“She was awake for the rape exam, but I couldn’t really grill her then. They sedated her for the stitches, thank God. I’ll go back to talk to her later when she’s awake. Did you guys get anything at all from the canvas of my neighbors before you got called to MacArthur?”

“Nothing useful. No one saw or heard anything. We didn’t bother your dad and Celia, though. We figured they’d let us know if they saw anything.”

“Why do I have the sick feeling this entire thing is going to lead right back to my niece, who wasn’t even supposed to be here?” As she spoke, Sam pounded her fist against the car door, expelling hours of frustration and agony.

“Um, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the door could fall right off if you keep that up.”

“Goddamn it, Freddie. What the fuck was she thinking? Leaving school? Taking drugs?”

“I can’t begin to know.” The fact that he didn’t take her to task for using the Lord’s name in vain or swearing told her he understood how upsetting this was for her. “But we’ll figure it out.”

“I’m sorry about the vacation.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Nick is pissed with me.”

“How come?”

“He’s mad about the vacation getting messed up by another case.”

Freddie gave her a side-eye look. “And he gets that your niece is possibly tied up in that case?”

“Yeah, he knows. He’s still pissed.”

“Elin’s not too thrilled either, but it’s what we do. It’s who we are.”

“That’s right, and if he can’t see that then he doesn’t know me at all.”

“Yes, he does, Sam. He knows you as well as anyone. You can’t blame the guy for wanting a break from the madness.”

“I don’t blame him, but how can he ask me to choose between him and Brooke? I’d always choose him. But this... This is different.”

“It’s personal.”

“Right.”

They arrived at MacArthur Boulevard just as the sun began to rise over the capital city. The area was still surrounded by emergency vehicles, two medical examiner’s trucks and hoards of media. Satellite trucks lined the street, which was completely impassable. They had to park more than a block from the scene.

“What a fucking circus,” Sam said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and called her mentor and boss, Captain Malone.

“I thought you were on vacation,” Malone said when he picked up the call.

“Murder has a way of screwing up plans.”

“I was over there earlier. Unreal.”

“So I’ve heard. I’m about to experience it firsthand. Patrol has completely lost control of the area, however. Can you get someone over here to kick them in the ass?”

“Sure thing. So you’re going to take this one?”