I told Ariel to get Jack, then I called dispatch.
I read Nova her rights and told her, "If you work with me, I'll make sure you get a fair shake.”
She nodded.
Ariel returned with Jack a few moments later.
Mendoza pulled into the parking lot and drove the squad car around to join us. I stuffed Nova in the back and told Mendoza we'd be down at the station shortly.
He drove away.
Nova was processed and printed. She was put into an interrogation room, where she sat for a while.
We collected her pistol and bagged it.
I took Ariel back to her apartment as originally planned. She grabbed more clothes and necessities, then I brought her back to theAvventura. I didn't mind her staying another day or two, strictly for medicinal purposes. With the combination of a concussion and the bends, she needed close observation. I was more than willing to observe.
I told her to make herself at home and take it easy. “Don’t do anything strenuous.”
Telling Ariel anything was a suggestion at best.
I tossed the keys back to Jack. We hustled to the Porsche, and he climbed behind the wheel. We drove down to the station, logged Nova’s pistol, and I filled out a report. Then we paid her a visit.
She was a mess before she went into the interrogation room. She was worse now. The gravity of her actions had set in.
JD and I took a seat across the table from her.
Nova still sobbed. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and her sinuses thick. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking.”
"I'm thinking you have an impulse control problem," I said.
It seemed to run in the family.
"You're looking at some pretty serious charges right now,” I continued. “Aggravated assault of an officer. You’re looking at 15 years with a mandatory minimum sentence. Possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony. You’re gonna spend the next 25 to 30 years of your life in prison if the charges run consecutively.” I let that hang there for a moment. “If you agree to cooperate and testify, maybe that gets knocked down to simple assault. Maybe you do three to five years’ probation.”
It was up to the state’s attorney, but I was sure I could influence the outcome of the deal.
Nova sniffled, took a deep breath, and sat tall. "What do you need me to do?”
43
“Who was Mason working for?” I asked.
Nova hesitated for a long moment.
"Do you really want to protect Shane? Do you really want to protect the guy who got your brother involved in this?”
She closed her eyes and exhaled a breath. "Mason and Shane work for this guy named Chad Hensley. He's just some college kid at Vanden. He figured out a way to launder money for the cartels.”
I shared a look with Jack.
"He's doing it through E girls online.”
She looked surprised. "Yeah. How did you know?”
All the pieces were starting to come together. “Mason told me Chad got spooked when you guys started asking Ethan questions. Ethan freaked out and wanted to slow down.”
"You know if Chad killed Eden Saint?”
