“We’ll get him there. One way or the other. If I get running late, can you meet me at the Capitol with Davida and Ginger?” The White House hair-and-makeup team would be critical for this event.

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep you posted.”

“Sounds good. See you tonight.”

Sam closed her phone. “You know where to take me later, right, Vernon?”

“We’ve got you covered, ma’am.”

“That’s good. I can’t be late.”

“We’ll get you there. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Her phone rang with a call from Gonzo. “Hey, what’s up?”

“We just got lucky.”

She sat up straighter. “How so?”

“He forgot himself and tossed a butt aside. Freddie ran for it and nearly crashed into him when he came rushing back out after it, but he wasn’t fast enough. Freddie bagged it, and we’re on our way in with it now.”

“Who’s on him?”

After a slight pause, Gonzo said, “Oh fuck, we were so excited to get the butt to the lab that we didn’t turn over surveillance to anyone.”

“Let’s get Patrol on him right away. He knows as much as we do what we’re going to find on that butt. It’s not going to take much to lose him.”

“Shit,” Gonzo said, groaning. “I should’ve thought of that. We were just so excited to get something.”

“I would’ve been, too.”

“I’ll call Patrol.”

“I’ll see you at the house.”

Sam slapped her phone closed and then opened it again to call Lindsey. “Gonzales and Cruz are on the way in with a cigarette butt that Ramsey tossed away. I need it analyzed for DNA ASAP.”

“I’ll get on it. Give me a couple of hours.”

Those hours would seem endless while they waited for confirmation of what they already knew. “Will do. Thanks.”

All Sam could think as they wove through traffic on the way to HQ was what if they were wrong? What if Shane Ramsey wasn’t their guy?

Then what?

Chapter Thirty-Five

The ten minutes between the time Gonzo and Freddie left the garage and Patrol arrived were just enough for Shane Ramsey to bolt.

“Goddamn it,” Gonzo said. “I can’t believe we just took off. We didn’t think.”

“You were thinking about getting the evidence we needed back here as fast as you could after endless days spent waiting for a break,” Sam said. “I would’ve done the same thing.”

“You would’ve thought to call for backup before you left.”

“Maybe not. Either way, we’ll find him. Archie’s trying to locate his phone now.”

“You won’t find him,” Sergeant Ramsey said when he came into the pit, looking smug. “You’ll never find him.”

“Do you know what the police officer father does when his son is wanted for sexual assault and murder?” Malone asked him.