She took a deep breath as tears slid down her cheeks. “He promised he’d never leave me.”

Sam handed her a tissue. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Leslie wiped away her tears. “He was distrustful of police.”

“If he was dealing drugs, he had good reason to be.”

“Is it possible that’s not what he was doing?”

“I don’t think so, but if it is, you’ll be the first person I tell.”

“How could I not have known this?”

“I’m sure he went to great lengths to keep it hidden from you.”

She blew her nose and looked up at Sam with red, watery eyes. “I’ll allow the search. I want to know the truth.”

“Thank you. Could you please give me the address?”

When she had confirmed the location and retrieved the keys to the Lawton home, Sam picked up the phone and called Lieutenant Haggerty from Crime Scene to ask for a team at the Lawton residence.

“Got it. We’re on it.”

Next, she called Lieutenant Archelotta to notify him that she needed a deep dive on Lawton’s computers and devices that would be coming from the scene.

“I was just going to call you about something I found on the phones of everyone involved in this case.”

“Can you come down?”

“Yep, on the way.”

To Leslie, Sam said, “Is there somewhere you can go while we conduct the search?”

“I can go to my friend’s house.”

“Was she a friend of Riggs’s, too?”

Leslie nodded. “She and her husband are our closest friends.”

“Until we know more about your husband’s business and who else was involved, I think you should steer clear of mutual friends. In fact, I think we should put you in one of our safe houses, just in case.”

Shocked, she said, “In case of what?”

“In case there are people who’d kill you to keep you from letting us into your husband’s business.”

Archie came into the pit, holding up a thumb drive.

“Everyone in the conference room,” Sam said. “Give me five, and I’ll be right there.” She called Officer Charles. “Are you in the building?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I need a favor. Can you come to my office?”

“On my way.”

When Officer Charles arrived, Sam briefed her on the situation with Leslie. “I need you to get her into a safe house and arrange for round-the-clock security.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you. I need to talk to you about something else when you get back. Will you find me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sam gave her a playful glare over the ma’am thing and then introduced her to Mrs. Lawton. “Officer Charles will get you settled somewhere safe while we conduct the search of your home.”

“I can’t go there to get my things?”

“We don’t think that would be wise right now. We can get you anything you need elsewhere.”

“Can I call my family to tell them where I am?”

“You can notify them you’re in protective custody, and then we need you to turn off your phone.”