Before they could say much, a uniformed officer came in. His nametag read evans. He said the doctors had cleared Izabel, and he escorted them both to the station. None of them said anything in the car, but Izabel’s thoughts were racing with everything she needed to say.

Officer Evans finally left Izabel and Andy alone in an interrogation room.

“We were approved for travel,” Izabel said. “Kaito wants to leave. We’re supposed to leave.”

“Believe me, he’s already told me. But they’re not going to let you leave.”

“Even once they realize I’m only a witness?”

“They’ll need you as a witness.”

“Is Kaito mad?”

“He’s mad, and worried, too.”

“Where are they?”

“They’re at my house. He’s watching Hestia while I’m here with you.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“What were you supposed to do? Not try to save that family? I’m surprised you didn’t die doing what you did.”

Izabel didn’t say anything.

“You were incredibly brave,” Andy said.

Inspector Paz walked into the room with Officer Evans, and they sat across from Izabel and Andy.

“I want you to start from the beginning,” said Inspector Paz.

“I saw him from the car window.”

“Before that.”

“What?”

“Why were you in the car? Where were you coming from?”

Andy jumped in. “She doesn’t have to answer that.”

“It would help.”

“I can tell you that it has nothing to do with your case,” Andy said.

“Fine. Start when you saw him. What was he doing?”

“He was slicing the house,” Izabel said.

“How?”

“You want me to act it out?”

Inspector Paz nodded once.

Izabel stood up, raised her arms fast, and pretended to land her hands, together, on a house and drag them through it.

“You look comfortable doing that,” Inspector Paz said.

“This isn’t a chance for you to antagonize her,” Andy said.

“I’m doing my job.”

“And if you want to learn what Izabel knows about the killer, then you better figure out another way to do it.”

Inspector Paz threw her hands up, like she’d back off.

Izabel sat back down. “I got out of the car and ran over to him, throwing my arms around like this.” She waved her arms.

“You don’t need to act that part out,” Paz said.

Andy shot her a look.

“Right,” Izabel said. “And then I ran inside.”

“Wait. How did you get past him?”

“He’d moved away and I just went to see if anyone was in the house.”

“He didn’t fight you? Why didn’t he kill you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, back up. What did he look like?”