Page 11 of Out of the Shadows

“At approximately 10:00 p.m. Where were you?”

“I don’t have to tell you that,” she said.

Margo lied smoothly. “Logan doesn’t want to send the police here to interview you, so he asked me. You don’t answer, the police will come and ask the same questions. Only they’ll have a lot more information about the reasons Logan divorced you in the first place, because that’s motive.”

Brittney was processing Margo’s words, and it took her just a beat before she understood. “Fine,” she said. “I was out.”

“Where?”

“It’sreallynone of your business, but I don’t want the neighbors talking any more than they already do after that little dispute in May.”

Little dispute. Her boyfriend had shot at Logan and it was alittle dispute.Margo kept her face blank, waited for more information.

Brittney said, “I was at Mastro’s for dinner.”

Mastro’s was one of the nicest, most expensive restaurants in Scottsdale. Margo had never been there. She couldn’t fathom paying nearly a hundred bucks for a steak when she could buy and grill a decent cut for less than ten bucks.

“Time?”

“Reservations were at seven thirty, we were there until about quarter to ten.”

Not enough time to get up to Carefree Highway before ten, but liars lied.

Still, it was easy enough to check out.

“With?”

Brittney didn’t want to tell her. “Donottalk to him.”

“So a date.”

“I am legally separated, and our divorce will be final in—”

“I don’t care if you’re dating anyone. Laura’s car was totaled, and you threatened your ex-husband.”

“The kids weren’t there, were they?” she asked, which surprised Margo. She sounded... genuine.

“Yes.”

“Are they okay?”

“They were lucky.”

“I would never hurt anyone,” she said, “especiallyLaura and her kids. I liked them.”

Margo believed her. For all Brittney’s faults—of which there were many—she appeared to be telling the truth now.

“Do you have anything you can show me to corroborate your statement? A receipt maybe?”

“I didn’t pay,” Brittney said. “Really, I think you’re blowing this out of proportion. Phoenix has the world’s worst drivers, itmusthave been an accident.”

She wasn’t wrong about the drivers, Margo thought. Born and raised in Phoenix, she knew the driving reputation was well-earned.

“Her house was also broken into.”

“Why are you investigating and not the police? Isn’t that what the police are for?”

“Brittney, I just need to tell Logan you had nothing to do with it, and we’re done.”