The tape clicks in the recorder and the machine starts whirring as it begins to play.

Officer Adrien Devereaux: This is tape one of the Ivalu Debriefing. Sitting in on the debriefing are Officer Adrien Devereaux and Captain Joshua Bernard. The operative in question, Leona Ivalu, has been arrested for crimes against the Canadian Republic and for the assassinations of her fellow operatives. 

???: I find that hysterical.

Devereaux: You will speak when spoken to. A short cough. Answer the following questions, Miss Ivalu-

???: Mrs., if you don't mind.

Devereaux: ... Miss Ivalu. State your name, occupation, rank, and confirmed kills.

Operative Leona Ivalu: Leona Ivalu, conflict deescalation specialist for the Canadian Republic. Last served in the army as a captain before accepting the role of specialist. Fifty-nine confirmed kills, plus the ones off-record.

Devereaux: The list does not include off-record or civilian deaths, Leona.

Ivalu: Yours doesn't. Mine does. Continue with the questions. 

A lighter flicks open, the sound of a cigarette being lit in a soundproof and otherwise totally silent room. 

Devereaux: The list of charges against you include the murders of former colleagues.

Ivalu: They had it coming when they got in my way, sir. I dislike distractions and interruptions while I'm on a job.

Devereaux: What job were you on? You weren't officially given any missions.

Ivalu: Personal.

Silence.

Ivalu: What, you want an answer? An actual answer, not me being sarcastic? How cute, sir.

Devereaux: What pushed you into going AWOL?

Ivalu: A missing persons case. No one else wanted to solve it, so I took it into my own hands. Sometimes you just have to.

Devereaux: But what about the case made you cast aside all of your connections to your home? To your government?

Ivalu: The bullet holes certainly didn't help matters, sir. Unfortunately, the squad that attacked and kidnapped her had the place rigged to pop for when I would walk through the front door. Joke was on them, I went through the back door. Shame about the cop that burst in through the front though.

Devereaux: Officer Cote?

Ivalu: Mhmm, I believe that was the name on his uniform when I found his remains in the rubble. Never heard his car pull up, otherwise I would've gone to the door, seen the explosives and stopped him.

Devereaux: By stopped, you mean-

Ivalu: Sir, I do have some modicum of respect for our men and women of the law.

Ice clinking in a glass.

Ivalu: The officer came with no backup, which is strange on its own. Add to that, neighbors on the property were few and far between. I don't know who, if anyone, called him out there. I'd never seen him before in my life.

Devereaux: How do you know that? His remains were only identifiable by the teeth left behind.

Ivalu: Google is your friend, sir. 

Devereaux: Moving on, you were next sighted by our people in Quebec, engaged in a chase with Operative Kaine.

Ivalu: We were chasing the same person, Kaine was not my target.

Devereaux: Who were you chasing? There were two cars on that street in flagrant defiance of speed limits-

Ivalu: You know exactly who I was following, sir. I don't know why you won't put it on record. Joseph.

Devereaux: Yes, the MIA agent. You keep bringing him up every chance you get, Leona.

Ivalu: Because he knows where she is.

Devereaux: Who? Who are you looking for, Leona?

Ivalu: My wife. Rachel. She went missing before I returned from my last op.

Devereaux: The reports said-

Ivalu: I know what they said, sir. They said she was seen being taken through the airport in Ontario and that she was with a group of people headed by Joseph. I was intending on interrogating him to find out what he did with her. Kaine's objective is unknown to me. It's a shame he died in the car accident.

Silence for thirty seconds. Then,

Ivalu: I don't suppose we're ending this right now, are we? You've gone awful quiet.

Devereaux: Reading your report over. Says you found evidence of a conspiracy to take down the leader of the Republic. You realize that's bunk, right?

Ivalu: Hardly, sir. Joseph was the one with the papers detailing the plan to take down Monsieur [REDACTED]. I could tell you all the sordid little details but you seem keen on making me sound like I'm raving mad.

Devereaux: You certainly did act like you were. You killed all of your colleagues.

Ivalu: Not all of them, sir. You're still here.

Devereaux: Is that a threat, Leona?

Ivalu: Only slightly, sir. You weren't named in the papers. 

A pause.

Ivalu: May I have my lighter back? I know I haven't smoked in years but I'm certainly dying to keep doing it now.

Devereaux: Since you asked... 

Leona audibly lights another cigarette and takes a deep inhale.

Devereaux: Better?

Ivalu: Much. This is my third one in two hours, you know? I didn't think you would take so long to get here and start interviewing me.

Devereaux: Such is the struggle of dealing with all the bureaucracy here. You know how it is.

The two chuckle briefly like old friends.

Devereaux: Now, let's talk about what you did after the explosion, before you commenced the car chase that involved Kaine...

Ivalu: I told you already, I wasn't after Kaine. His death was an accident, and the only one I regret. 

Leona is silent for another five minutes; there is the sound of someone pacing, someone taking a sip of water.

Ivalu: Is there a reason we're not speaking today, Captain Bernard?

Silence.

Ivalu: Oh, right. You're just here in case I get handsy. I always forget about that part. 

A light sigh and the chair clicks a bit as it's leaned back.  

Ivalu: Alright, you want all of the details. I'll give you all the details in exchange for a pardon.

Devereaux: We can't promise that, Leona.

Ivalu: You don't have to. When you realize I'm the one with the golden ticket, you'll remember how useful I am. 

The ashtray slides across the table a bit as she forcefully stubs out her cigarette.

Ivalu: So we have a deal? Or do you need to ask Daddy first if it's okay to play with all the toys in your arsenal?

Devereaux: We'll talk more about this tomorrow, Leona.

Ivalu: But will we, Dev? Or will your corpse be on the morning news next?

Devereaux: How dare you-!

Ivalu: It's a fact, sir. I said you weren't named... as a conspirator. I never said anything about you not being a target.

Devereaux: Bernard, take her back to her cell. We've had enough for today.

Tape End.