“How often did you yourself ask to help her out?” Warren said with a smile.

“Oh, all the time,” Aaron said.

“Maybe one time too many?” Warren’s lips became a straight line. The implication clear.

Aaron’s face went blank and Gavin shot Warren a look signaling to hold off on pressuring this man. Now wasn’t the time. Gavin jumped in quickly. He didn’t want Aaron on the defensive with them, not at this point. Aaron knows more then he’s letting on and he seems to be a credible, though hesitant, witness. No, Aaron needs to feel comfortable around us, let his guard down. So far, he’s been doing that. “As you’ve said, Aaron, sometimes it’s hard to accept help,” Gavin offered with compassion, and a darting glance to Warren to let up. “It can be frustrating if you are asked too many times if you need help even if you need it desperately. I think that’s what my partner was suggesting.”

Aaron quickly turned towards Gavin. “True, detective. Though she was taking time off a few months before she disappeared, she was still the same Gabrielle. But a couple of weeks before, I saw a dramatic change. We all did.”

“What kind of change?” Gavin asked.

“She started to appear more stressed than usual. She wasn’t herself.” Aaron put his hands to his face again, fingers outstretched on his cheeks, gaze cast downwards, like he was remembering a moment in life that he wished he could rewind. Or forget. “We knew she was going through a tough time. And no one wanted to intrude on her any more than we were already doing.” Aaron shook his head, regrettably. “Detective, she was a rock of strength. Until she wasn’t anymore. Like I said, some people hide pain so well. I can’t help but feel we missed the signs. Those of us who are not supposed to.”

“Thank you, Aaron, for your honesty.” Gavin heard a chime and pointed towards Aaron’s phone. “Is Scott available to speak to us now?”

Aaron looked down at the device. “Yes, detective, you can go right in to his office. It’s the first door down the hall on the left.”

“Your assistance today was much appreciated. I know that was hard for you. But we all need to do everything we can for Gabrielle. This isn’t about us anymore, it’s about her.”

“Thank you, detective, but as I’ve said, you have to want help. That’s the key.” Aaron nodded at his own comment as if trying to convince himself of the mantra.

Everything Gavin just heard would fit with Gabrielle learning she had cancer. A rock of strength until she wasn’t anymore. A diagnosis of cancer crumbles everyone. She knew the protocol. How to hide things that were troubling her.

All alarming things.

Maybe even the possibility that someone might want her dead.