They raised their badges for her inspection. “I’m Lieutenant Holland, Metro PD. My partner, Detective Cruz. We’re looking for Rick Lind.”

“Aren’t we all?” she asked with a weary sigh.

Sam and Freddie exchanged glances. “What does that mean?” Sam asked.

“I haven’t seen or heard from my husband since they lost the game the other night. When you said you were cops, I was hoping maybe you knew where he was and were coming to tell me.”

“Have you reported him missing?” Sam wondered why she hadn’t been told of a missing person report concerning a member of the Feds.

“Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s done this before. When things don’t go his way, he goes under.”

“For how long?”

“Usually a day or so. This is the longest stretch so far.”

“Any idea where he might be?”

“I’ve called everyone he might be with, but no one has seen him.”

“What’s your name?”

“Carla Lind.”

Sam wrote the name in her notebook. “Is that his car?” Sam asked, gesturing to the black vehicle.

“Yes, his pride and joy,” Carla said with a hint of bitterness.

“Do you mind if we come in for a minute?”

“Um, sure, I guess.” She led them to one of those useless living rooms that were supposedly reserved for guests but never actually used by anyone.

“How does he get to and from the ballpark on game days?” Sam asked when she and Freddie were settled on one sofa and Carla on another.

“He usually drives but he hired a car service this time so he could drink if they won.”

“Did you go to the game?”

“Yes. My children and I were in the owner’s box with the other families.”

“Did you see your husband after the game?”

“No. We left right after Willie’s error. We were concerned about trouble. Turns out we did the right thing getting out of there.”

“I assume your husband has a cell phone?” Sam asked.

“Yes, for all the good that’s done me.”

“When you call him, does it ring or go right to voice mail?”

“It rings.”

Sam glanced at Freddie.

“Could we please get the number, ma’am? We’ll have our IT detectives put a trace on it.”

Carla’s gaze darted between Sam and Freddie. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

“Why is that?”

“When he gets into one of his... moods, it’s better to leave him alone until he comes out of it.”

“If your husband is in some sort of trouble,” Sam said, “we could be running out of time to get a signal on the phone before it loses power.”

With her elbows resting on her knees, Carla bit her thumbnail as she seemed to ponder her options. “So you’d only use it to determine whether or not he’s safe. Not for anything else, right?”