She did. Listening to it the second time around, she was able to pick up more clearly on the fear in Marlas voice and something very similar in Detective Shores. She also noticed that he was moving the questioning along more quickly than in a standard interview, as if he knew he had limited time. It was clear now that it had taken place in an interrogation room. When it was over, Decker turned to her. His face was as white as a ghost. Shed never seen him so unsettled.

Who else knows about this? he asked.

I have no idea. Youre the only person Ive shared it with. I dont know where my source got it, though I have some suspicions. It sounded to me like the supervisor who shut down the interview was anxious to keep it quiet. Do you know Detective Shore? Maybe he can shed some light on this.

Im afraid not, he said in a way that made her heart sink. Hes dead.

The anxiety that had been simmering in her gut started to boil.

What happened?

Brian Shore died about four years ago, before you joined the force. He was in the Vice unit in West L.A. division. He was supposed to meet some buddies from his station for a fishing weekend at a cabin one of them has up near Big Bear. But his brakes gave out on the drive up the mountain. They found his car in a ravine about three hundred feet below the road. He was thrown out at some point. The coroner said the car rolled over him. They had to have a closed casket.

Jessie didnt respond. Her mind was racing. Was it possible that it was just a coincidence? Was there a reasonable explanation? Next to her Decker was tapping on the keyboard of his phone.

Youre not contacting anyone, are you? she asked suddenly.

He looked at her as if shed insulted his intelligence.

Im checking when exactly he died, he said as he scrolled. It looks like it was April 21st, 2017. When was the interview again?

April 19th, Jessie said. He died two days after this recording was made. He was killed over it, wasnt he?

We dont know that for sure, Decker said. But it doesnt look good.

And we have no idea who this girl Marla is, Jessie continued. She could be dead too for all we know. How can we find out without revealing what we know?

Hunt, listen to me, he said, his voice cool. The first thing we have to do is stay calm. Getting agitated doesnt do us any good.

Excellent, she said, unable to rein in her sarcasm. Staying calm here. Definitely not letting myself get freaked out that a billionaire media mogul may also be a pedophile involved in sex trafficking who possibly had a cop killed to keep it quiet, independent of being a suspect in a current murder investigation.