Before the word got out about their victim’s identity, she needed to consult with the department brass about making sure the city was as locked down as it could be to prevent more rioting and violence. However, the minute she contacted Farnsworth she’d probably be put back in time-out. That couldn’t happen, she thought, mulling the dilemma as she walked with Lindsey from the alley to Independence Avenue.

She saw Freddie point to her, and the patrol officer he was talking to shook his head. Sam nearly laughed at the pained expression on the officer’s face.

“I’m going home to change. I’ll see you at the morgue shortly.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Lindsey assured her.

“Thanks, Doc.”

Lindsey shook her head, dismay stamped into her expression. “Just think, this time yesterday he was getting ready for the biggest game of his career, and now he’s dead.”

“Sad to think that one error in a distinguished career could’ve led to this.”

“Some disgruntled fan probably decided to teach him a lesson.”

“Probably,” Sam said, although she’d learned to look beyond the obvious when investigating murder. “See you back at HQ.”

“See ya there.”

After Lindsey got into the passenger side of the medical examiner’s van and it sped away, Sam called Cruz over. “Get crime scene here and have them do a thorough search of all the Dumpsters and nearby trash receptacles. We’re looking for the murder weapon, most likely a knife. Remember—tight lid. This can’t get out until we’re ready to let it out.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cruz said, sucking up as always, but she could count on him to manage the scene until the CSU detectives took over. He handed her phone over.

“I’ll meet you back at HQ in an hour.” When she was satisfied that he had the situation under control, Sam went to make the day of the patrol officer Cruz had tapped to drive her home.

Once settled in the back of the patrol car with an extremely disgruntled patrolman driving her home with all the windows open, Sam made the call to Hill.

“What’s up?” he asked when he answered.

“WV is dead,” she said, keeping her voice as low as possible so the patrolman wouldn’t hear her.

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“The person we spoke of during the night... Dead.”

“Oh, fuck. Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Stabbed in the chest and tossed in a Dumpster behind Air and Space.”

“Christ.”

“I’m on my way home to shower after digging him out of the Dumpster, and then I’m heading back to HQ. I could use your help on gaining access to the team if you’re game. No pun intended.”

“Sure, yeah. I can help with that.”

“Let me get with my brass and figure out how we’re going to play this one, and then I’ll get back to you.”