protect society from her.
“Here, you’ll need this,” Daniel said, handing her a large cup.
“I’m sure I do.” She thought of the bottle of Xanax in her purse. She needed one now more than ever, but there was no way she’d take one while heading into the police station to be questioned for arson. Even the thought was so absurd, she could hardly contemplate being in such a crazy situation. Did these so-called arson investigators really believe a confused and vicious thirteen-year-old? She would soon find out.
Daniel parked in the back, leading her inside through a private entrance.
The inside of the Lubbock police station appeared to be just like police stations she had seen in TV dramas. Gray walls and horrible fluorescent lighting. The smell of burnt coffee and the stale odor of cigarettes permeated the long hallway they walked down. “Anna, you let me answer for you, if you’re unsure what to say. You’re innocent, you’ve got an alibi, so this is just a formality, remember. You’ll be just fine.” He took her hand. “You can trust me. I promise.”
She felt a rush of heat when he took her hand but couldn’t focus on her physical attraction to her daughter’s—now her—attorney. Wasn’t that forbidden or something? No matter. “Thanks, Daniel. It means a lot. I’ve had some serious trust issues lately,” she added.
They were led to a small interrogation room by a female officer. A table, a few chairs, and a glass window where she knew they watched suspects when they were being questioned about a crime. She was a suspect now.
“Relax,” Daniel said, tossing back the last of his coffee.
They had been there for about five minutes when two plainclothes officers entered the room.
“This is special investigator Gary Furdale, and his partner, Lindsey Patterson.” Daniel made the introductions. “Anna Campbell.”
Was she supposed to shake hands, say “Nice to meet you”? With all of her etiquette savvy, she had no clue. She just nodded, acknowledging their presence.
They sat down in the two chairs across from her. Neither seemed like they were ready to read her her Miranda rights, toss her in jail, and throw away the key. Gary was a short guy with a perfectly groomed goatee with the gray just starting to show. Anna would guess him to be around her age. Friendly brown eyes, he made her feel at ease as soon as he spoke to her. “This is just a formality, Ms. Campbell. We have to follow all leads, regardless of how inadequate we may believe them to be.”
She nodded, unsure if she was expected to say anything. Her mother’s words came back to her. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t. Not quite what the words implied, but she couldn’t help but think of them.
Lindsey Patterson was a cute redhead. She wore her hair cut in a pixie cut, which went perfectly with the freckles that dotted her face. When she smiled, her clear blue eyes sparkled. “Ms. Campbell, I’m sorry we have to meet under these circumstances, but as Gary said, it’s simply part of our job to follow all leads.”
“She understands,” Daniel said.
“Can you tell us where you were the evening of September 26th?”
“I was at home taking care of Christina, my daughter.”
“And you have someone who will verify this?”
“Yes, three people.” She gave Mandy’s, Mona’s, and Jeb’s full names.
“Do you ever shop at Candle City in the mall?” Lindsey asked. “They’ve put all their holiday candles out already, hard to believe. You know the store?”
“Yes, I’ve been there a few times. It’s been a while,” Anna said, trying to remember when she was there last. It had to be last year, but she couldn’t pinpoint an exact day if she were asked.
“You weren’t there on the night of October second?” Gary asked her again.
“No, I was not. I haven’t been there in at least a year,” she added.
“You’re fine, Anna,” Daniel encouraged.
“I could check my bank records if you need an exact date. I purchased red tapered candles for a show we filmed a couple of weeks after. You can look at my playlist; it should be there, under ‘holiday decor’ if you want to check now.”
Daniel took his phone out, clicked a few times, then handed his phone for Gary and Lindsey to see.
“I watched that episode,” Lindsey said. “I’m a big fan, but don’t tell anyone I told you that, especially now.”
Anna smiled. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“You can go now, Ms. Campbell, I think we’ve established you