“Allow me to finish, Sergeant. I have to admit this information was a relief to me.” He gestured to the deputy chief and captain. “To all of us. We’ve been hard pressed to understand how the best detective on this force has been unable to attain a rank that should’ve been hers some time ago.”

“I…um…”

“You passed this time,” Farnsworth said. “Just barely—but you did pass.”

Sam stared at him, wondering if she had heard him correctly.

He rifled through some other papers until he found what he was looking for. “With the distinct exception of Lt. Stahl, you’ve received outstanding superior officer recommendations, high marks on your interviews and evaluations. We also factored in the graduate degree in criminal justice you earned from George Washington. All in all, you make for an ideal candidate for promotion.” He looked up at her. “Under my discretion as chief of police, I’m pleased to inform you that your name will be included in the next group of lieutenants.”

“But, sir,” Sam stammered, “people will talk. They’ll scream favoritism.”

“You met the criteria. The test score is only one element, and no one but the people in this room will know it was low.”

“I’ll know,” she said softly.

“Sergeant, do you believe you’ve earned the rank of lieutenant?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have sat for the exam in the first place, but—”

“Then you should have no further objection to a promotion you have earned and deserve. You’ll be taking command of the detective squad at HQ.”

Staggered, Sam stared at him. “But that’s Lieutenant Stahl’s command.”

“He’s being transferred to internal affairs.”

The rat squad, Sam thought, her stomach grinding under the fist she had balled tight against it. “You’re setting me up to have a powerful enemy.”

“Lieutenant Stahl is skating on very thin ice these days,” Captain Malone said. “I don’t believe he’ll give you any trouble, and if he does, he’ll deal with us. Let me add my congratulations, Sergeant, on a well-earned and highly deserved promotion. I look forward to working with you in your new role.”

“Thank you, sir,” Sam said, still shocked as she shook his outstretched hand and then Conklin’s.

“Ditto,” Conklin said, following Malone from the room. “You’ve earned it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

When they were alone, Sam turned to the chief.

“You’ll piss me off if you ask if this is because I’m your chief or your Uncle Joe,” he said, his tone full of friendly warning.

“I was just going to say thank you,” Sam said with a smile that quickly faded. “Will the, ah, dyslexia be added to my jacket?”

“It’ll remain your personal business, provided it continues to have no bearing on your ability to do the job.”

“It won’t.”