Farnsworth considered the question. “Put it in writing and include as many details of each related assault as you can. If you show the mayor and U.S. Attorney what this guy is doing to these women, it may help to sway them that we need to try something outside the box to find him.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

“No promises,” he added. “It’ll be a tough sell. The mayor has been adamantly opposed to using FDS in criminal investigations. She spearheaded the bill that outlawed it when she was first on the city council.”

“I understand the objections and agree with them in most cases. This isn’t most cases. We’ve got a sexual predator who’s escalated to murder. If we don’t find a way to stop him, he’ll kill again.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, Lieutenant. Get busy making a case to take to city hall.”

Sam nodded, thankful for once to be on desk duty so she could personally oversee this project. “I hear you. We’ll make sure there’s no way she can say no. Will you come with me to meet with her?”

“Do I hafta?” the chief asked.

Sam laughed at the look of agony that accompanied the question. “Yes, you hafta.”

“Fine.”

“At least the FBI report isn’t going to skewer you on the BBQ.”

“There is that. While you’re here, I want to talk about the other homicide cold cases.”

“I planned to ask Detective Green to do a formal review and triage for us. We’ll work our way through them between other priorities.”

“U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester is asking for a formal review of all the convictions associated with Stahl’s cases as well.”

Sam blew out a deep breath. “That could get very ugly.”

“It’s already ugly,” Malone said. “It could get uglier.”

“Ask Detective Green to keep us informed on what he finds.”

Sam hobbled to the door. “You got it.”

“Lieutenant.”

Sam turned back to the chief. “Yes, sir?”

“It’s so good to have you back. We missed you around here.”

“Aw, thanks. It’s good to be back.”

As she made her way slowly back to the pit, she came face-to-face with the last person in the world she wanted to see—Detective Ramsey.

“Well, if it isn’t Little Miss Thing. You must be thrilled to see me back after all you did to get me fired.”

Sam kept walking as if he hadn’t said a word, but she picked up the pace to get away from him as fast as possible.

“Love the cane,” he called after her, “but a broomstick would’ve been more appropriate.”

Sam wanted to ask how his divorce was going, but since she couldn’t kick his ass if it came to that, she kept her mouth shut and let him spew his garbage.