, Sam's mentor.
Paul Conklin: Former detective chief. He was responsible for covering up who shot Skip.
Hernandez: Captain over Patrol.
Robach: Captain over Vice.
Harrison: Captain over the Gang Unit.
Nicholson: SWAT captain.
Dylan Offenbach: SWAT sergeant.
Byron Tomlinson: Deputy medical examiner.
Tom Forrester: US attorney.
Faith Miller: Assistant US attorney. She's a triplet to sisters Hope and Charity who are also US attorneys.
Archie Archelotta: Police lieutenant in charge of the IT division. He was once romantically involved with Sam.
Ramsey: SVU detective Sam punched out. He filed charges but no action was taken.
Darren Tabor: Reporter for the Washington Star.
Leonard Stahl: Former head of IAB now facing trial for attempted murder of Sam.
Eric Fitzgerald: Detective who was aware of the identity of Skip Holland's shooter.
Lieutenant Wilson: New head of Internal Affairs.
Jessica Townsend: Metropolitan Police Department counsel.
David Nelson: President of the United States.
Gloria Nelson: Nelson’s wife.
Christopher Nelson: President Nelson's son, an attorney. He’s in jail for attempting to kill members of Nick and Sam’s family.
Derek Kavanaugh: Nelson’s deputy chief of staff and Nick’s friend.
Trevor Donnelly: Nick's communication director.
Andrea: Sam's White House director of communications and spokesperson
Mackenzie: Oversees Sam's White House schedule and travel.
Keira: Sam's White House policy specialist.
Dr. Trulo: Department psychologist.
John (Brant) Brantly, Jr.: Secret Service agent heading Nick's detail.
Melinda: Woman on Nick's Secret Service detail who Sam doesn't like.
Debra Nixon: Lead Secret Service agent on Scotty's detail.
Eric: Secret Service agent on the Holland/Cappuano home detail.
Nate: Secret Service agent on the Holland/Cappuano home detail. He’s the agent at the door.
Dr. Anderson: ER doctor.
Elijah Armstrong: Jameson’s eldest son by his first wife. He’s attending Princeton and was named the guardian for his twin siblings. He’s appointed Sam & Nick as their temporary guardians while he’s in college.
Aubrey Armstrong: Jameson and Cleo’s 5-year daughter, Alden’s twin. Sam & Nick are now their guardians, appointed by their brother, Elijah.
Alden Armstrong: Jameson and Cleo’s 5-year son, Aubrey’s twin. Sam & Nick are now their guardians, appointed by their brother, Elijah.
Tara Weber: Consultant who had an affair with President Nelson.
Jackson Henry Weber: Tara's baby son.
Bryce Massey: Tara’s ex-boyfriend.
Tim Findley: Former reporter who retired and created his own political company.
Paige: Tara’s business partner.
Delaney Russo: Tara’s assistant.
Isabelle: Bryce’s intern.
Janice: Bryce’s assistant.
Angela: Bryce's receptionist.
Devon Sinclair: Bryce's attorney.
Ben Wilton: Congressman from Maryland.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Tara’s assistant, Delaney, was sleeping with her ex-boyfriend, helping him spy on her. Bryce killed her and Delaney knew it. She also got charged as an accessory. The baby’s father was Ben Wilton.

Nelson is still vulnerable.

Ramsey found out about Gonzo being in rehab and that he scored drugs on the street. They’re taking steps to try to save his job.

Shelby and Avery marry, he adopts Noah and they’re pregnant!

Stahl is found guilty and Nick gives the victim impact statement. (hide spoiler)]