“It’s going to be tough to go on the testimony of an eighteen-year-old who admits she was high on Molly and had been drinking before she became the lone witness to mass murder. It’ll be a stretch to sell her as a credible witness to a jury.”

“But she had the wherewithal to get herself and Brooke out of there, to call for help, to take Brooke to my house, to wait to make sure we came home and found her. That shows capacity, even if it was diminished.”

“Still...I’m not convinced it’s enough to go after Bill Springer’s son for murder.”

“And now we get to the crux of the matter.”

“He’d shred her in court, and you know it, Sam. Her story would be so full of holes we’d be able sail an aircraft carrier through it by the time he was finished with her.”

Sam couldn’t deny that Faith made a good point.

“So what do we do?”

“Find Billy Springer, get him in here and ask him where he was when his brother was killed. He’ll give you an alibi that won’t hold up. You’ll search his apartment, and maybe get lucky and find the murder weapon. You know what you have to do.”

“Yeah, but it sure would make my life easier if I could arrest him due to an eyewitness putting him at the scene and identifying him as our killer.”

“It might be easier, but it’s not enough.”

“I used to like you,” Sam grumbled.

Faith laughed. “And you will again when we’re able to put together an airtight case that holds up in court.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Happy freaking Thanksgiving,” Sam added.

“It will be if you get this sewn up before turkey day.”

When she saw Gonzo and Freddie heading out of the interrogation room, Sam went to the door with Faith in tow.

“How’d we do?” Gonzo asked, wearing a big smile.

“It’s a good start according to Faith.”

Gonzo’s smile faded. “Just a start? It’s not enough?”

“It’s not enough,” Faith said, reiterating her concerns with Hoda’s ability to successfully testify.

“Let’s go pick up Billy Springer,” Gonzo said.

“Wait just a minute,” Chief Farnsworth said as he joined them. “What’s this about Billy Springer?”

Sam glanced to Gonzo, letting him know this one was all his.

“We have an eyewitness who puts him at the scene and saw him wielding a knife as he methodically took out a room full of teens.”

“Ah, Christ,” the chief said as he sagged with visible exhaustion. “You’re really building a murder case against Bill Springer’s son?” he asked, looking directly at Sam.

She held up her hands. “Don’t look at me. This case is all his.” She pointed to Gonzo.

“Gee, thanks, Lieutenant,” Gonzo said. “You’re a pal.”

“You gotta take the bad with the good.”