Fantastic. Sam took advantage of the uncomfortable silence in her living room to sift through the report Archie had given her. When all the numbers and letters ran together in an unreadable hodgepodge, Sam wanted to wail with frustration. Her dyslexia tended to rear its ugly head when she was tired, and she was as tired right now as she’d been in a long time.

Tuning in to her dismay, Nick took the report from her and flipped through the pages. “Here,” he said, pointing. “Text messages between Brooke and Hoda, planning the whole get-out-of-jail scheme.”

Without a thought to the two other men in the room with them, Sam said, “Read them to me.”

“Davey snuck into his father’s office and notarized the note. Do you think it’ll work? It’ll be busy with people leaving for the holiday. They won’t look as closely. Hope you’re right. My mom will freak if I’m not here when they come to pick me up. You’ll be there.”

“So they intended to get her back there that night,” Sam said. “How were they hoping to do that when they were drunk and stoned?”

“Maybe they had a designated driver?” Archie asked.

“That might be giving these kids a bit more credit than they deserve,” Sam said. “Including my niece.”

“Is the brass giving you grief about the connection to your niece?” Archie asked.

“Some, but we’ve ruled her out as a suspect in the MacArthur murders, and her case is being overseen by SVU.”

“That makes sense. I heard Springer was making a stink about you not being on the case. He said he wants the best, and Lieutenant Holland is the best.”

“Well, that is true,” Sam said, and all three men laughed, which went a long way toward easing the tension.

Freddie and Gonzo arrived a few minutes later, followed shortly by McBride, Tyrone, Arnold, Carlucci and Dominguez. When everyone was settled, Sam brought them up to date on the decision she and the chief had made earlier. “But before we go any further, Gonzo, I’m dying to know what happened in court today.”

A smile stretched across his face. “Full and permanent custody.”

“I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re relieved and thrilled for you and Christina,” Sam said sincerely.

“Thank you, LT.”

“Chief Farnsworth and I agreed that even though I’ll be helping out on the MacArthur case, you’ll still be running the show.”

“Oh,” Gonzo said, sitting up a little straighter. “Okay.”

Sam filled them in on what she’d done that day and the information she’d brought back from Brooke’s school. When she was finished, she nodded to Gonzo, encouraging him to take over the meeting.

“Let’s hear what everyone else has,” he said.

The doorbell rang again, and Sam got up to admit Lindsey McNamara and Terry O’Connor.