“Not at our level.”

“How were you able to find out they were archived?” Sam asked.

“I asked Archie to dig deeper and see if he could find anything buried on Worthington and Deasly,” Gonzo said, referring to Lieutenant Archelotta, who ran the IT division. “These are what he found.”

“There’s got to be more,” Sam said. “This was intentional. Stahl created these reports, and then someone buried them. I want to know who did that.”

“It was probably Conklin,” Jeannie said of their disgraced former deputy chief. “He would’ve been a captain then.”

“Conklin hated Stahl as much as anyone,” Sam said. “I can’t believe he would’ve done anything to help him cover his tracks.”

“What if Stahl had something on him?” Gonzo asked.

“I suppose that’s possible,” Sam conceded. “Is it possible to archive something without going through a captain?”

“No.”

“We might never know the whole story,” Sam said, “but this is enough for us to show Malone and the chief that Stahl was documenting efforts that never actually happened. It might get the dogs off our backs.”

“Or would that open a bigger can of worms?” Gonzo asked.

“That question is above my pay grade,” Sam said. “Good work on this, Gonzo. It helps to have something to work with.”

“What’s next?” he asked.

“I’m going to venture into the lion’s den with this info and turn it over to them.”

“Go with God, Lieutenant,” Jeannie said.

The three of them laughed.

“Listen, Jeannie,” Sam said. “This was a remarkable bust, and you need to be proud as hell for what you did for Carisma, her family and the nine other kids and their families. Don’t let any of the bullshit take away from that. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for your support.”

“You got it. I’m damned proud of what you did here, and you should be, too.”

“Me, too,” Gonzo said. “Very good work, Jeannie.”

“Thanks, guys. Although… I’m never going to forget the condition Carisma and the others were in,” Jeannie said, her eyes filling with tears. “It was horrifying. How human beings can treat others that way… The murders are tough, but this was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

“I want you and Matt to spend some time with Dr. Trulo,” Sam said, referring to the department’s psychiatrist.

“I don’t think we need that.”

Sam would like to think she’d learned from past mistakes. She would always regret not doing more to support Gonzo after Arnold’s murder. “Nonnegotiable,” she said to Jeannie. “Make the appointment. Together or separate. You decide.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m going to see Malone. If I don’t come back in thirty minutes, send reinforcements.”

“Will do,” Gonzo said, chuckling.

Sam left the pit and headed for the captain’s office, surprised to see the door closed, which was rare. She knocked.

“Enter.”