Officer Jackson hesitated. “He told me . . . he told me Bitterson was trying to dig up dirt on him. That he was being followed. But he said he had it under control.”
“Except he didn’t,” Walter cut in. “Bitterson had him running errands, passing packages. And you had no idea?”
Officer Jackson’s eyes widened, her voice growing sharper. “No. Why would I? Josh never told me anything like that. He said it was just . . . I don’t know, him trying to deal with Bitterson’s threats. I tried to get him to go to Internal Affairs, but he said it would only make things worse.”
“What kind of threats?” Laurel asked.
Officer Jackson’s gaze dropped to the table. “He said Bitterson would ruin us. That he had proof of the affair. That if Josh didn’t cooperate, he’d leak everything.”
“So he cooperated,” Laurel said. “Even when it meant meeting a known criminal in dark alleys.”
“I didn’t know that was happening.” Officer Jackson’s voice cracked. “I swear. Josh told me he was handling it, and I believed him. I thought . . . I thought if we were careful, it would all blow over.”
“‘Careful’ isn’t how I’d describe what’s been happening.” Laurel’s gaze bored into her. “You didn’t ask why Mark Bitterson was targeting Detective Robertson? Why a man like that would go to so much trouble just to extort him over an affair?”
Officer Jackson’s hands twisted together. “No. I thought it was about me. About . . . about us. I never imagined it was more than that.”
“And when you heard Bitterson was dead?”
“Relieved.” The word came out harsh and unfiltered. “I know that sounds horrible, but I thought it meant Josh could finally breathe again. That we could be . . . I don’t know, something normal.”
Walter’s pen stilled. “You didn’t ask him about the packages?”
“No.” Officer Jackson’s shoulders trembled. “He never mentioned that.”
Laurel kept her gaze on the woman while her attorney remained silent next to her. So far, she hadn’t admitted to anything other than having an improper relationship with a superior officer, which probably kept her somewhat safe. “Did you ever meet Melissa Palmtree?”
“No. Never heard of her,” Officer Jackson said.
Walter stopped writing. “Do you pick up extra work at Oakridge Solutions?”
Officer Jackson shook her head. “No. My husband is the football coach for the high school, so my weekends are busy with games.”
“When you’re not cheating on him?” Walter asked.
Officer Jackson paled. “I fell in love with Josh. Didn’t mean to, but it happened.”
Laurel wasn’t getting anything helpful from the woman. “Tell me right now if you know anything about the deaths of Tyler Griggs, Miriam Liu, Melissa Palmtree, Larry Scott, or Mark Bitterson.”
Officer Jackson blinked rapidly. “I don’t. Do you think they’re related?” She pressed a hand to her throat. “Is Josh in danger? Am I?”
Laurel glanced at Walter and then back. “I’m sharing my report with the police chief, so you might want to speak to him first. You’re free to go.”
Officer Jackson shot out of her chair like it had caught fire. She hesitated, her gaze darting between them before she fled through the door and down the hallway.
Walter stretched his shoulders. “Well, that was a bust.”
“Not entirely.” Laurel’s gaze flicked to Vexler, who remained seated, his hands folded neatly in front of him. “But we’re not finished.”
Vexler’s smile was slow and measured. “No, I imagine we’re not.”
Walter stood. “I need a minute.”
“Take your time,” Laurel replied, her focus now solely on Vexler. Walter slipped out of the room, his shoulders tense.
Laurel leaned back in her chair. “Did you get what you needed today?”
“Not yet, but Abigail has accurately described you. You’re data driven, calm, and rather unemotional. Very different from her.”
