Sighing, he lowered himself into his big leather executive chair. “I’m not at liberty to discuss personnel matters with you. However, I won’t deny what you say is true. All his venom is going to be centered on you. You know that, don’t you?”

“It has been for a while anyway.” Sam sat in one of his visitor chairs. “What will happen now?”

“He’ll be processed, arraigned and most likely released on bail, which is when you’ll really need to watch your back.”

“He doesn’t scare me. I’ve got Arnie Parsons and his followers targeting me.”

“Sam, you need to take this stuff seriously.” He tossed Stahl’s badge onto his desk. “What’s the story with the APB for Lind?”

“He’s gone missing.”

“Since when?”

“No one has seen him since the game. His wife hasn’t heard from him.”

“And she waited until now to tell us that?”

“Apparently, it’s not unprecedented when things don’t go his way. The people around him protect him when he’s in one of his ‘moods.’”

“Interesting.”

“It occurs to me that it’s possible Willie isn’t our only victim.”

“Oh, Jesus. Really?”

“I don’t know anything yet, but I’d like to find him. I’m going to head home now, but I’m taking work with me. I’ll be on the radio if anything comes across about Lind.”

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

She headed for the door, but something made her turn around, which is how she caught him staring off into space. “Are you all right?”

“I’m disappointed and disillusioned at times like this, but I’m okay.”

“Don’t let Stahl get you down. There’re a lot more like us than there are like him.”

“Thank God for that.”

“Why don’t you go home and let Marti spoil you?”

“I just might do that.”

“Come on.” If she didn’t encourage him to leave, he’d find a reason to spend a couple more hours there. “Walk me out.”

“If you insist.”

“I do.” She waited while he said goodnight to his admin, who seemed shocked to see him leaving somewhat on time.

When they walked through the main doors, the media swarmed them.

“We’ll provide an update on the Vasquez case in the morning,” the chief said. “No comment until then.”

“Why is there an APB for Rick Lind?” one of the reporters called after them.

“No comment,” Farnsworth said. He was quiet until they reached the parking lot. “It might be time for me to retire.”

Shocked to the core by the unexpected statement, Sam turned to him. “What did you say?”

“Don’t look so astounded. I’m not as young as I used to be, and the job is wearing on me lately in a way it never did before. I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”