“I can’t help but relish the last of him around here. He’s been a pain in my ass for years.”

“Mine too. I better get to it.”

When someone knocked on the door, Farnsworth said, “Enter.”

A sergeant with a camera came in. “I understand we need to document the lieutenant’s injuries?” he asked.

“That we do,” Farnsworth said. “Lieutenant...”

Resigned, Sam once again revealed the bruises and forced herself to remain still while the sergeant snapped photos of her from a multitude of angles. Just as Sam was about to snap at him to hurry up already, he said he had what he needed.

“Thanks, Sarge.” After the sergeant left the room, Farnsworth said, “On behalf of the department, I apologize for what transpired at your residence this morning, Lieutenant.”

“It was worth it if it gave us more ammo to use against him.”

“I have to make a statement later today on Stahl’s arrest and what happened this morning. I’d like you there.”

“Sure. Just let me know when.”

Sam left the chief’s office and headed for the pit, anxious to dig into the latest on the Vasquez case.

“We think we’ve got a murder weapon,” Cruz said when she walked in. “CSU uncovered a bloody knife in a garbage can six blocks from where Vasquez was found.”

“Anywhere near the blood puddle?”

“More than six blocks in the opposite direction.”

“Thank goodness our guys are thorough. Where is it now?”

“I sent it to the lab to be processed.”

“Excellent,” Sam said, finally feeling the buzz that came with progress. “Agent Hill was able to secure Willie’s financial report from the bank in the Dominican Republic. He’ll be digging into that today.”

Gonzo came into the pit, accompanying a young woman who looked distressed. Petite with dark hair and eyes, she’d clearly been crying.

“Lieutenant, this is Liza Benjamin. She’s a friend of Jamie Clark’s. She came to the front desk asking for the officer in charge of the Vasquez investigation.”

Sam gestured to the conference room and followed them in. She closed the door and turned to face the trembling woman, glancing at Gonzo, who turned on the recorder. Because she wasn’t a suspect, they didn’t need to inform her of the recording or advise her of her rights. “I’m Lieutenant Holland. I’m in charge of the Vasquez investigation. You’ve met Detective Gonzales. What can we do for you?”

“I... I don’t know if I should be here, but I can’t stop thinking about what happened to Willie.”

Sam leaned back against the conference room table, the picture of relaxed competence when every nerve in her body vibrated with tension. Would this be the break they’d been waiting for?

“Take a deep breath and try to relax, Ms. Benjamin.”

Gonzo produced a bottle of water that he handed to her.