Instead of responding, Cord shook his head. She knew him well enough to know it wasn’t because he agreed with her; he just knew she’d have a comeback for anything he said.

Just inside the doors to the precinct, they bumped into Tony whose expression was a combination of anger, hurt, and betrayal. He knew. ‘Liz just got here, so now that’s everyone.’ They’d found out earlier that she’d finished her work in Las Cruces Tuesday night, and so they’d asked her to join them.

Alyssa didn’t answer because there was nothing to say. Less than five minutes after entering the conference room, the entire team was assembled, including Captain Hammond who stood back in the corner in a failed attempt to be as unobtrusive as possible.

As soon as the room quieted, Alyssa began. ‘It took longer than I would’ve liked – than any of us would’ve – but we finally have some answers. This isn’t going to be easy to hear, but—’ She nodded to Cord.

All eyes swiveled his way. ‘Sandra Falwin, you’re under arrest for suspicion of murder and kidnapping—’

That was as far as he got before the room exploded in action with Sandra shoving to her feet, a look of alarm on her face, her hand inching toward her belt. Alyssa had no idea if she was going for her service weapon, but none of them were taking the chance as five guns were immediately trained on her.

‘Don’t even think about it!’

‘Keep your hands where we can see them!’

‘Don’t move!’

‘What the—’

Everyone shouted at the same time until Hammond whistled for silence. Sandra’s eyes shot wildly around the room, landing on Alyssa. ‘I don’t understand what’s going on. Would someone please explain?’

Her gaze unwavering, devoid of any warmth or affection for this woman she’d hoped to mentor, Alyssa waited as Cord was able to cuff a distracted Sandra’s hands behind her back while reading her the Miranda Rights. ‘Do you know what’s sad,’ she finally said. ‘The fact that the potential for you to become one of us, to become one of the best, was really and truly there.’ She tried unsuccessfully to keep the pain of Sandra’s duplicity from creeping into her voice. And she knew she wasn’t the only one feeling it.

‘Here’s what we know. Feel free to fill in the blanks for us. At seven years old, your father – Alexander Greene – woke to you holding a knife over him, and that incident, along with others, forced him into leaving the family. Three months later, your mother remarried when she realized she was pregnant. Shortly after your brother was born, Barry Campbell also learned to fear you, and so, he, too, divorced your mother, who gave up her parental rights to Adam Campbell, your half-brother.’