“I don’t know,” Malone said. “EMS is with him.” After a pause, he said, “Yes, you’re allowed to go to the ER, and no, we can’t send you home from there.” He rolled his eyes at the chief as he said the words.

Avery smiled at her feistiness. He’d feared she would actually explode in the HQ lobby when the chief told her she couldn’t help look for Cruz.

“There was no sign of Hamilton,” Malone said. “I’ll let you know if I hear any more.” He ended the call and said to Farnsworth, “Cruz’s fiancée is with Sam. They’re heading for GW.”

The EMTs rolled Freddie out five minutes later, their haste ramping up the tension in the group of officers that had been relegated to the sidelines. Avery was able to see his face as he went by and realized he was unconscious with dried blood on his forehead and face. Shit.

Nickleson came out after the EMTs. “He was zip-tied in the basement. They did a number on him, but he was breathing on his own.”

“How do you want to proceed?” Malone asked the chief.

“I’ll go to GW with Detective Cruz,” Farnsworth said. “You get to HQ and find out what you can from them.” He nodded to the two Patrol cars that contained the three men who’d been arrested. “We need to find Josh Hamilton. Fast. Brief the media on Troy Hamilton’s murder and Josh’s abduction.”

“Yes, sir.”

Avery rode with Malone to HQ. “What’re you thinking, Captain?”

“I have no idea what the hell to think of any of this.”

“No question the murder of Troy and the abduction of Josh are related.”

“I’d be hard-pressed to deny that, but what’s the motive?” Malone asked.

“If I had to guess, I’d suspect we’re going to learn that Josh is Taylor Rollings, and whoever took him thirty years ago is covering his or her tracks.”

“That’s a good guess and a decent theory to start with.”

“What do they accomplish by eliminating Troy?” Avery asked.

“He must’ve known something that they feared would be revealed when it was proven that Josh is Taylor.”

“So why take Josh? We’ve already got his DNA, and we don’t need him to investigate how he ended up with the Hamiltons thirty years ago.”

“I don’t know.” The captain sounded tired.

“When was the last time you slept?”

“I don’t know that either. Crazy couple of days with my top two Homicide detectives out.”

“You guys should bring Holland back to work this case.”

“It’s not my call.”

“You have influence with the chief. You need her on this.”

“I don’t disagree, but he’s dug in on keeping her off the job until her suspension is up. He’s got to think about the officer she assaulted.”

“Who’s a douche bag.”