Page 67 of Sighs By the Sea

Harry nods. “I think I should take the lead.”

I silently agree. My emotions are all over the place right now. Hurt is at the forefront, and that would make for a hostile interrogation, which Suze doesn’t need.

The jail nurse arrives and quickly administers Suze’s medication. When the nurse leaves, Harry gives me an encouraging smile. “Ready?”

I nod, and we head inside.

“Mrs. Cardenas—”

“Just Suze,” she says, her tone clipped.

“Right. Suze, my name is Harry, and this is Maggie. We just have a couple of questions.”

“About Axe, right?”

“Yes. Can you start at the top?”

“No.”

Her refusal takes me aback, and I lean forward. “I’m sorry, Suze. You’re not going to talk to us?”

She shakes her head, her thin hair bouncing with the movement. “Axe is in jail already. Why should I get locked up too? Baby needs someone.”

“Axe is the baby’s father?” Suze nods. I make a mental note, though I hate that it’s more for Grayson’s benefit than the case. “Suze, how did you end up here?”

To my surprise, Suze starts to laugh. “I’m not boring you with my sob story.”

The room falls silent. I don’t know how to proceed. I know deep down that I should leave, let Harry question her, and move on. We’ll never get the DA’s permission to prosecute on an inmate’s word alone. We need proof that Suze organized the hit, a money trail.

I turn to Harry. “I need a minute with her.”

“Margaret, that’s a bad idea.”

“I know, but I have to. Please?”

Harry sighs but eventually nods and leaves the room. I pull out my phone, finding the picture I need. It’s from our night building LEGOs. “Suze, you are Suzannah Cardenas, correct?”

She nods. “Guess I can’t lie about it now. Yeah, in another life, I was her.”

Zooming in, I crop myself out of the shot then set my phone down and slide it across the table. “This is George. You remember George, right?”

Suze glances at the photo but quickly looks away. “You know he misses you. He’s trying to get his dad to find him a mom.”

Without missing a beat, Suze says softly, “Good. I have nothing to offer them.”

I shake my head and scoot my chair closer. “That’s not true.”

Suze scoffs. “Look at me, detective.”

I do as I’m told, taking my time to scan her. The trembling has subsided since she took her meds. “You look good. Sober, at least.”

She nods. “Have been since I found out.”

“That’s a start, Suze. And there are programs—”

“Yeah, I’ve been. They didn’t take.”

“You weren’t ready. Now you are.”

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