Free Fatal Scandal: Book Eight of the Fatal Series by Marie Force Page B

said.
    “Yes, sir,” McDonald replied.
    Despite her antagonism, Sam felt for the guy. She’d had a long-term undercover investigation go south on her once. Sometimes she still had nightmares about Marquis Johnson’s agonizing screams after his young son Quentin was shot during a raid she’d led at a crack house. Quentin wasn’t supposed to be there. The fact he was there that night still weighed on Sam more than a year later.
    “I think you ought to make a statement,” Sam said to the chief, surprising herself as much as the others. “You need to come clean about what happened that night and why, let them know we’re continuing our internal investigation and we understand and sympathize with Mr. Springer’s grief over the loss of his sons. You could update the press on Detective Gonzales’s condition as he continues to recover from the shot to his neck by Billy Springer, who was implicated in the murders of his brother and eight other teenagers, which would be a great way to remind them that a decorated officer was nearly killed by Mr. Springer’s sainted son.” When she realized all eyes were on her, Sam swallowed hard before continuing. “We haven’t said a word about what happened that day since that day. It might be time for an update. Sir.”
    After a long pause, Farnsworth said, “What does everyone think?”
    “I agree with Lieutenant Holland,” Malone said. “Springer has had the microphone and the spotlight on him for weeks now. Let’s retake control of the story. You could do the press conference and go on some of the radio and TV talk shows and just be honest. Tell them we’re investigating what went wrong and hoping to provide some answers for the Springer family, as well as the community as a whole.”
    “I’d want to consult with Public Affairs,” Farnsworth said.
    “I’ll get someone down here.” Conklin got up and left the room.
    “I also need to clear it with the mayor. She’s been on my ass over this for weeks now.”
    “Why don’t you see if she’d be willing to attend the press briefing?” Sam said. “To show her support for her embattled police chief.”
    “I’ll ask her.” He seemed less than thrilled with the idea, but Sam couldn’t blame him.
    Conklin returned. “Captain Norris will be down momentarily. I asked him to come personally.”
    “Thank you. Does anyone else have any thoughts to add?” Hearing none, Farnsworth dismissed the other officers. “Conklin, Holland and Malone, please stay.”
    Malone glanced at Sam, his brow raised in question.
    Sam knew what he was asking her and nodded reluctantly. As soon as the room cleared of the other officers, Sam moved to a seat closer to the chief’s desk. “We have another situation you should be aware of,” she said, noting the ashen color of his skin. His admin was right that he looked like shit.
    “What’s that?”
    It pained her greatly to have to add to his worries and to give voice to her concern about Gonzo. “The mother of Detective Sergeant Gonzales’s son was found murdered in a parked car this morning. She’d been manually strangled.”
    Farnsworth stared back at her, his eyes flat and blank. “This would be the same woman who recently exposed his earlier connection to the judge that heard their custody case?”
    “Yes,” Sam said.
    The chief’s deep sigh spoke for him.
    “Tell me he has an alibi for last night,” Conklin said.
    “He and his fiancée were home all night with their son, celebrating the first anniversary of the night they met. I talked to him around eleven o’clock, and he expressed dismay about the story hitting the media and the possible implications for the custody matter. He was upset but under control.”
    “He never mentioned the child’s mother?” Conklin asked.
    And then there’s the part that wants to wrap my hands around her fucking neck and squeeze the life out of her.
    “No,” Sam said without blinking. “Sir.”
    “So he and the fiancée who also loves