Page 24 of Deadly Lies

12

Ashley

THE MALE FBI AGENT IN the black suit glared at me across the table. “Ms. Pierce. Let’s start from the beginning. What brought you to Marin?”

I exhaled. After I texted Mitch, I had called 911. There were cops everywhere. Sienna and I were taken to the San Rafael police station. Sienna was being interviewed, and now I was getting interrogated.

I hated to be on the other side of the table.

“As I told you. Mia wanted to visit her brother, so we drove to Marin.”

“Visit her brother? Was seeing him that urgent? You were with Chief Petty Officer Martinez the night before his daughter was kidnapped. Then, once you heard she was taken, you drove back to Anaheim to see him. Then you left again. Why did you leave? Where did you go?”

This was exhausting. But I understood and respected his job. Hell, it was just like my job.

“Mia and I went to Vegas. To Mitch’s ex-wife’s home.”

“Why?”

“Because we wanted to see if we could find any clues about the man who Sam called ‘Grandpa.’”

“Did you find any clues?”

“No. Not really. We did find a picture of April and her family. She doesn’t resemble them. But she is adopted.”

“That isn’t new information, Ms. Pierce.”

“I prefer to be called Agent Pierce, thank you.”

The agent rolled his eyes at me. “Fine, Agent Pierce. But you aren’t assigned to this case, neither was Mia Cruz. You’re NCIS agents, not the FBI. This was a crime that occurred off the military base. By going to his ex-wife’s home, you could’ve interfered with the investigation.”

He was really trying my nerves. But he was right.

“Yeah, I could’ve, but I didn’t. This may not be my case, but Mitch is my friend, and I wasn’t going to sit by and not help him find his daughter. I’m a professional, sir. So is Agent Carrion. We were very careful with everything. And, just to be clear. I found her. You didn’t.”

I knew I shouldn’t be a smartass, but I had nothing to hide.

“We’re happy that you found her. We just want to get to the bottom of this.

So do I.

“I was not involved in Sienna’s disappearance. Neither was Agent Carrion. Please continue with your questions.”

“So then after you left Mitch’s ex-wife’s house, you decided to go to San Quentin. Why?”

“I already told you—because Mia wanted to see her brother.”

“So, your friend’s daughter has been kidnapped, and you think it’s the best use of your time to go visit Joaquín Cruz. You were lead on his case, were you not?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Have there been any new developments?”

None that I’m going to share with you, buddy.

“No new evidence has been presented.” Until I saw the base logs with my own eyes, I would bite my tongue. I had no proof at the moment that Joaquín was innocent. But it was sure looking that way.

“I see. So, you go to San Quentin and see a girl, and you decide to follow her.”