Page 13

Present day

Bend FBI office

Noelle was tired of the interview. Their questions were tedious, with too much focus on minutiae.

“I’m very sorry about your grandfather,” said Agent Rhodes. “I could tell from Agent Patmore’s interviews with him that the two of you were very close.”

“He was the father figure in my life,” said Noelle, the pain of his death rising up again.

“You’ve had a lot of loss,” said Agent Keaton. “Your husband, your mother, your grandfather, and I assume you’d count your father as lost to you.”

“I do,” said Noelle. “Is there a question in there?” She couldn’t keep the annoyance out of her tone.

“Just stating the obvious, I guess.” He tapped on his laptop. “Did your grandfather get along with your husband?” asked Keaton.

“Yes. Derrick got along with everybody.” She knew she hadn’t quite answered his question.

Keaton looked at her, clearly waiting for her to answer correctly.

“My grandfather was a person that did everything for himself and others. Derrick came from a privileged world. It was hard for him to understand why Derrick couldn’t build a deck, change his car’s oil, or repair the washing machine.

They got along, but my grandfather always felt Derrick wasn’t good enough for me.

” She shrugged. “Like a lot of fathers, I guess.”

“Would you say your grandfather was overprotective of you and your sisters?” asked Rhodes.

“I’d say he was exactly the right amount of protective. For a cop.”