“Maybe he was in the process of investigating?”

“I don’t know what he was doing, but he sure as hell didn’t put out an alert that perfectly healthy people were turning up dead, and the likely culprit was fentanyl.”

“I know this is super personal to you, Sam.”

“It’s super personal to everyone who’s lost someone because of these laced pills. We need to find this guy. I got a good lead from the restaurant’s manager, and I’m going there after I see what’s up at Gigi’s.”

“What’s your thought on what happened there?”

“Jaycee somehow got into Gigi’s house, and Gigi went into survival mode.”

“That’s gonna be complicated.”

“Everything is complicated in my world.” She leaned around the seat to check the time on the dash. Six twenty already. At this rate, she would miss seeing the twins before bed, but she was determined to find this Riggs Lawton guy before she called it a day.

The parking lot at Gigi’s complex was swarming with public safety vehicles, including the medical examiner’s van.

Sam and Malone made their way to the front door, showed their badges to the officer minding the entrance, even though he obviously recognized them, and headed upstairs to the scene of the crime.

“Thanks for your good work,” Malone said to the SWAT commander. “You can remove your team now.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the SWAT officers filed out, they were able to move toward the bedroom where all the activity was centered, overseen by Deputy Chief McBride.

Sam took one look at Gigi, and her heart sank as she realized her detective was deeply traumatized and seriously injured because of the day’s events. Gigi had only recently come back to work on limited duty after suffering a ruptured spleen and other injuries at the hands of her now-ex-boyfriend.

Cameron Green didn’t look much better than his new girlfriend. The expression “cat on a hot tin roof” came to mind as he paced the room while paramedics tended to Gigi.

“Does she need to be transported?” Cam asked.

“No, I don’t,” Gigi said.

Cameron looked to the paramedics for the final verdict.

“She lost some blood, but nothing requires sutures. If she won’t be alone tonight, I don’t think we need to take her in.”

“She won’t be alone,” Cam said.

“I’ve already taken photos and processed the scene.” Jeannie held up an evidence bag containing Gigi’s weapon. “If you agree, I’m going to authorize Byron to remove the body.”

“Go ahead,” Malone said to Byron Tomlinson, the deputy ME.

“Someone needs to notify her family,” Sam said.

“I’ll take care of that,” Dani said.

“I’ll go with you,” Jeannie said. “I’ve been to her mother’s house before.”

Gigi stared straight ahead, seeming removed from the activity happening around her.

Sam stepped out of the room and put through a call to Dr. Anthony Trulo, the department’s psychiatrist.

“Hi there,” he answered.

“I need you at the home of Detective Dominguez. She shot and killed Detective Green’s ex-girlfriend, who’s been harassing them.” She gave him the address.