“Detective Sergeant Gonzales is technically in charge of the investigation,” Sam reminded the chief.

“Why is that?” Springer asked. “I want you in charge.”

“I was on vacation when this happened, so Sergeant Gonzales is in charge, and I’m assisting him. The case is in very good hands with him.”

“If you say so...”

“Bill, Lieutenant Holland is absolutely right. Sergeant Gonzales is one of our best detectives. You have my word that we’ll do everything we can to get justice for your son and the others.”

“I suppose that’s all I can ask. I’ll let you get back to work.” Springer shook hands with the chief and with Sam on his way out.

“Nothing quite like a head-in-the-sand parent on a case like this,” Sam said.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“I’m trying to imagine a scenario where Scotty tells us he’s spending a weekend with a friend while we’re out of town, and we don’t actually confirm that with the friend’s parents. All teenagers lie. Don’t they?”

Farnsworth chuckled. “I’ll have to take your word for that as I don’t have any of my own.”

“You were one once,” Sam reminded him as they walked to the lobby to deal with the media. “Didn’t you ever lie to your parents?”

“Not that I recall.” He glanced at her. “Did you?”

“I refuse to answer that on the grounds that you are friends with my dad, and there’s no statute of limitations on parental lying.”

Farnsworth let out a ringing laugh. “You’ve always been a handful, Holland.”

“Why thank you. I appreciate your kind thoughts.”

“Only you would take that as a compliment.” He shook his head as he held the door for her to go ahead of him into the madhouse of reporters gathered outside HQ, waiting for an update about the MacArthur murders.

The crowd quieted when Sam approached the podium. “I want to preface my remarks by noting that Detective Sergeant Gonzales is the officer in charge of the MacArthur investigation. I was on leave when the call came in, and as such, he’s the ranking officer in charge, and I’m consulting. He’s in the field, so I’ll be handling this briefing in his stead. I expect that future briefings will come from him. Let me tell you what we know.