Following Isobel’s direction, Poppy rounded the coffee table and sat down. Settling herself on the cushion beside her, Isobel picked up a notebook and pen that had been resting on the coffee table. She looked up at Jax and motioned toward her desk.
“You can use my chair if you’d like.”
“I’ll stand, thanks.” Jax moved over, resting his back against the wall facing them. Crossing his arms and ankles, his stance appeared casual.
But Poppy knew better.
She may not have known the man long, but it wasn’t hard to spot the defensive look behind those dark eyes. It was almost as if he was simply biding his time until the need arose for him to take action.
Like he was prepared to jump to her aid at any second.
This is why he makes me feel safe.
“Detective King gave me the report to look over before you and Mr. Monroe arrived, so I’m fairly up to date with what happened,” Isobel informed her. “But it will really help with the retrieval process to hear it in your words and from your point of view.”
“Okay.”
The other woman smiled. “We’re going to start with some simple breathing exercises designed to help you relax.”
Breaking away from Jax’s powerful gaze, Poppy looked to the kind doctor and nodded. “Okay.”
For the next several minutes, Jax remained stoically silent while Isobel did her thing.
“I want you to close your eyes and take several deep breaths,” Isobel instructed. “Don’t rush it, just breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.”
As instructed, Poppy let her lids fall and her lungs fill. Releasing a slow exhale, Poppy continued the calming motion several times before being told to stop.
“Good.” Isobel’s voice was soft. Comforting. “Now I want you to go back to that night. I’m going to write down what you say. Let’s start with a few minutes prior to the crime you witnessed. Where are you?”
“On the sidewalk.” She could almost hear the clicking of her heels, just as she had that night. “I’m walking to Jax’s club.”
“Are you alone or with a friend?”
“Alone. But I’m talking to Cam.”
“Who’s Cam?”
“Camryn Tate.” Poppy smiled. “She’s my best friend from back home.”
“And what are you and Cam talking about?”
Irony turned her smile into a sideways smirk. “She’s chastising me for walking the few blocks to the club alone. Cam’s telling me all the reasons it wasn’t safe.”
Poppy could practically hear her friend spouting off a giantI told you so. One of the main reasons she hadn’t told her about that night.
“Okay, good. Now let’s go to the alley. Tell me what happens when you get there.”
Her heart gave a hard thump inside her chest. While part of her wanted to forget all about it, she knew that wouldn’t do any good. Clearly whoever she saw that night knew who she was, and they were willing to end her life to keep her silent.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Poppy refused to give up without a fight.
“I’m FaceTiming with Cam. I see the red neon sign for Sin up ahead, so I turn the phone around for her to see.”
“And why do you do that?”
“I want her to know that I’m almost to my destination, so she’ll quit worrying about me. But I’m so focused on that, I don’t see the rock that was directly in my path.”
Poppy inwardly cringed from having to admit her clumsiness in front of Jax. Of course, after last night’s performance, there were much bigger things to be embarrassed about.