Sam and Freddie waited twenty minutes in the U.S. attorney’s reception area for Faith to return from court.

“Ah,” she said, lighting up when she saw them waiting. “Here comes the bride!”

“Very funny,” Sam said. “Thank God it’s almost here so I can be done with all the bride jokes.”

“Just FYI,” Freddie said, “I’d planned on another six to eight months of jokes.”

Sam rewarded him with her sweetest smile. “Not if you expect to continue carrying a gold shield, Detective.”

Faith laughed at their banter and showed them into her office. She was one of the identical triplets who served the District as assistant U.S. attorneys. While Sam had also worked closely with Hope and Charity, she was friendliest with Faith.

“What can I do for you?” Faith asked.

“Darius Gardner,” Sam said.

All the color drained from Faith’s face, and she sat perfectly still behind her file-laden desk. “What about him?”

Sam watched Faith closely. “You remember the case?”

The AUSA shrugged. “Rape accusation a few years back. Didn’t go anywhere.” She affected a casual tone of voice, but Sam caught the slight tremble of her hand. Glancing at Freddie, she saw that he’d noticed it too.

“What the hell is going on here, Faith?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know what you mean. You asked about a case, and I answered you. What more do you want?”

“I want the truth!”

“Why do you care about an old rape case that never made it to court?”

“Why do you remember an old rape case that never made it to court?”

The two women stared at each other.

“I asked first,” Faith said.

“Fine. The place where he ‘allegedly’ raped that girl is the same house where Clarence Reece lived.”

“The guy who killed his family and carjacked you.”

“Right. Cruz, the clippings?”

Freddie handed her the plastic bag containing the clippings about her father’s shooting.

Sam placed the bag on the desk in front of Faith. “This was found in Reece’s place. Before he offed himself the day he carjacked me, he told me the stuff belonged to a former tenant who’d left it there and never come back to claim it.”

“And you think that’s Gardner?”

“I don’t know. He was one of several people who lived there before Reece moved in.”

“Who are the other people?”

“Trace Simmons is one of them.”

“I know the name. Gangbanger.”

Sam nodded in agreement. “Are you going to tell me why hearing Gardner’s name freaks you out so badly?”

Faith’s eyes shifted to Freddie and then back to Sam.

“Give us a minute, will you, Cruz?” Sam said.

“Of course.” He got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Sam waited patiently, giving the other woman a moment to collect herself. “What happened, Faith?” she finally asked.

“This stays between us.”