“Oh jeez, is that right? He told me it was vice president of the local Elks lodge. I feel deceived.”

“How can you joke about this?”

“How can I not? It’s surreal.”

“Terry said it was all going to come down to what you thought of it. So... What do you think?”

“I told him he should do it,” she said with a shrug that she hoped indicated she had no plans to overreact. “I don’t have to move or quit my job or have suits following me around, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual.”

“Are you out of your freaking mind?”

“I very well could be. I’ve been accused of that before. Lots of times, in fact.”

“This is some sort of coping mechanism, right? You play it down so you don’t lose your shit?”

“Perhaps.”

“So he’s going to do it?”

“I think he might.”

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. That’s amazing. Totally amazing.”

“Glad you think so. Can I go to work now?”

“I know you’ll hate me for it, but I’ve got to hug you first.”

Sam didn’t hate her for it. In fact, she was touched by Lindsey’s show of affection and friendship.

“There,” Lindsey said when she pulled back from Sam. “Now you can go to work.”

“You got anything for me?”

“In fact, I do. Our friend Mr. Mitchell is a stone-cold liar.”

“Is he now?” Sam said through gritted teeth.

“He’s our fourth guy. Not only did he videotape the whole thing, his semen was found on her belly and between her legs. It was not found in her vagina, however.”

“So he videotaped the whole thing and then got off on her?”

“It appears that way.”

“So disgusting.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Thanks, Lindsey. Appreciate your help with this one.” As Sam walked toward the pit, her heart was heavy over what had happened to Brooke. “At least she’s alive,” she whispered to herself. It had been so very close... The pit was deserted when she arrived so she continued on to the lobby area, anxious to speak to the chief. Raised voices had her moving a little faster as she approached the lobby.

There she found Bill Springer screaming in Chief Farnsworth’s face.

“There’s no way you’re going to pin this on my son!”

“Bill, you need to calm down and listen to me.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Springer’s face was bright red, his hair wild and his normally polished attire in disarray. And then, with Sam and other cops all around them, Springer whipped his arm back.