“Gonzo?” Sam asked. “He didn’t work for him for long and doesn’t have history.”

“Yeah, that’d work,” Malone said, “if we agree that he’s doing all right with the trial going on and everything.”

“I’ll ask him and see what he thinks,” Sam said.

“Give him an out if it’s too much right now,” Farnsworth said.

“I will.”

“The media is crawling up our asses looking for a statement about the Deasly case,” Farnsworth said.

“I’d like Detective McBride to make that statement,” Sam said. “This was her bust, and she should get the credit.”

“That’s fine with me,” Farnsworth said, “but I’ll go out with her to take the inevitable questions about why it took us so long to find Carisma.” He handed her a sheet of paper. “Public Affairs drafted this statement to get things started, and I approve of the language. Ask Detective McBride to start with this.”

“I’ll get her,” Sam said, “and talk to Gonzo about Stahl.” As she headed for the door, she avoided eye contact with the captain while wondering how big of a deal this was going to turn out to be for her and her team. Whatever the fallout, she wouldn’t have done a damn thing differently, not when it meant her actions and Jeannie’s had freed nine little kids and a young woman from hell on earth.

Chapter Nine

“You need to stop fuming, Jake,” Joe said when they were alone. “Back in the day, you and I would’ve done the same thing Holland and McBride did.”

Jake sat, exhaling a deep breath. “The two of them are insubordinate as all hell, and you know it.”

“Yes, they are, and they’re also exceptionally good at their jobs. It’s a fine line we walk with that combination.”

“Still… We told them to stand down.”

“I told you Sam called me. We talked about it and agreed to turn what McBride had over to the marshals. Jesse Best blew our cover, but you can’t blame him. He was giving credit where it was due.”

“Yeah, I get all that. What I’ll never understand for the rest of my life is how Stahl faked entire investigations and even filed the paperwork to go along with his bullshit. And then, of course, I wonder what else there is.”

“And that’s the crux of the matter, which is why you need to direct your anger where it belongs—and not at Holland or McBride.”

“I’m pissed about the insubordination, and I’m gonna be for a few days.”

“While you fume about that, I want you to quietly talk to the captains from that time, including Conklin, and find out who helped Stahl hide the paper trail. I want you to personally handle that, with no one else involved.”

“Is this a criminal investigation?” Malone asked.