Rachel pushed the microphone closer to Haylee. “Now, Ms. Johnson, we do need to be careful because of slander. Do you have any proof of this?”
Tears welled in Haylee’s eyes again. “Don’t you see? They destroyed all the proof, the FBI and Abigail Caine, but I can show you his records of when he underwent treatment by Dr. Caine, how he felt before, and then how he felt after. Worse yet, she shot stuff into his veins that made him feel powerful. Jason believed he could protect himself from evil women.”
Laurel pivoted toward her. “Records? Did you say that Jason Abbott kept records?”
Haylee faltered. “I’m not giving his diaries to you.”
Laurel would require a subpoena to get them. His diaries might lead her to where Abbott hid right now, and they should provide important evidence for his trial. “Haylee, you’ve been questioned many times, but you haven’t mentioned these diaries once. You know you’re hindering an investigation and possibly obstructing justice.”
“See,” Haylee sniffed. “All she does is threaten. Believe me, you do not want to be on her bad side.” She sneered, her eyes narrowing. “People who get there end up dead.”
Laurel straightened. “You need to come in for a formal interview right now.” She reached for the woman’s arm.
“No!” Haylee yanked free and pushed Laurel.
The cameraman angled his camera to the side, trained on them.
Laurel cleared her throat. “Ms. Johnson, you have just made yourself a material witness in two separate ongoing FBI cases, both with rapidly clicking timelines. In addition, you just committed battery against an FBI agent. So either come in voluntarily right now for an interview, or I’ll have no choice but to take you into custody.”
Haylee swung around wildly and then stopped, straightening her shoulders. “Fine.” She looked at the camera. “Make sure I come out of this, okay? She definitely wants me dead.”
The smile Rachel Raprenzi flashed showed too much teeth. “We’ll wait right here, Haylee. We promise.”
* * *
Haylee slouched in the chair across from Laurel’s desk, looking like a surly teenager.
Laurel crossed her legs, wishing Agent Norrs and Tim Kohnex had vacated the conference room. “Would you like anything to drink?”
Haylee huffed and looked over to the side wall.
Laurel rarely became impatient because it was a waste of energy and brain power. At the moment, however, she had to fight the inclination. “Haylee, you are in your twenties. Stop acting like a petulant child.”
“Petulant,” Haylee snapped out. “You’re fucking evil.”
“Let’s move past the name calling and the churlishness, shall we? Tell me about the diaries.”
“No.”
How could the young woman still want to protect Jason Abbott? “Where are they?”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“Haylee,” Laurel said. “You just admitted on camera that you are in possession of these diaries, and that you might be able to identify a witness to the killing near the church. On camera,” she stressed. “So if you don’t work with me, I can have you arrested and charged with hindering an investigation and obstruction of justice.”
“Well . . . then—” Haylee started.
Laurel held up a finger. “In addition, if you lie to me, it’s a crime because I’m a federal agent.”
“Ha,” Haylee said. “That’s not true. I know I have a right not to incriminate myself.”
Sometimes Laurel truly despaired about the current educational system. “Yes, but I’m not asking you about yourself. According to 18 US Code 1001, it is a crime to knowingly and willingly make any materially false statement to any branch of the government of the United States. This means you can’t lie to a federal agent.”
“I can lie to the cops anytime I want.”
Oh, spare her. Laurel took a deep breath. “That’s the local police, and actually, you should be careful there, too. I’m talking about the federal government. Lying to me can result in fines and imprisonment. Do you want to go to jail?”
“No,” Haylee said.
