Part 18 (1/2)
Lei shook the agent's firm, square hand. Hard brown eyes a.s.sessed her. ”Call me Hank.”
”Nice to meet you, Hank. Come in, please.” She led the way into the little cottage, got through the dogs' antics, and ushered them inside.
Something was up. She'd antic.i.p.ated a debrief, but not until the next time she went in to work. She'd planned to take another day or two off, let her head get back to normal now that Terence Chang was safely in custody. But if she'd identified ”call me Hank” Pillman correctly, he was with Internal Affairs Division.
She offered them refreshments, and when everyone had a gla.s.s of ice water, she sat down at the little table with them.
”So, Hank. I expected an interview with Dr. LaSota or Dr. Wilson, but what brings you here?”
He flipped open his cred wallet, showed her the unique badge that designated Internal Affairs. ”You can call your union rep to be present for this interview.”
Lei's heartbeat picked up. Black spots encroached, and she felt the throb of the headache resurging. She held herself very still, one hand creeping down to pinch her thigh. ”Am I in trouble? What is this about?”
Dr. LaSota, sharp, dark eyes observant and taking in every move Lei made, took out a tape recorder and set it on the table, pressed Record.
”You have been apprised of your right to a union rep,” she said. ”Are you waiving that right?”
”For the moment. Until I know what this is about.”
”All right. We'll get started, see where this goes. Tell us about the events of this morning's raid, step by step.”
Lei took a sip of water and tried to focus. Her thoughts felt elusive, little fish slipping through her fingers. She tracked back and described getting the address and the call to do the raid, communicating with South Hilo Station and SWAT, flying into Hilo, converging on the residence.
She paused for another sip of water.
”Was that when you realized you were raiding the Chang crime family's house, or was it earlier?” Hank asked.
So that was what this was about.
She realized in that moment that the head injury really had dulled her thought processes. How had Internal Affairs found out about her relations.h.i.+p with the Changs? Waxman had to have called them.
”I recognized the Chang residence when we arrived at the coordinates of the location we were sent to. We didn't have Lightbody's name, just the location of his computer. I didn't know until we pulled up to the house.”
”So did you say anything to anyone about your involvement with the Changs in the past?”
”It hasn't been relevant. When we got to the residence, I told Ken I knew this family and that they would be heavily armed. We were about to do a raid, and a dog was barking inside the house. There wasn't time for a lot of second-guessing.”
”So at what point did you realize you shouldn't be partic.i.p.ating in the raid?”
”At no point did I think that.” Anger had begun to build. ”It's pure coincidence that he's a Chang. We followed the evidence. Nothing more.”
”And how interesting that Healani Chang shot herself while you were alone in the room with her,” Pillman said. ”Isn't there a feud between your families?”
Lei sat back, found her hand had come up to cover her mouth. ”What are you saying? That I killed her?”
”Are you saying that?”
”I think I will call for my union rep now. Do I need a lawyer as well?”
”Lei. May I call you Lei?” Dr. LaSota leaned forward.
”No, you may call me Agent Texeira.” Lei's head really was throbbing. ”One thing I will say before this interview is over is this: I have a head injury and I need to get it looked at. If I hadn't had it, I would have appreciated the situation I'm in more clearly.” She got her phone out. ”I need to go to the hospital. I was supposed to stay there in Hilo, but I wanted to continue with the investigation.”
”Uh-huh. Right,” Pillman said.
”You can check with SAC Waxman, with anyone on the team. When Healani pulled her gun, I hit the ground and whacked my head on the metal bedframe. My chin on the IV stand.” She pointed to her face. ”Waxman sent me home to rest from the interview. I was supposed to go to the hospital on the Big Island.”
Dr. LaSota had a crease between her arched brows and seemed a little worried. She gave Pillman a quelling glance as he started to say something more. ”We'll take you there ourselves. You shouldn't be driving if that's the case. We can verify everything she's saying, Agent Pillman.”
In the back of their black SUV, Lei texted Stevens, Marcella, and Ken: Going to hospital. Head injury in raid. IA investigating me b/c of Chang involvement.
This was no time to suffer stoically alone. She needed all the support she could get. Dr. LaSota, sitting in the pa.s.senger seat, had called Lei's union rep. That worthy individual said he appreciated the heads-up but didn't want to come until they resumed the interview, which he a.s.sumed would be after Lei had recovered from her injuries and a doctor had signed off on that. Pillman looked irritable at that news.
”So I don't need a lawyer?” Lei asked.
”We aren't charging you with anything at this time,” Pillman said over his shoulder. ”We are just trying to get to the bottom of what happened.”
”I don't understand where you're going with all this. I did nothing wrong.”
Neither of the other agents answered.
Lei went through the paperwork at the emergency room, feeling like a suspect with the stoic agents standing behind her. Her phone rang with Stevens's call, and she answered it, standing in front of the admissions clerk.
”I'm getting the next flight out.” His voice was tight with anxiety.
”You don't have to.” Lei glanced at LaSota and Pillman, reveling in the sound of his voice and the comfort it brought. ”I have company.”
”Yes, I do. I'll see you soon.” He rang off. She was bolstered by his immediate support. Marcella and Ken arrived together a few minutes later, and she grinned at the sight of them in spite of her sore face.
”Good,” Pillman said, as they approached. ”We need to interview both of you.”
”Have a little decency,” Ken said. ”This is my partner, and she's here with a head injury. Let's see if she's okay first. And I want to be the first to meet with you. I have some evidence to discuss.”
Marcella came to hug Lei, careful not to jostle, and stood close enough that Lei could feel her body heat.
”I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding,” she said to the agents, with her best dimpled smile. Unfortunately, LaSota appeared impervious, and so did Pillman.
The nurse arrived at that moment and helped Lei into a wheelchair. ”Off to get a CT scan,” she said. ”Only one person can accompany the patient.”
Marcella stepped in. ”Lead on.”
After the CT scan, they admitted Lei for observation, and she was propped up in bed, sipping water from a straw when Ken came to the door.
”Your turn, Marcella. They're using an empty exam room for the interviews,” he said.
Marcella tweaked one of Lei's curls as she got up to leave. ”Don't worry, Sweets. This is just Waxman getting a bug up his a.s.s. You've done nothing wrong.”