2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

When tragedy strikes, a cold case suddenly turns hot—and deadly.

A peaceful morning is shattered when Washington Metro Police lieutenant Sam Holland’s beloved father succumbs to injuries from an unsolved shooting while on duty four years ago. As the community rallies around Sam and her family, one thing becomes crystal clear: her father’s death has turned the unsolved case into a homicide—and it’s on her to bring her father’s killer to justice. But the case has been cold for years…until an anonymous tip that’s too shocking to believe leads Sam down a dark and dangerous path. Her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano, knows if she can’t solve this case, it will haunt her for the rest of her life. She’ll need the strength of their bond to pull her out of the darkness before it’s too late, because as the missing pieces rapidly fall into place, Sam realizes the truth might just break her all the same—and that her father’s killer isn’t done yet…

Setting
Washington, DC

27 Chapters
Epilogue

Characters
(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, 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.
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.
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: Detective Chief.
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.
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.
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.
Steven Coyne: Skip’s first partner who was killed decades ago in a drive-by shooting.
Alice Coyne Fitzgerald: Steven’s wife at the time of his death.
Kenny Wallack: Retired MPD captain. Former Army sharpshooter.

Non Recurring Characters
Frank Davis: Man who called first responders when Skip was shot and attended him until paramedics arrived.
Patrick Connelly: DEA agent killed by a stray bullet.
Roni Connelly: Patrick’s wife. She’s the obituary writer for the Star.
Justine: Roni’s mother.
Kevin Viera: Paramedic and one of the first responders when Skip was shot.
David Branson: Paramedic and one of the first responders when Skip was shot.
Carmen Garcia: Firefighter who responded to Skip’s shooting.
Charles Bagley: Defense attorney.
Roy Gallagher: City councilman. He graduated from the academy with Skip, Joe, Jake, Steven & Paul but only lasted a year on the force.
Mick Santoro: Gallagher’s business partner
Dermott Ryan: Gallagher’s business partner.
Jameson Armstrong: Former CEO of APG Group in Silicon Valley. Married to Cleo and father of their twins. It was his house that was the site of the fire. He was murdered along with Cleo.
Cleo Armstrong: Married to Jameson and mother of their twins.
Margaret Armstrong: Elijah’s mother and Jameson’s first wife.
Richard French: Margaret’s partner and fiancé.
Keely: Cleo’s sister.
Leslie Dennis: Cleo’s mother.
Monique Lawson: Cleo’s sister. Married to Robert.
Robert Lawson: Monique’s husband.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Skip dies with Sam respecting his DNR instructions.

Tipster reveals that he was a witness to Skip’s shooting, attended to him until the paramedics arrived. He talked to Conklin, who never revealed the information. Skip was investigating Coyne’s death and was getting close. Conklin told Roy Gallagher who had killed Coyne and he tried to kill Skip.

Sam & Nick are keeping the twins. Gonzo is getting better. (hide spoiler)]