“Yes, but as I said, I don’t have long. I’m on deadline.”

“You’re a writer?”

“Yes, freelance,” she said flatly.

So far so good. Given the time limitations and the frosty reception, Izzy went for it. “I’ll be as fast as I can, and I so appreciate the time. I wanted to talk to you about Sergeant Henry Tybee.”

Ann Marie’s expression remained neutral. “What about him?”

“You dated him?”

“Briefly.”

“How did he treat you?’

Ann Marie arched an eyebrow. “Is that really any of your business?”

Maybe Izzy had pushed too hard. She needed to get information, not the stiff arm. This woman didn’t know her at all. She needed to adjust her approach. “I’m sorry if this seems intrusive. I have a good reason for asking. The sergeant was murdered. Did you know that?”

Ann Marie’s eyes widened. “No. What happened?”

“That’s what the police are trying to find out. But in the meantime, I’m trying to determine if he had a pattern of abusive history with women.”

Ann Marie leaned back. “Not with me.”

“He treated you well?”

She nodded. “Yes, but we decided we weren’t compatible, and that was that.”

“Just like that? No hard feelings?”

Ann Marie shrugged. “None. I haven’t really given him a second thought. I moved on with my life, and my focus is on my career.”

Izzy might not have decades of experience under her belt, but she didn’t need it to know Ann Marie wasn’t telling her everything. “So no signs of abusive tendencies?”

“No. He was actually a bit too old and boring for my tastes. Too straight-laced.”

Now Izzy really knew Ann Marie wasn’t being forthcoming, but there was nothing more she could do about it right now. “Well, thank you for your time. I’ll let you get back to work.”

Ann Marie set down her tea. “You think he hurt other women?”

“I do.”

“Well, obviously I’m sorry about that, but I don’t have anything I can add from my personal experience.”

“Understood.” Izzy rose and thanked her again. As she walked away, she wondered what Ann Marie might be hiding.

Layla awoke with a start. She must have been dreaming. There had been gunshots. But now, sitting up in bed, she didn’t hear anything. The safe house seemed completely silent, as it should be in the middle of the night. Letting out a sigh of relief, she lay back down for a second.