Page 31 of Liar's Point

“Sorry about that,” she said, setting her phone down. “Thanks for waiting.”

“No problem.”

She sank into the swivel chair and sighed. “Don’t ever get married.”

Emmet lifted an eyebrow. “Trouble at home?”

“My ex is a deadbeat.”

Emmet and Lainey had gone to Lost Beach High School together. She’d married a real estate developer down from Austin and had two sons, if Emmet remembered correctly.

“How are the boys?” he asked.

“Crazy, as usual.” She picked up a water bottle from the corner of the desk and twisted off the top. “But enough about me. What can I do for you? You’re here about Aubrey.”

Emmet nodded.

She took a gulp of water and plunked the bottle down. “I’m sick about it. I still can’t believe it.”

“What can you tell me about her?”

She slumped back in the chair. “God, she was great. One of my best people.” She shook her head. “Was. That still sounds wrong to me. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

“How was she at work?” he asked. “Any issues?”

“None at all. She was on time. Reliable. No drugs, no bullshit.”

“Did she seem depressed ever?”

Lainey shook her head. “Not that I’m aware.”

“What about friends? Was she social?”

Lainey blew out a sigh. “She was friendly. But not overly social, I don’t think.”

“She have a boyfriend, that you know about?”

“Not that I’m aware of, no. I could ask the other servers if they know of anyone.”

“That would be good. Or I could talk to them.”

Lainey’s brow furrowed. “The news brief I read said it was a drug overdose. Is that as in suicide?”

“We’re still investigating.” He watched her expression as she shook her head. “Why?”

“Just... I don’t know. I didn’t get that feeling from her.”

“What feeling?”

“That she’s someone who would do that.” She took a deep breath, blew it out. “She seemed to be doing well. You know she was in recovery, right?”

“Recovery?”

“AA.”

Emmet tried to mask his surprise. “She told you she was an alcoholic?”

“I guessed pretty quick after she started working here. Takes one to know one.”

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