She could hear the fierce determination in every word he said, and frankly, she didn’t blame him. She would feel the same way in his place. Locating a child who’d been missing for thirty years would be cause for huge celebration in the Franklin police department.

“Do I have your okay to proceed?” Watson asked.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“They’ll want to come there.”

“We’ll do everything we can to accommodate them.”

“Um, pardon the question, but it’s my understanding that you’re currently suspended. Is that true?”

“Heard about that all the way down there in Tennessee, huh?”

“Everyone has heard about that.”

“I’m suspended for one more day but still actively engaged in the case. I’ll personally make sure the Rollings family is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve when they come to my city.”

“Thank you for that. I can’t believe I actually get to go tell them this news. If it gets any better than this in a career, I’m not sure when.”

“You’ve worked hard for a long time to be able to give them this news. I’m only sorry we were unable to keep him safer. We’re in the midst of a truly baffling case here with his abduction and his father’s murder.”

“Are there any suspects?”

“One and you won’t believe who.”

“I’m all ears.”

“The deputy director of the FBI.”

“Holy shit. Really?”

“Yep.”

“Wow, well... I’ll let you get back to that mess while I go tell Mr. and Mrs. Rollings that their prayers have been answered.”

“You enjoy that, and let them know that from everything we’re being told, he’s expected to recover from his injuries.”

“They’ll be glad to hear that. I’ll be in touch.”

Sam closed her phone and tried to imagine the reaction of the Rollings family to hearing their child had been found. If nothing else came of this nightmare case, at least those poor people would have closure on their son’s disappearance. They’d get to meet him and get to know him and perhaps, over time, build a relationship with him.

At GW, she asked for Josh at the reception desk and was directed to the sixth floor. Patrol officers were stationed outside his door, and they seemed surprised to see her in light of the suspension, not that they’d ever ask why she was there.

Because they were required to ask for identification, even if they knew the visitor, she showed them her badge.

“How is he?”

“Doctors are in there now, Lieutenant. As far as we know, there’s no change.”

“Help you with something?” a man asked. He was in his thirties with dark hair and intense eyes. In him, Sam saw Troy Hamilton.

“And you are?” she asked even though she already knew.

“Mark Hamilton. This is my brother’s room.”