Sam nodded and went up the stairs, furious with herself and the situation and Brooke too. Yes, she was pissed with Brooke for whatever she’d gotten herself into, which was now impacting Sam’s career. And then it occurred to her that following up with Brooke’s school had nothing at all to do with the homicide investigation. She’d look into that angle the minute she was free of the chief.

When they were in his car and driving away from the crime scene, Sam vibrated with tension and an overwhelming sense of impotence at having been yanked off a case that should’ve been hers.

“I didn’t have any choice, and you know that,” Farnsworth said. “Your people are very well qualified to handle this case. They’ve learned from the best.” After an uncomfortably long period of silence, he let out a deep sigh. “So you’re not speaking to me now? Is that how it’s going to be?”

“You didn’t have to take me off the case. I said there’s a chance Brooke was there. Until we prove she was actually there, why can’t I be involved?”

“Because there’s a chance, Sam. Come on. You know I’m right. I can’t risk our case being compromised by a potential personal connection with the lead detective, especially with Bill Springer’s kid as one of the vics.”

“Ahh, so now we get to the heart of the matter.”

“You know I’m doing the right thing. If you weren’t emotionally involved, you’d see that too.”

“I’m going to look into how Brooke managed to leave school last night and try to track her movements. I’ll do it on my own time with my own resources.”

“And you’ll share whatever you uncover with Sergeant Gonzales.”

Since he didn’t forbid her from running her own investigation into what had happened to Brooke, she nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

“I know you want to be right in the middle of the homicide investigation, but you should take this planned week off and spend time with your family. Tracy will need you, and so will Brooke. And with your dad’s surgery early next week, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Take a break, Lieutenant. We all need one every now and then.”

She wondered how he expected her to relax and enjoy a vacation when her niece was lying in the hospital after nearly overdosing on drugs and booze and possibly being sexually assaulted—all while she was supposedly at school out of state.