Page 66 of Sleigh My Heart

“Longer legs.” He deadpanned.

She snorted, but he had a point. Army packs were heavier than police gear. The door opened to the room and Detective CJ Whittier and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Agent Trey Fenley walked in.

“Michelle. May we have a word?” CJ asked, though it wasn’t really a question.

She knew this was coming. Until the ballistics came back on her gun, she would be questioned as if she was a suspect. She couldn’t blame them. She was in the alley, pursuing the victim, and had a weapon. Not to mention when the only other witness showed up, she had her weapon in her hand.

“Sure.”

“I’ll go.” Nick brushed a hand over her arm as he moved to leave.

When the door closed behind him, Trey spoke. “Officer Swenson. Is this room comfortable, or should we move to an interview room?”

Formal. Crap. “Here is fine. And you can call me Michelle. We are on the APD softball team together.”

They pulled up chairs. Whittier pulled out a notebook, and Fenley set a recorder in front of him. Drawn faces met her across the table.

She waited for the homicide detective and BCA agent to say something. Pricks of apprehension danced down her arms at the mere fact that Fenley was here.

“Do you want counsel present?” CJ asked.

“Why? I didn’t shoot him.” She knew she should. The first rule for questioning was not to say anything without legal counsel.

“Michelle. The witness saw you running with your weapon.”

“Yes, but ballistics will show, I didn’t fire.”

CJ sighed. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?”

Michelle folded her hands in front of her and started with her entering the bar.

“And how did Jolley end up in this?”

“Tonight?”

“Yes.” Trey said.

“I don’t know. One minute I was pursuing Garmen, and the next thing I know, Nick was right behind me.”

“I’ll be talking to him next.” Trey slid a piece of paper from his folder—case notes, no doubt.

“I have the report you filed. You said there was no one in the alley except you and Garmen at the time of the shooting?” CJ asked.

Her spine stiffened. Just the facts. “That’s wrong. I was approximately two-hundred feet back. My focus was on the unsub. I didn’t see or hear anyone behind me. Jolley didn’t enter the alley until after the shot had been fired. He was in full run and had no weapon.”

“Were there any windows or doors in the alley?” This from Trey.

“No windows, and six doors. Two were on fire escapes.” She didn’t see them at the time, but later, when she canvassed the alley, she counted.

Trey looked up from his papers. “And the rooftops?”

“No one that I saw.”

“The first officer on scene’s report states that the doors were all locked, and when they questioned the business owners, all their employees were accounted for at the time of the shooting.”

She was the first officer on the scene, she wanted to say, but held her tongue.

“Michelle, is there anything else that comes to mind? Think back to when you heard the shot. Which direction was it?” CJ leaned in, his eyes earnest.