“Quite a few of your friends seem to have that in common, Brooke. Their parents let them run wild, and now two of them are dead, another is in jail. You’re in here. I don’t know what you and your mom are fighting about, but you might want to remember what became of your friends. No one wants to see that happen to you. This is bad enough.” She leaned over to kiss Brooke’s cheek. “I’ve got to get back to work, but I’ll check on you later.”

Tracy walked out with her. “I keep telling myself to be grateful she survived, but I’m wondering what it’s going to take for her to get a clue.”

“What’s the problem?”

“She’s being bitchy and contrary and acting like all of this is someone else’s fault. The usual shit.”

“Um, Mrs. Hogan?”

Tracy turned to a dark-haired boy holding a bouquet of flowers with a balloon attached. “Hi, Justin.” Tracy hugged him. “This is Brooke’s Aunt Sam. Sam, her good friend Justin from all the way back to elementary school.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sam said.

“You too. I’d like to see Brooke if that’s okay.”

“I’m sure she’d love a visit with an old friend. Let me check with her to make sure she feels up to it.”

“I’ll see you later, Trace,” Sam said.

“Bye, Sam.”

“Anything?” Freddie asked when she rejoined him at the elevators.

“Nothing specific, but apparently it was common knowledge in the Springer family that Billy was bad news. Into drugs and guns. He was convinced he was untouchable because of who his dad is.”

“He sounds like a typical sociopath.”

“And not-so-shockingly he turned out to be one.”

On the way back to HQ, Sam called the chief to brief him on what was being done. “I assume we’ve got people at his place?”

“Crime scene is there as we speak.”

“And we’re trying to locate his car and cell?”

“We’ve had an APB out for the car since last night, and Archie is trying to get a read on the phone.”

“Airports, bus stations, train station?”

“All being checked.”

“I ordered vice back to the house to air out what went down.”

“So I heard.”

“Roback is pissed.”

“Just a little. Most captains don’t appreciate being pushed around by lieutenants.”

“It’s not my fault that his people screwed this up.”

“If you could attempt to be diplomatic, I’d appreciate it.”

Freddie’s snort indicated that he could hear the chief’s end of the conversation.

“I’ll try.”

“Do that.”

“We’ll be back in five to meet with vice. It would help if you could be there in case we get push-back.”

“In case?”

“When we get push-back.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Now that you’ve disposed of Stahl,” Freddie said, “it’s probably time to start making some new enemies.”