Escaping D.C. during the dog days of summer is one of the smartest moves Washington Metro Police Lieutenant Sam Holland ever made. Beach walks aren’t quite as romantic with the Secret Service in tow, but Sam and her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano, cherish the chance to recharge and reconnect—especially with a scandal swirling around the administration. No sooner are they back home than a fatal drive-by shooting sets the city on edge. The teenage victim is barely older than Sam and Nick’s son, Scotty. As more deaths follow, Sam and her team play beat the clock to stop the ruthless killers. With Nick facing his greatest challenge—one that could drastically change all their lives and even end Sam’s career—will the mounting pressure deepen or damage their bond?
Settings Washington, DC
31 Chapters Epilogue
Character List (view spoiler)[ Recurring Characters Samantha (Sam) Holland Cappuano:Washington DC metro police lieutenant in charge of city's homicide detective squad. She's married to Nick. She is 35-years old and has toffee-colored hair and pale blue eyes. Nick Cappuano:Married to Sam. US senator from Virginia, serving out John O'Connor's term. 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. He lived in a VA state home and was befriended by Nick during a visit. Shelby Faircloth: Nick and Sam's personal assistant. She runs their household and Sam calls her Tinkerbell. She just gave birth to a son, Noah. She’s engaged to Avery but having serious issues. Avery Hill: FBI agent in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division in Washington, DC. He and Shelby are engaged but estranged. Frederico (Freddie) Cruz: Sam's partner. He's living with and engaged to Elin. Elin Svendsen: Freddie's fiancée who runs a gym. She's recuperating from her assault by Andre Elliott, ordered by Stahl. Jeannie McBride: Homicide detective that works on Sam's homicide team and partnered with Will Tyrone. She’s now engaged to Michael. Michael Wilkinson: Jeannie's boyfriend. Will Tyrone: 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 heading the team while Sam is on leave. 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): Gonzo's baby son. Arnold 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. Dani Carlucci: Detective and member of Sam's homicide team, third shift. Partnered with Gigi. Giselle (Gigi) Dominguez: Detective and member of Sam's homicide team, third shift. Partnered with Dani. Skip Holland: Sam's father, former Deputy Chief shot on duty years ago. Married to Celia. Celia Holland: Sam's stepmother, married to Skip. She’s a former nurse. 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 Nick's surrogate mother. Terry, Lizbeth and John's mother. John O'Connor: Former U. S. senator from Virginia who was murdered. Nick is completing his remaining term. Son of Graham and Lainie. 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. Leo Cappuano: Nick's father, married to Stacy. They have a set of twin sons. Stacy Cappuano: Nick's stepmother, married to Leo. She's only a few years older than Nick. Nicoletta Bernadino: Nick's mother. Byron Tomlinson: Deputy chief medical examiner. Trevor Donnelly: Nick's communication director. Joe Farnsworth: Chief of police. Marti Farnsworth: Joe’s wife. Helen: Farnsworth's admin. Conklin: Deputy chief. Malone: Detective Captain, Sam's mentor. Leonard Stahl: Former head of IAB now facing trial for murder. Wilson: Lieutenant and new head of Internal Affairs. Archie Archelotta: Police lieutenant in charge of the IT division. He was once romantically involved with Sam. Norris: Lieutenant over Public Affairs. Davidson: Lieutenant who heads SVU. Erica Lucas: SVU detective. Ramsey: Special Victims Unit (SVU) detective. Harper: Special Victims Unit (SVU) detective. Ramsey's partner. Jacqueline DiMaio: Missing Persons detective. Rango: Lieutenant in charge of the Crime Scene Unit. Jack Roback: Head of Vice Squad. Cole McDonald: Lieutenant in the Vice Squad. Nickleson: Captain and SWAT commander. Jessica Townsend: Metropolitan Police Department counsel. Dr. Trulo: Department psychologist. Charity Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney. Forrester: U.S. Attorney. George Terrell: FBI deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Division under Avery. Troy Hamilton: FBI Director. Ambrose Pierce: Secret Service Director. John (Brant) Brantley, Jr.: Lead Secret Service agent on Nick's detail. Melinda: aka Secret Service Barbie. Agent on Nick's detail who Sam dislikes. Darcy: Agent on Scotty's detail. Brice: On Scotty's security detail. Toni: On Scotty's security detail. Andy Simone: Gonzo's attorney who's a friend of Nick's. Harry Flynn: Nick's friend and Sam's doctor. Dr. Anderson: George Washington Hospital ER doctor that treats Sam. Dr. Simsbury: Plastic surgeon. David Nelson: President of the United States. Gloria Nelson:Nelson’s wife. Joe Gooding: Former Vice President of the United States. Mike Zorn: Virginia governor. Judy Zorn: Virginia governor's wife. William Stenhouse: Senate Minority leader. Brandon Halliwell: Democratic National Committee Chair. Richard Claiborne: Speaker of the House. Mitchell Sanborn: Former Chair of Democratic National Committee who was jailed for rape and murder and the kidnapping and rape of Detective McBride. Tom Hanigan: White House chief of staff. Derek Kavanaugh: White House deputy chief of staff and Nick's friend who discovered his wife Victoria's murdered body. He's the father of their toddler daughter, Maeve. Maeve Kavanaugh: Derek and Victoria's 13-month old baby. Angela Radcliffe: Sam's sister, married to Mike and mother of their two children, Jack and Ella (newborn). Spencer Radcliffe: Angela's husband. Jack Radcliffe: Sam's nephew, Angela and Spencer's son. Ella Holland Radcliffe: Sam's new niece, Angela and Spence's new baby daughter. Tracy Hogan: Sam's oldest sister who's married to Mike. She has three children, Brooke, Abby and Ethan. Mike Hogan: Tracy's husband and father of their three children, Brooke, Abby and Ethan. Brooke Hogan: Sam's niece, Tracy's belligerent teenaged daughter. Ethan Hogan: Tracy's son. Abby Hogan: Tracy's daughter, Sam's niece. Brenda Ross: Sam's mother. Lilia Van Nostrand: Sam's chief of staff as Second Lady. 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. Darren Tabor: Newspaper reporter for the Washington Star. Irene Littlefield: Runs the VA state children's home where Scotty lived. Lucien Haverfield: O'Connor family attorney. Tony D'Alessandro: Scotty's biological father. Peter Gibson: Sam's ex husband. Lori Phillips: Alex's biological mother. Norman Morganthau: Retired Medical examiner from Fitzgerald case Cameron Fitzgerald: Likely suspect in his brother's death Tyler Fitzgerald: Boy murdered in park years ago. Cameron’s brother. Alice Fitzgerald: Tyler and Cameron's mother. Melissa Woodmansee: Sam's former high school friend who's in jail for multiple murders. Freddie shot her hand off. Marissa Springer: Woman who collaborated with Stahl to assault Sam after her son was killed by police when they attempted to arrest him for murder.
Non Recurring Characters Christopher Nelson: President Nelson's son, an attorney. He’s in jail for attempting to kill members of Nick and Sam’s family. Kenneth Wallack: Retired MPD captain. Former Army sharpshooter. Jamal Jackson: First murder victim, a 15-year old boy who was walking home with friends. Danita Jackson: Jamal’s mother. Misty Jackson: Jamal’s sister. Tamara Jackson: Jamal’s sister. Vincent Adina: Jamal’s friend. Corey Richie: Jamal’s friend. Trace Simmons: Tamara’s boyfriend, a gangbanger. Melody Kramer: Second murder victim, a 31-year old woman who worked at the Department of the Interior. She was pregnant. Joe Kramer: Melody’s husband. Sridhar Kapoor: Third murder victim, a 35-year old man who was a third year Georgetown doctoral student in chemistry. Rayna Kapoor: Sridhar’s wife. Caroline Brinkley: Fourth murder victim, a 26-year old woman, a waitress at a K Street lounge. Vanessa Marchand: Fifth murder victim, a 6-year old little girl. Trey Marchand: Vanessa’s father. Jian Chang: Sixth murder victim, a 34-year old man, a nurse at George Washington Hospital. Mary Jane and Rod Demmers: Owner of the stolen car. Leslie Wallack: Kenneth’s wife. Rosemary Merrill: Psychiatrist Avery is seeing. Curtis Moore: Wallack’s stepson. Deacon Holt: Curtis’ friend. Dylan Offenbach: S.W.A.T sharpshooter who was away at a conference in Philadelphia. (hide spoiler)]
Spoiler Info (view spoiler)[ The killer was Curtis Moore, Ken’s stepson, who forced him to shoot those six people. He was angry at the city for firing him and at Ken for divorcing his mother. Curtis also forced his friend Deacon to participate with him, threatening his sister. Sam and team caught him after they abducted and assaulted Angel who escaped. She was able to identify him at his mother’s wake, which she’d overheard while captured.
Sam and Nick met with the Nelsons and were convinced they didn’t know about their son’s diabolical plan against Nick. They issued a statement saying as much, which shut down the congressional investigation and saved Nelson from having to resign.
Leslie Wallach’s wife contacted Conklin when Ken went missing but he never reported it. Sam and team discovered it two weeks later. Conklin was suspended and he said he was trying to protect Ken, thinking he’d fallen off the wagon.
Dylan Offenbach punched Sam after her investigation disclosed that the S.W.A.T. sharpshooter who is married with five children and the sixth on the way was at a tryst with his girlfriend instead of being at a conference. Sam refused to press charges though IAB suspended him.
Ramsey tried to attack Sam at headquarters when he learned that the grand jury refused to charge Sam for punching him in retaliation for him making a joke of Stahl’s assault on her. He plans to initiate a civil suit.
Shelby and Avery have resolved their problems.
Cameron Green was hired as Gonzo’s new partner, replacing Arnold who was killed in the line of duty. (hide spoiler)]
Escaping D.C. during the dog days of summer is one of the smartest moves Washington Metro Police Lieutenant Sam Holland ever made. Beach walks aren’t quite as romantic with the Secret Service in tow, but Sam and her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano, cherish the chance to recharge and reconnect—especially with a scandal swirling around the administration. No sooner are they back home than a fatal drive-by shooting sets the city on edge. The teenage victim is barely older than Sam and Nick’s son, Scotty. As more deaths follow, Sam and her team play beat the clock to stop the ruthless killers. With Nick facing his greatest challenge—one that could drastically change all their lives and even end Sam’s career—will the mounting pressure deepen or damage their bond?
Settings
Washington, DC
31 Chapters
Epilogue
Character List
(view spoiler)[
Recurring Characters
Samantha (Sam) Holland Cappuano:Washington DC metro police lieutenant in charge of city's homicide detective squad. She's married to Nick. She is 35-years old and has toffee-colored hair and pale blue eyes.
Nick Cappuano:Married to Sam. US senator from Virginia, serving out John O'Connor's term. 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. He lived in a VA state home and was befriended by Nick during a visit.
Shelby Faircloth: Nick and Sam's personal assistant. She runs their household and Sam calls her Tinkerbell. She just gave birth to a son, Noah. She’s engaged to Avery but having serious issues.
Avery Hill: FBI agent in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division in Washington, DC. He and Shelby are engaged but estranged.
Frederico (Freddie) Cruz: Sam's partner. He's living with and engaged to Elin.
Elin Svendsen: Freddie's fiancée who runs a gym. She's recuperating from her assault by Andre Elliott, ordered by Stahl.
Jeannie McBride: Homicide detective that works on Sam's homicide team and partnered with Will Tyrone. She’s now engaged to Michael.
Michael Wilkinson: Jeannie's boyfriend.
Will Tyrone: 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 heading the team while Sam is on leave.
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): Gonzo's baby son.
Arnold 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.
Dani Carlucci: Detective and member of Sam's homicide team, third shift. Partnered with Gigi.
Giselle (Gigi) Dominguez: Detective and member of Sam's homicide team, third shift. Partnered with Dani.
Skip Holland: Sam's father, former Deputy Chief shot on duty years ago. Married to Celia.
Celia Holland: Sam's stepmother, married to Skip. She’s a former nurse.
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 Nick's surrogate mother. Terry, Lizbeth and John's mother.
John O'Connor: Former U. S. senator from Virginia who was murdered. Nick is completing his remaining term. Son of Graham and Lainie.
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.
Leo Cappuano: Nick's father, married to Stacy. They have a set of twin sons.
Stacy Cappuano: Nick's stepmother, married to Leo. She's only a few years older than Nick.
Nicoletta Bernadino: Nick's mother.
Byron Tomlinson: Deputy chief medical examiner.
Trevor Donnelly: Nick's communication director.
Joe Farnsworth: Chief of police.
Marti Farnsworth: Joe’s wife.
Helen: Farnsworth's admin.
Conklin: Deputy chief.
Malone: Detective Captain, Sam's mentor.
Leonard Stahl: Former head of IAB now facing trial for murder.
Wilson: Lieutenant and new head of Internal Affairs.
Archie Archelotta: Police lieutenant in charge of the IT division. He was once romantically involved with Sam.
Norris: Lieutenant over Public Affairs.
Davidson: Lieutenant who heads SVU.
Erica Lucas: SVU detective.
Ramsey: Special Victims Unit (SVU) detective.
Harper: Special Victims Unit (SVU) detective. Ramsey's partner.
Jacqueline DiMaio: Missing Persons detective.
Rango: Lieutenant in charge of the Crime Scene Unit.
Jack Roback: Head of Vice Squad.
Cole McDonald: Lieutenant in the Vice Squad.
Nickleson: Captain and SWAT commander.
Jessica Townsend: Metropolitan Police Department counsel.
Dr. Trulo: Department psychologist.
Charity Miller: Assistant U.S. attorney.
Forrester: U.S. Attorney.
George Terrell: FBI deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Division under Avery.
Troy Hamilton: FBI Director.
Ambrose Pierce: Secret Service Director.
John (Brant) Brantley, Jr.: Lead Secret Service agent on Nick's detail.
Melinda: aka Secret Service Barbie. Agent on Nick's detail who Sam dislikes.
Darcy: Agent on Scotty's detail.
Brice: On Scotty's security detail.
Toni: On Scotty's security detail.
Andy Simone: Gonzo's attorney who's a friend of Nick's.
Harry Flynn: Nick's friend and Sam's doctor.
Dr. Anderson: George Washington Hospital ER doctor that treats Sam.
Dr. Simsbury: Plastic surgeon.
David Nelson: President of the United States.
Gloria Nelson:Nelson’s wife.
Joe Gooding: Former Vice President of the United States.
Mike Zorn: Virginia governor.
Judy Zorn: Virginia governor's wife.
William Stenhouse: Senate Minority leader.
Brandon Halliwell: Democratic National Committee Chair.
Richard Claiborne: Speaker of the House.
Mitchell Sanborn: Former Chair of Democratic National Committee who was jailed for rape and murder and the kidnapping and rape of Detective McBride.
Tom Hanigan: White House chief of staff.
Derek Kavanaugh: White House deputy chief of staff and Nick's friend who discovered his wife Victoria's murdered body. He's the father of their toddler daughter, Maeve.
Maeve Kavanaugh: Derek and Victoria's 13-month old baby.
Angela Radcliffe: Sam's sister, married to Mike and mother of their two children, Jack and Ella (newborn).
Spencer Radcliffe: Angela's husband.
Jack Radcliffe: Sam's nephew, Angela and Spencer's son.
Ella Holland Radcliffe: Sam's new niece, Angela and Spence's new baby daughter.
Tracy Hogan: Sam's oldest sister who's married to Mike. She has three children, Brooke, Abby and Ethan.
Mike Hogan: Tracy's husband and father of their three children, Brooke, Abby and Ethan.
Brooke Hogan: Sam's niece, Tracy's belligerent teenaged daughter.
Ethan Hogan: Tracy's son.
Abby Hogan: Tracy's daughter, Sam's niece.
Brenda Ross: Sam's mother.
Lilia Van Nostrand: Sam's chief of staff as Second Lady.
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.
Darren Tabor: Newspaper reporter for the Washington Star.
Irene Littlefield: Runs the VA state children's home where Scotty lived.
Lucien Haverfield: O'Connor family attorney.
Tony D'Alessandro: Scotty's biological father.
Peter Gibson: Sam's ex husband.
Lori Phillips: Alex's biological mother.
Norman Morganthau: Retired Medical examiner from Fitzgerald case
Cameron Fitzgerald: Likely suspect in his brother's death
Tyler Fitzgerald: Boy murdered in park years ago. Cameron’s brother.
Alice Fitzgerald: Tyler and Cameron's mother.
Melissa Woodmansee: Sam's former high school friend who's in jail for multiple murders. Freddie shot her hand off.
Marissa Springer: Woman who collaborated with Stahl to assault Sam after her son was killed by police when they attempted to arrest him for murder.
Non Recurring Characters
Christopher Nelson: President Nelson's son, an attorney. He’s in jail for attempting to kill members of Nick and Sam’s family.
Kenneth Wallack: Retired MPD captain. Former Army sharpshooter.
Jamal Jackson: First murder victim, a 15-year old boy who was walking home with friends.
Danita Jackson: Jamal’s mother.
Misty Jackson: Jamal’s sister.
Tamara Jackson: Jamal’s sister.
Vincent Adina: Jamal’s friend.
Corey Richie: Jamal’s friend.
Trace Simmons: Tamara’s boyfriend, a gangbanger.
Melody Kramer: Second murder victim, a 31-year old woman who worked at the Department of the Interior. She was pregnant.
Joe Kramer: Melody’s husband.
Sridhar Kapoor: Third murder victim, a 35-year old man who was a third year Georgetown doctoral student in chemistry.
Rayna Kapoor: Sridhar’s wife.
Caroline Brinkley: Fourth murder victim, a 26-year old woman, a waitress at a K Street lounge.
Vanessa Marchand: Fifth murder victim, a 6-year old little girl.
Trey Marchand: Vanessa’s father.
Jian Chang: Sixth murder victim, a 34-year old man, a nurse at George Washington Hospital.
Mary Jane and Rod Demmers: Owner of the stolen car.
Leslie Wallack: Kenneth’s wife.
Rosemary Merrill: Psychiatrist Avery is seeing.
Curtis Moore: Wallack’s stepson.
Deacon Holt: Curtis’ friend.
Dylan Offenbach: S.W.A.T sharpshooter who was away at a conference in Philadelphia.
(hide spoiler)]
Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
The killer was Curtis Moore, Ken’s stepson, who forced him to shoot those six people. He was angry at the city for firing him and at Ken for divorcing his mother. Curtis also forced his friend Deacon to participate with him, threatening his sister. Sam and team caught him after they abducted and assaulted Angel who escaped. She was able to identify him at his mother’s wake, which she’d overheard while captured.
Sam and Nick met with the Nelsons and were convinced they didn’t know about their son’s diabolical plan against Nick. They issued a statement saying as much, which shut down the congressional investigation and saved Nelson from having to resign.
Leslie Wallach’s wife contacted Conklin when Ken went missing but he never reported it. Sam and team discovered it two weeks later. Conklin was suspended and he said he was trying to protect Ken, thinking he’d fallen off the wagon.
Dylan Offenbach punched Sam after her investigation disclosed that the S.W.A.T. sharpshooter who is married with five children and the sixth on the way was at a tryst with his girlfriend instead of being at a conference. Sam refused to press charges though IAB suspended him.
Ramsey tried to attack Sam at headquarters when he learned that the grand jury refused to charge Sam for punching him in retaliation for him making a joke of Stahl’s assault on her. He plans to initiate a civil suit.
Shelby and Avery have resolved their problems.
Cameron Green was hired as Gonzo’s new partner, replacing Arnold who was killed in the line of duty. (hide spoiler)]