Everyone took their seats around the large conference room table. Piper sat next to Izzy, as she had expected. Piper was her lifeline and had made it clear that she was going to be her protector today. Izzy couldn’t imagine for one second doing this alone.
Detective Stewart’s beady brown eyes homed in on her. “You understand, Agent Cole, that you’re here regarding the murder investigation of Sergeant Henry Tybee. We’ve got some questions that we’re hoping you can help us with. Okay?”
“All right.” At hearing his name, apprehension filled Izzy’s body. She kept trying to take deep breaths like Piper had instructed. She worried that soon all her preparation was going to fly out the window.
“Let’s start at the beginning. Do you have any idea why you’re here today?”
Izzy remembered Piper’s instructions. She wasn’t supposed to speculate. “It would be helpful for you to tell me.”
“What do you know about Sergeant Tybee’s murder?”
She paused as she’d been taught, but when Piper didn’t interject, she answered. “All I know is that he was killed. That’s where it stops and starts.”
Detective Stewart shot Detective Bryant a look before she turned her attention back to Izzy. “Sergeant Tybee was shot. It appears a struggle ensued, based on wounds on the sergeant’s body, and he was killed with his own weapon. We think maybe he was killed in self-defense.”
Ah, and they were looking into women who might fit the bill—Izzy included.
Detective Stewart looked at her notepad. “How did you know the sergeant?”
“I worked with him.” Short, simple statements. Just like she’d practiced with Piper.
“Did you leave Arlington PD because of him?”
Talk about not much of a windup. But Piper had also instructed Izzy that she had to be truthful at all costs—even on the difficult topics—because if they caught her in a lie, they would use it against her. “Yes.”
“Why?”
She sat silently, not sure how to answer.
Piper touched her arm. “Detective Stewart, let’s not dance around the issues here. If you have a direct question to ask my client, then please do so.”
Detective Stewart nodded. “Very well. What I’m about to tell you is disturbing, but it’s not my intent to upset you. Do you understand?”
A wave of unease rushed through her in anticipation. “Yes.”
“When we searched the sergeant’s home, we found these.” Detective Stewart opened a manila folder and slid it across the table.
Izzy leaned in and scanned the pictures spread out in front of her in bright vivid color. Pictures of her. Candid shots—her at the grocery store, coffee shop, jogging. Her breath caught as she started to see dancing stars in front of her eyes. She might be sick.
Piper noticed her reaction. “Take a deep breath, Izzy. Here’s some water. I think she’s going to need a minute.”
Detective Stewart nodded. “Of course.”
They sat in silence that hung in the air like a heavy weight as Izzy tried to think through what she was seeing. How long had the sergeant been watching her? When he’d confronted her, she’d had no idea that he’d been lurking in the shadows. Finally, she spoke up. “Obviously I didn’t know about these.”
Detective Stewart leaned in. “I know this is difficult. Just please bear with us for a few more minutes, okay?”
Izzy nodded.
“We’re still combing through a lot of evidence, including electronics, but there’s something I have to ask you about.”
She knew it. This was about the text messages.
“Agent Cole, were you violently assaulted by the sergeant?”
Izzy sucked in a breath. “Yes.”
“Sexually assaulted?”
“Yes.” It was like she wasn’t even sitting there answering the questions. Her whole body turned numb as she tried to fixate her gaze on the clock behind the detective’s head. Anything to avoid eye contact during this topic.
The detective jotted down a note. “So that’s why you left Arlington PD, right?”
“Yes.” She shifted in her seat, waiting for the next question. They still hadn’t brought up the text messages. Was it possible they hadn’t found them yet?
“Who did you tell about the alleged assault?”
This time she didn’t wait for Piper, and she looked right at Detective Stewart. “It wasn’t an alleged assault, Detective. It was an assault.” Her nails dug into her hands under the table.
Detective Stewart cocked her head. “Regardless of the terminology, who did you tell about it?”
“And that’s relevant how?” All of a sudden, any desire she’d had to cooperate had left. Those photos had rocked her to the core.
Piper leaned toward her ear. “Izzy,” she whispered. “You can answer this. They already know the answer, most likely. Remember everything we talked about.”
“I assume you’re asking for those people who knew before the murder?” Izzy asked.
“Yes,” Detective Stewart said.
“My Navy counselor, plus Jay and Aiden Graves and Bailey Ryan.”
“Anyone else?”
She shook her head. “Not before the murder. No.”
“Were you aware that Jay Graves confronted the sergeant?” Detective Bryant finally spoke up.
“I didn’t know specifically, but I had my suspicions when I found out the sergeant took early retirement. Jay and I never spoke about it.”
“You and Jay are close, right? You’re dating his son?” Detective Stewart jumped right back in.
“We formed a bond while working a case earlier this year. That’s how I met Aiden.”
“In fact, Jay is like a father to you?”
“If you’re asking that, then you already know that my father was killed. Shot dead in the line of duty, and yes, Jay is like a father to me. But I’d prefer to cut to your ultimate question. Do I think Jay killed him? No way.”
“Why?” Detective Bryant asked.
“Because Jay is a man of honor and integrity. He’s not a murderer, even if someone deserves it.” As those words came out, Izzy realized her mistake.
“And you believed the sergeant deserved to die, didn’t you?” Detective Stewart asked.
Piper grabbed Izzy’s elbow. “Don’t answer that. Detective, as I said, we are here as a courtesy. Do you have any
