Izabel shook her head.

“Then you need to sharpen up or go back to sleep because they’re going to be here soon.”

“Who?”

“The police,” he said.

“I need to talk to the police.”

“I know, but maybe you should have a lawyer here.”

“Do we still have lawyers?”

“Mmhmm,” he said, adjusting Izabel’s IV.

“Do you know any of them?”

Luis laughed.

Then Izabel thought of Andy and asked Luis to call her.

“Okay,” he said.

“Why are you helping me?”

“You saved that girl,” he said. “‘The first survivor,’ they’re calling her.”

    Chapter Fourteen

When Izabel woke again, it was to a fast-speaking woman. “Wake up, Izabel. I’m Inspector Paz. I’m here to talk to you and I don’t like to waste time. Izabel, are you awake?”

“I guess so,” Izabel said, because she felt like she could think straight now, and she recognized Inspector Paz from the news. The sedative must have worn off.

“I want to arrest you, but the local officers suggested I question you first.”

“Arrest me?”

“Why not? Didn’t you kill that family?” She sat back in a chair next to Izabel’s bed, as if she were relaxed, asking Izabel these questions. “Didn’t you kill all those families?”

“No. Of course not.”

“I think you did. I have a theory. Most spree killers are men. You might know that. You don’t need to be a detective to know that. But with the removed method of killing used here, I think it could be a woman. And then there you are at the scene of the crime.”

“In the safe room. I made the safe room.”

“Yes. Maybe you regretted it this time.”

Izabel shook her head.

“You know what we’re waiting on now? We’re waiting for the doctors to clear you. Then you’re coming to the station. And by the time we get you there, I bet we’ll confirm that you got that scratch on your cheek from one of the victims.”

“I did get it from her. I was trying to save her.”

“She’s dead.”

“I can tell you what happened. I want to tell you everything that happened. My family needs protection.”

Someone came to the door. “Step away from my client, please.”

Izabel recognized Andy’s voice.

Inspector Paz slapped both her knees and stood up. “Not a problem,” she said.

“I’ll need a word with her,” Andy said.

“And I was leaving,” Inspector Paz said.

As soon as Inspector Paz was out the door, Izabel thanked Andy for coming. “You okay doing this?” she asked.

“I’m not thrilled about it, but you need a lawyer.”

“You don’t think I killed anyone?” Izabel said.

Andy laughed.