AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I ducked inside the AV room before the other parties arrived and greeted Officer Clarissa Eubanks, who would ensure the audio and video equipment was working.
“Good morning, Chief,” Eubanks said.
“Good morning,” I replied.
I sat in the empty chair beside her and noticed the bank of monitors was all dark.
“Tanisha went over to turn on the recording devices.” A moment later, the screens lit up, and Officer Tanisha Briggs came into view. “Got a visual, Neesh,” Eubanks said into her microphone. “Let’s check audio.”
Briggs gave her a thumbs-up, then turned on the recording device. “Did you catch the latest episode ofLove After Lockup?” she asked.
Eubanks chuckled and shook her head. “Affirmative that audio is working and negative on the reality show.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing, girl,” Briggs replied.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Eubanks said, “and you should know I have company. Chief Mendoza will be listening in on the interview.”
Briggs laughed and waved at the camera before removing her earpiece and exiting the interview room. She appeared in the AV room a moment later. “How’s it going, Chief?” Most officers preferred to tiptoe around me but not Tanisha Briggs. I found her demeanor refreshing.
“It’s going well, Briggs, but don’t spoil what happened onLove After Lockup. I haven’t had a chance to watch the latest episode.”
Eubanks jerked her head in my direction so fast it was a marvel she didn’t wrench her neck. “You watch that crap?”
“Hey now,” I said. “Don’t yuck our yum. Everyone has at least one guilty pleasure, and reality television is mine.” It seemed I couldn’t stop sharing once I started.
“It’s my guilty pleasure too,” Tanisha said. “This world is tragic enough. I don’t need that angst in my entertainment too.” She held out a fist, and I bumped it.
“What’s your guilty pleasure?” I asked Eubanks.
She lifted her Star Wars mug. “I love all things sci-fi.”
We passed the time in casual conversation until Alyssa popped into the AV room. She greeted everyone warmly and asked if she was good to go.
“Yes, ma’am,” Eubanks said. “Audio and video are working.”
She handed Alyssa an earpiece, which she fitted into place. They did a quick check to test the functionality, and she disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived. Moments later, the door to the interview room opened, and Alyssa stepped inside. Behind her came Commissioner Rigby, Eads, and a woman I assumed was his attorney. I sat up straighter, and Tanisha excused herself from the room, leaving just Eubanks and me.
Everyone inside the interview room took their seats, and Alyssa removed a file from her messenger bag and set it on the table in front of her. She folded her hands on top of it and notified everyone in the room that she was recording the interview. Alyssa informed Eads he was not under arrest, but she read him his Miranda rights, emphasizing that everything he said could be held against him in a court of law. Eads remarkably didn’t react. She asked if his legal counsel was present.
“Yes, ma’am,” Eads said politely, then gestured to the woman on his right. “This is my attorney, Juliette Remington.”
Alyssa documented the date, time, and names of everyone present before she started with softball questions, asking Eads his full name, rank, and how long he’d been with the Savannah Police Department. For the most part, Eads showed no outward signs of nervousness except an occasional glance in Commissioner Rigby’s direction. Her presence during the interrogation lent credence to the importance of the interview.
“Do you know why you’re here today, Detective Eads?” Alyssa asked. Though her posture and tone remained neutral, a crack in Eads’s cool veneer showed when he briefly clenched his jaw before answering.
“No, ma’am, but it feels like a political witch hunt.”
Alyssa tilted her head slightly. “Your position with the Savannah Police Department isn’t a political appointment, so why would you say that?”
Remington looked over at her client. “Don’t answer. It’s irrelevant to this interview.” Eads shrugged and gestured to his attorney.
“I’m not sure it’s fair to say my question is irrelevant since I was only expanding on your client’s answer,” Alyssa said. “But I have no problem moving on.” She shifted her attention back to Eads. “Are you familiar with Adam Savant?”
Eads’s shoulders stiffened slightly. “Yes, ma’am. He’s a former prosecutor.”
“And have you worked with him professionally in the past?” Alyssa asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Detectives and prosecutors frequently work together.”
