"Chief Fraser brought me in as a consultant. My expertise?—"
"Yes, we're aware of your expertise." Debartolo's tone suggested what he thought of it. "Ms. Reyes, are you aware that Mountain Angel has been officially grounded pending investigation?"
Izzy shrugged, but Cory could see the news affected her. “Standard procedure,” she responded.
"Exactly." Preston watched her reaction with clinical interest. "There’s more. We’ve been instructed to inform you that Investigator Osgood has suspended your aviation mechanic’s license pending the outcome of this investigation."
Cory saw her hands clench under the table, knuckles white. But her face remained calm.
"Just routine," Debartolo added with false sympathy. "I'm sure you understand."
"Now," Preston leaned forward, "let's talk about the bomb."
"What about it?" Cory interjected, not liking where this was headed.
Preston didn't even look at him. "Ms. Reyes, you have extensive experience with explosives from your military service, correct?"
"Affirmative.”
Preston and his partner shared a look. They were clearly aware of Izzy’s Special Ops background. "Enough to build a simple car bomb?"
The question hung in the air like a lit fuse.
"The device was crude," Preston continued. "Amateur work. Too little explosive, poorly shaped. Almost like someone wanted it to fail."
"Are you seriously suggesting—" Cory started.
"It's a valid question," Debartolo cut him off. "False flag operations aren't uncommon. Deflect suspicion, gain sympathy..."
Cory expected Izzy to explode. To unleash that fierce temper he'd seen glimpses of. Instead, she went quiet and cold, ice forming in her dark eyes.
He was the one who snapped.
"Are you seriously suggesting that she bombed her own vehicle?" He leaned forward, forgetting his casual clothes, forgetting everything but the rage building in his chest. "A decorated veteran, a single mother, a woman with an impeccable service record—you think she risked her life and her daughter's future?"
The agents blinked, surprised by his vehemence.
"Chief Fraser—" Debartolo began.
"No." Cory was just getting started. "Let me explain something about that bomb. It was sloppy work, yes. Amateur construction, poorly executed. You know what Isabella Reyes is? A perfectionist. A master mechanic who can tear down anaircraft engine blindfolded. If she wanted to fake a bombing, you'd never find evidence. If she wanted to build a real bomb, we'd both be dead."
Izzy's hand touched his arm, gentle pressure. "Chief Fraser's right," she said calmly. "But I understand you have to explore all possibilities. That's your job."
Her reasonable tone while he was hot made Cory realize how far he'd let his temper slip. This wasn't like him. He was the calm one, the by-the-book chief who never let emotion cloud judgment.
But this was Izzy they were attacking. Izzy who'd made him pancakes with unicorn sprinkles. Who'd trusted him with her daughter. Who was trying so hard to hold it together while her world fell apart.
Debartolo actually addressed him properly for the first time. "Chief Fraser, we appreciate your... perspective. We're simply being thorough."
"Thorough," Cory repeated flatly.
"Ms. Reyes," Preston shifted topics, "we'll need all your maintenance documentation for Mountain Angel. Records, logs, work orders. Everything."
"They’re stored in the Mountain Angel facility."
Debartolo raised one thick, dark eyebrow. “I doubt that. Are you saying you don’t keep personal records?”
Cory was ready to punch the guy in the snout but Izzy kept her cool. “My records are stored at the facility. All. Of. Them.”
