But Andi knew the rules. The feds didn’t have enough to legally hold them. They had no real evidence to implicate them.
The young agent seated across from her—a different one than Alvarez—flipped open a thin file. He didn’t introduce himself. He didn’t smile. Those were choices too.
“Ms. Slade.” He kept his voice level and professional. “Let’s start with your travel schedule.”
Andi folded her hands on the table, careful to appear cooperative without being yielding. “We’re on a booked tour. The schedule is public.”
A factual answer. Verifiable. Nothing extra.
“Yes. Seattle. Portland. San Francisco.” He glanced up. “All cities where women have gone missing.”
There it was. The premise slipped in as fact.
Her pulse kicked once, but she didn’t let it show. “That’s true.”
He tapped the file. “The timing is interesting.”
Interesting wasn’t a question. It was bait.
Andi said nothing.
Silence made people uncomfortable. She’d learned early that the first person to fill it usually lost ground.
The detective shifted, then continued. “When did you first learn about Gina James?”
Andi answered cleanly, telling him about how they were contacted.
Then came Kate. Then Jen.
Dates. Times. Flights. Hotels. Names.
Andi tracked each question like a chessboard. What he knew. What he didn’t. Where he was reaching.
Each question was polite.
Each one sharpened the edge.
“Your podcast focuses on unresolved cases,” the agent finally said. “Disappearances. Violence. Tragedy.”
“That’s correct,” Andi said. “We tell stories. We don’t create them.”
He studied her a long moment, then leaned back in his chair. “You’re aware another podcast has connected these crimes to your presence in each city.”
“Yes. We’re also aware it’s irresponsible.”
“Maybe. Or maybe they’re asking the question no one else wants to.”
Her jaw tightened. His statement was an opinion masquerading as investigation.
She didn’t bother responding.
He leaned forward again, resting his forearms on the table. “I guess it all boils down to this question, Ms. Slade: Why do people keep disappearing when you show up?”
The question was loaded—assumption stacked on implication stacked on accusation.
Andi met his gaze and didn’t look away. “They don’t. People disappear every day. We just happen to notice patterns because it’s our job to look for them.”
“Or you profit from noticing them.”
