Jeannie stepped up to the stone podium that served as their briefing spot in all seasons.

Sam glanced up at the dark clouds that hung overhead, wondering about the weather forecast.

“Following the conviction of former Lieutenant Stahl, we’ve given some of his cold cases a fresh look,” Jeannie said.

Sam could hear the nerves in her friend’s voice.

“One of them was the disappearance of then-thirteen-year-old Carisma Deasly. I approached the investigation as if it was a new case, speaking to Carisma’s mother, LaToya, and other people who were close to the family at that time. I quickly became focused on Daniella Brown, a friend of LaToya’s, who lived with the family and who also went missing around the same time. LaToya always believed that Daniella took her child, and that’s the lead I followed in my investigation.”

“Was she angry that the MPD didn’t do more at the time her child went missing?” one reporter asked.

Jeannie looked to the chief.

“We’re taking a close look at the early part of the investigation hoping to answer those questions,” Farnsworth said.

“I spoke to a former boyfriend of Ms. Brown’s,” Jeannie said, “who told me he believed she was living in Richmond. He was critical to us finding her, Carisma and the other children who were rescued. After my partner and I visually identified Ms. Brown, we consulted with the marshals, who oversaw the raid that led to the arrest of Ms. Brown, the rescue of Carisma Deasly and nine other children.”

“Did you suspect there would be other victims in addition to Carisma?” a reporter asked.

“No, we had no idea. That was a shock to us as much as everyone else.”

“How’s it possible that you were able to solve this case so quickly after so long?” Darren Tabor from the Washington Star asked.

Normally, Sam liked him. As much as she hated the question, if she were him, that’d be her first question, too.

Farnsworth stepped up to the podium alongside Jeannie. “We’re looking into a number of disgraced former Lieutenant Stahl’s cold cases and finding some irregularities, including reports on investigative work that we now know was never done.”

“Will Stahl face additional charges?” a reporter asked.

“That hasn’t been determined yet,” Farnsworth replied. “We’re in the earliest part of our investigation.”

“Will other cold cases be examined?”

“Yes, they will.”

“How was it possible that Stahl’s commanders at the time, including yourself, the late Deputy Chief Holland and others, were unaware of him cutting so many corners?” Darren asked.