“That we’ve been there and done that often enough that we don’t mind letting someone else do it this time.”

“I hate this shit all the time, but when it’s kids...”

“It’s so much worse.”

“How’s Brooke?”

“Not great.” Sam kept her voice down. “She’s in the ICU.”

“God, Sam. What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know, but she was hopped up on Molly, GHB and booze. And she’d had rough sex with at least one guy.” The idea that there could’ve been more than one was something Sam didn’t want to allow into her racing mind. She zeroed in on the body Lindsey was bagging—a naked female, maybe sixteen or seventeen, with dark hair and skin. Several vicious blows to the neck had ended the life of the exceptionally beautiful girl. “Have you found anything to indicate that Brooke was here?”

“No, but if she was, it’ll turn up in the DNA.”

“I don’t know what to do, Gonzo. Do I tell Malone I think she might’ve been here and bring her into it before we know anything, or do I wait until we know more?”

“You have to tell them now. If you wait and it turns out she was here, it’ll look like you were trying to protect her by keeping it quiet.”

“I don’t want to tell them. I don’t want to bring that down on her if it’s not necessary.”

“I know, but if you don’t...”

“I could do her more harm than good.”

“Not to mention what you could do to your own career. It’s a sucky situation no matter how you look at it.”

“Don’t you have to be in court this morning?”

“Not for another couple of hours.” He shook his head, his face set in a grim expression. “I look at these kids, doing drugs, drinking, having sex...I think, what if that’s my kid someday? What if I give him everything I’ve got and something like this happens to him?”

“It won’t, Gonzo. You’re going to raise him better than these kids were raised. He’s going to make good choices.”

“Brooke was raised right.”

“Yes, but she’s always been a tough one. While this whole incident is totally shocking to all of us and way beyond anything we could’ve imagined her getting into, the trouble itself isn’t entirely unexpected.”

Freddie came down the stairs into the basement. “Mrs. Chastain is on her way home, and we’ve got other company.” He gestured to Captain Malone and Chief Farnsworth, who were behind him.

“Who can report on what we have so far?” Farnsworth asked. Even though his voice was gruff, Sam could see he was as affected by the scene as the rest of them had been.