“You set yourself straight. Don’t give anyone else the credit for that. I’m proud of you and Angel.”

“Means a lot to us. I’ll be in touch soon.”

“Take care.”

“You, too. Stay safe out there.”

Sam closed her phone to end the call and then reopened it to wait for the text from Roberto with the information about Dino and the friend who’d died.

“You’re really going to his wedding?” Gonzo asked.

“I’m really going. I’m so proud of them both for surviving it all to get to this point.”

“You’re a good friend, Sam.”

“I’m a crap friend who gets it right once in a while.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

“We agree with the sergeant,” Vernon said.

“You’re not allowed to take anyone else’s side but mine, Vernon.”

“Duly noted, ma’am, but I still agree with him.”

Gonzo laughed. “You’re still working on getting them trained, huh?”

“Young Jimmy is coming along quite nicely, but the old guy is stubborn.”

“Who you calling old?” Vernon asked, glancing at her in the mirror. “Ma’am.”

“Just had to add that last part, didn’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sam rolled her eyes at Gonzo. “They ma’am me to death.”

“This is the place, ma’am,” Vernon said as they pulled up to the restaurant.

“You see what I deal with?” Sam asked Gonzo.

“I love that they have you figured out.”

“They do not.”

“Do, too, ma’am,” Vernon said with a cheeky grin.

“I’m reporting this to your supervisor. We’re on a first-name basis after the accident.”

“Knock yourself out, ma’am. Jimmy, stay with the car.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Sam, Gonzo and Vernon approached the Zénitude restaurant, Sam noted the exterior façade was painted black, and the name of the establishment was carved into a sign above the door that had been painted in gold foil. Bright red window boxes were still full of holiday greenery, which gave the place a festive appearance.

“Classy joint,” Gonzo said as he held the door for her to go in ahead of him.

The young woman working the hostess desk did a double take when she saw Sam, who held up her badge to nip that in the bud. “Lieutenant Holland, Sergeant Gonzales, Metro PD. We’d like to speak to the owner or manager, please.”

“Y-yes, ma’am. I’ll get him.”

“Another ma’am,” Gonzo said with a snicker after the woman took off to find the guy they needed.

“Makes me feel like I’m seventy or something.” Sam put her hand on the back of her neck and did a couple of stretches, hoping to address the ache. Just what she needed was another freaking injury.

“Do you have whiplash?” Gonzo asked.

“Nope.”

“And you know that how?”

“Because I said so.”

“The four mom words everyone says they’ll never say to their own kids—or subordinates. You should get that looked at before it becomes a thing.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

“How’s Ang doing?”

“She’s hanging in there but dreading the wake and funeral and all that. We had to wait for his brother’s family to get home from Italy. She’d like to get it over with.”