“It was, but it makes the department look ridiculous that the case was so easily solved the minute someone decided to care. Add to it that the victims in both these cases are Black kids, and it looks even worse.”

“So they’d rather we not solve the cases than make the department look bad?”

“As you know, it’s been a rough few months with Stahl convicted, Conklin and Hernandez charged in relation to Skip Holland’s case, and the FBI investigating us. People are bracing for the FBI report, which is due in January and not expected to do us any favors. The chief wants us to stand down on the cold cases for now, but how am I supposed to do that when I think I might know where Daniella is?”

“You can’t,” Matt said bluntly.

“And if we turn it over to the FBI or the marshals, we could still look bad because it took only a couple of days of effort to close an eleven-year-old case, even if they’re the ones who get the credit. People are going to be, like, where was the MPD all this time, you know?”

“It’s a valid question.”

“It certainly is. Even though I don’t agree that standing down on this case is the right thing to do, I can see where the chief is coming from. He has to manage the political and media fallout, which was significant after Worthington.”

“You’d think people would just be thankful the case was solved.”

“You would think, but what they see is a department so inefficient that a case that could’ve—and should’ve—been solved fifteen years ago was left undone for all that time until someone bothered to care. It’s a bad look for us, no matter how you spin it. And solving Carisma’s case, if we solve it, won’t help with the PR mess the chief is already dealing with.”

“But that’s no reason to ignore what we’ve already learned.”

“That’s my thinking as well.” She glanced over at him. “We’re defying orders that came directly from the chief. I need you to say you understand that.”

“I do.”

“I appreciate you coming with me, which was Sam’s only request—that I not go alone.”

“Where you go, I go. That’s what partners do.”

For the first time since Will Tyrone had told her he couldn’t bear to continue on the job after his close friend Arnold was murdered, Jeannie felt like she had a true partner again. “I should probably tell you I’m pregnant so you’ll know why I’m green every morning.”

“I wondered because I’ve noticed you having rough mornings. Congrats. That’s great news.”

“Thanks. We’re excited and scared and all the things.”

“You’ll be great parents.”