“I urge you to refrain from any further comment,” Conklin said. “You’re being charged with interfering with a homicide investigation by releasing embargoed information to the media against the express wishes of the officer in charge of the investigation.”

“You’re arresting me?”

“You bet your ass I’m arresting you, and you’re officially suspended with pay from the department pending a due process hearing.”

Malone handed a pair of handcuffs to Conklin, who waited until Stahl thrust his badge, weapon, keys, radio and ID at the chief before he pulled Stahl’s arms behind his back.

“I have rights! I want an attorney! You can’t arrest me for making a phone call.”

As Conklin cuffed him, Sam wondered if it was possible she was dreaming this whole thing. Even her fertile imagination never could’ve come up with this scenario.

“So you admit you made the call?” Malone asked. “Oh wait, we don’t need you to admit it. We have it on film. Let’s go.” Malone tugged on Stahl’s beefy arm, but he fought back, so Conklin grabbed the other arm and the two men all but dragged the shrieking lieutenant from the room.

“You’re going to pay for this, Holland! You’d better watch your back, little girl! That stupid bitch set me up! This is all her fault!”

“Add threatening a public official to the list of charges,” Farnsworth called after them. “That one’s a felony.” He seemed relish that last part.

“Sure is,” Malone said.

None of them were sorry to see the last of Stahl. If only Sam believed they’d actually seen the last of him.

“Wow,” Archie said, summing up Sam’s sentiments.

“Good riddance,” Farnsworth said. “But don’t quote me on that. Good work, Lieutenants.”

“Thank you, sir,” Archie said.

Sam could tell he was trying to hide his satisfaction in the outcome of his mini-investigation.

“I’ll need you both to file statements,” Farnsworth said.

“That won’t be a problem,” Sam said.

“For me either,” Archie said. “I need to get back upstairs and see where we are with your film, Sam.”

“Thanks.”

After he left, Sam wasn’t sure what to say to the chief. Stahl’s downfall had been swift and unexpected.

Farnsworth held Stahl’s badge in his hand. “How could he be so foolish?”

“I’ve just come from speaking with Rick Lind’s wife Carla. I learned that he suffers from some sort of mental illness. It’s nothing that’s been diagnosed or anything like that, but everyone around him is aware of it. I don’t know if what Stahl suffers from is mental illness, per se, but something about him is ‘off,’ and we all know it.”