“I have.”

That shocked Sam. “Are you investigating it as a crime?”

“I’m investigating it in conjunction with IAB’s inquiry.”

“The involvement of the USA gives a routine inquiry a different level.”

“I understand. We’re being thorough. I expect it will go the way you want it to in the end, but in the meantime, tread lightly. People are on edge.”

“Over me being first lady, too?”

“I’ve heard some of that.”

“Do you have a problem with it?”

Faith held up her hands. “Not at all. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

“I’m not really sure what message it is you’re trying to convey.”

“Look at it from an outside perspective. You have a long-running beef with Ramsey, and you’re standing next to Malone, your father’s close friend, when the order is given to take his son.”

“I had nothing to do with giving that order, Faith. The captain did what needed to be done to defuse the situation before we added another victim to Shane Ramsey’s list. I’ll take whatever flack that comes my way if it means saving that innocent woman’s life. And I have no doubt the captain would say the same thing.”

“He would,” a voice said behind them.

Sam spun around to find Captain Malone in uniform. “You’re back.” She’d never been so happy to see him in her life.

“I am. Is there a problem, Faith?”

“No problem,” Faith said. “I need to get back to the office. Sam, keep me in the loop on the investigation.”

“I will.”

“What was that about?” Malone asked when they were alone.

“I have no idea. I feel like she was giving me some sort of warning, but I can’t say for sure. And she let on that the USA is investigating the Ramsey shooting.”

That clearly shocked him as much as it had her. “Why?”

“IAB brought them in on it.”

“What the hell? Why would they do that unless they thought a crime had been committed?”

“I have no idea. Are there Ramsey allies in IAB?”

“He doesn’t have a lot of allies. Wait… Walcott.”

“Who?”

“His first partner, Doug Walcott, is in IAB now. I think he might’ve been Shane’s godfather. Damn, I never even thought of that.”

“Well, that explains a lot.” Sam gestured for him to come to her office with her. When he closed the door, she updated him on the situation with Gigi and Cameron’s fear that his ex might be involved.

“I would’ve thought that two felony charges would’ve scared her straight.”

“Or it made her think she has nothing left to lose.”

Cameron Green was losing his mind one minute at a time as it seemed to take forever for the SWAT team to get into position to breach Gigi’s townhouse.

“They aren’t going to break the windows, are they?” the super asked.

Cam wanted to punch his teeth out. Despite Gigi’s hysterical mother arriving with a key, SWAT had decided to go in through all points of egress at the same time.