"I know."
"And if she pushes…"
"I stay calm and I answer honestly. I don't volunteer information."
I kiss him, tasting coffee and apprehension. I hate feeling like I’m forcing him to do this, but it’s the right decision. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He leaves and I'm alone with my thoughts and the clock ticking toward 4pm.
I try to work. Try to focus on the prints from Riverside. But my hands are shaking and my mind keeps circling back to the same questions.
What if the cover doesn't hold?
What if she sees through us?
What if this is the end?
At 3:30pm my phone buzzes.
D: Interview done and it went fine. She asked about timeline, alibi, work history. I gave her the Portland story. She took notes but I didn’t get the impression she was concerned. You’re up next.”
I read it three times, relief flooding through me, his interview held.
Now my turn.
I grab my bag and head out.
The Ten Park substation is small and institutional. Fluorescent lights, beige walls, the smell of stale coffee, sweat and paperwork.
Detective Lily Chen is waiting in an interview room.
She's younger than I expected. Mid-thirties, sharp eyes, professional demeanor. The kind of person who notices everything and forgets nothing.
"Mrs. Brennan. Thank you for coming."
"Of course. Happy to help."
She gestures to a chair and I sit, setting my bag on the floor. The room is small, just a table and two chairs. A recording device sits on the table between us.
"I'm going to record this interview, if that's alright with you."
"That's fine."
She presses record and states the date, time, and participants for the record.
Then she looks at me.
"Mrs. Brennan, can you tell me where you were approximately eight months ago? Specifically, the month of –" she checks her notes "– March."
"I was living in Portland, Oregon. Working as a freelance photographer."
"And your husband?"
"He was doing carpentry work. We'd been in Portland for about three years at that point."
"When did you move to San Diego?"
