Avery answered on the first ring. “Miss me, Lieutenant?” That sweet Southern accent would make a lesser woman swoon. Sam was never so grateful not to be a lesser woman.

“Yeah, like a whore misses the clap when it finally clears up.”

Ringing laughter had her holding the phone away from her ear. “What can I do for you this fine day?”

“I need a favor. A personal favor.”

His silence was just as loud as the laughter had been. “What’s going on, Sam?”

She told him what had happened to Brooke and the murdered teenagers. “I need help tracking down the source of that video, and I need to get it offline before it ruins her life. You guys are the best at the cyber stuff. I need the best.”

“You’ll have it. I was planning to head home to Charleston for the holiday today, but I can change my plans.”

“Avery, no. Don’t do that. Surely you have people you can call.”

“I’ll see to this personally.”

Sam leaned her head on her hand. “I have no right to ask this of you.”

“We’re friends, right? Friends help each other out.”

What went unsaid was that he’d expressed an interest in being much more than friends with her, which was never, ever going to happen. Though they both knew that, his help had been invaluable on the Vasquez case this past summer, and she did consider him a friend as well as a colleague. “Yes.”

“Wow, that was the longest pause in the history of long pauses.”

“I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind, and I’m not good at asking for help. I got taken off the case.”

“Because of the possible connection to your niece.”

“Right.”

“So what’s your plan?”

Sam smiled, because he thought like she did and knew she’d have a plan. “I’m pursuing the portion that involves Brooke, trying to figure out how she ended up in the ICU when she was supposed to be on lockdown at school in Virginia.”

“Why lockdown?”

“The usual reasons. She was nasty and willful and in with the wrong crowd and on track to go very bad. Her parents felt they had no choice.”

“Sounds like they’re good parents who love their kid.”

“They are and they do.”

“Then let’s make sure all their love and care isn’t for naught. Have you requested a warrant for her room at the school yet?”

“Not yet. It was next on my list.”

“I’ll get you one. Our involvement will help with the jurisdictional shit.”

“I’ll owe you one.”

“Yes, you will.”

Sam’s mouth fell open in surprise.

His soft chuckle made her realize he was joking. At least she thought so.

“I’ll be back in touch shortly.”

“Thank you, Avery.”