“Okay, Izzy. Now that you have an experienced criminal defense lawyer, I’m going to turn over the representation to her and let you two talk alone in here.” Viv led them into the kitchen. “I’ll be upstairs in my bedroom if you need anything.”

“Thank you again for everything.” Izzy squeezed Viv’s hand before Viv left her alone with Piper.

As she sat across the table from this woman she’d just met, Izzy realized she was putting her trust in Viv. If Viv vouched for Piper, then that would have to be enough for her.

Piper pulled a legal pad from her bag and set it on the table. “Izzy, you should know that I am a criminal defense attorney, but that I also have experience doing pro bono work representing victims of domestic violence.”

“I’m not a lawyer, but isn’t it odd to work both sides?”

“It is a bit unorthodox, yes, but I’m never adverse to any of my clients on the criminal side, and lawyers are encouraged to do pro bono work. Criminal defense is my specialty, but I wanted to bring up my other experience because, from the little Viv told me, I thought it would be helpful for you to know.”

Izzy nodded, not sure what to say.

“We’ll take this nice and easy. Instead of starting with the difficult experiences of your past, why don’t you tell me exactly what you know about the case.” Piper’s pen was at the ready.

“Not much. The person who was killed is Sergeant Henry Tybee.” Saying his name made her want to vomit.

“All right. How would you like us to refer to him?”

“You can tell that I don’t like saying his name?” Was she that transparent?

Piper leaned in. “It’s actually very common in these circumstances. So whatever you tell me is what we’ll go with, but I should warn you, the police will most likely refer to him as a victim.”

Izzy had thought about that, because she knew police procedures like the back of her hand. Having to deal with it in her own life was another experience entirely, though. “I’m pretty good at compartmentalizing. I’m just going to have to use those skills here. Between us, let’s just call him the sergeant. I can’t control what anyone else is going to call him.”

Piper made a note. “What can you tell me about the sergeant’s death?”

Izzy took a moment to explain who Jay and Aiden were and then described the phone call from Jay.

A deep frown pulled down on Piper’s lips.

“What is it?” Izzy sensed something was really wrong.