“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 evidence tying my client to this murder?”

“Not at the present time, no,” Detective Stewart said. “And I apologize. We’re just trying to gather all the facts, and the sergeant appears to have had a fixation on Agent Cole. An obsession. When was the last time you saw him?”