“Always a few like that on any team, and they get all the attention while the rest of us are doing a job most people couldn’t handle.”

“Truth.”

“What can I do to help with the Stahl stuff?”

“We’ve discovered reports pertaining to the Worthington and Deasly cases, detailing in-depth investigations that never happened, were archived.”

Norm’s white brows furrowed. “That’d be captain or above, right?”

“Yes, and we’ve eliminated almost everyone from that time. I’d like to talk to Tom Rosa about it, but I can’t find him. I was hoping you might be able to help me with that.”

“He’d never have done it,” Norm said emphatically. “He was as by-the-book as anyone I ever worked with.”

“That’s my recollection of him as well, but we’d like to talk to him, and we’ve had no luck tracking him down. I was hoping you might know where he is.”

“I haven’t heard from him in a couple of years. The last time he was in touch, he was living in New Orleans. In the French Quarter, I believe.”

“That’s helpful, thank you.”

Norm tipped his head and smiled as he said, “You didn’t have to drive all this way for that info, Jake.”

“No, I didn’t, but it’s nice to see an old friend, especially right now when I’m having a bit of an existential crisis.”

“And you don’t have Skip to tell you what you need to hear.”

“That, too.”

“You must miss him.”

“So much.”

“I used to envy the deep bond you, Skip and Joe shared.”

“We always considered you a friend.”

“I know, but you three were brothers. We all knew that.”

“We were—and we are.”

“How’s Joe doing?”

“He’s good, all things considered. It’s been a lot lately.”

“I’ve been following the coverage of the cold cases and was relieved when the FBI report wasn’t as bad as feared.”

“We were, too. I was afraid they were going to suggest a change in leadership, which would be the worst idea right now. We need Joe leading us through these tough times.”

“Agreed. There’s no one better than him. I was delighted to see Detective McBride elevated to deputy chief, although I’m sure there was pushback in-house.”

“It’s been pretty fierce from what I’ve heard, but the mayor wanted a woman, and after the great work Detective McBride did on the Deasly case, she earned the promotion.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I had the pleasure of meeting her some time ago and was impressed by her professionalism and thoroughness. And the Deasly case is a BFD.”

“Getting bigger by the day from what we hear from the U.S. Marshals.”

“The scourge of human trafficking is the vilest thing I encountered on the job.”

“Indeed. Sam says it’s the only crime worse than murder.”

“That it is. How’s she holding up since her husband became president?”

“She’s making it work, remarkably enough. She’s the exact same person she was before his promotion, as she refers to it.”