Page 55 of Liar's Point

“All right. And Sam—do you know where Aubrey met him?”

“Online, I think.”

“And how long were they together?”

“It was only a few weeks or so. Maybe a month? But then it went sideways.”

Emmet watched her eyes, waiting for more.

“Why did it go sideways?” he asked.

She bit her lip.

“She didn’t really say,” Britta told him. “But I think maybe he had a drug problem?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Aubrey mentioned something once about him blowing his parents’ money on drugs. But I don’t know if that’s why she stopped seeing him. And I heard them arguing about drugs once.”

Emmet’s pulse picked up. “When was this?”

“It was on the phone.” Britta rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. “We were on a break together outside. He called, and she stepped around the side of the building to take the call, and I heard her say something about how he needed to be in rehab.”

“And you’re sure it was Sam on the phone?”

“Yeah. Right before she answered it, she was like, ‘Ugh. Sam. He keeps calling me.’ ”

“You remember when this was?”

She shook her head as she picked up her phone. “I think it was a few Fridays ago? We had the lunch shift.” She swiped at her screen. “No, sorry. Thursday three weeks ago. That’s the last time we worked lunch together.”

Emmet wrote down the date, then looked at Britta. “Do you know if Aubrey had a drug problem at all?”

“Aubrey? No.” She shook her head. “She didn’t even drink. She was totally into yoga and exercise and clean eating, stuff like that.”

Emmet watched her expression, waiting to see what else she might say. Just because this girl didn’t think Aubrey was into drugs didn’t mean she wasn’t. But so far everyone he’d talked to had said pretty much the same.

Britta glanced at the door behind him. “Sorry, but... I think I should get back soon. Is there anything else you need to ask about?”

“Not right now.” He put his notepad away. “Well, one more thing. You know if Aubrey was having any financial problems?”

“Financial?”

“Like, do you know if she was having any trouble with money?” He didn’t mention that Aubrey had just asked for and gotten a raise. Lainey probably wouldn’t appreciate him sharing that.

“I don’t think so. If she did, she never told me.”

Emmet nodded. “Britta, you’ve been really helpful.”

Relief washed over her face as she stood up. “Thanks.”

“Don’t forget that.” He nodded at his business card as he stood up. “Call me if you think of anything else that might help us.”

She took the card and tucked it into her pocket. “I will.” She stepped toward the door and then turned. “I just had one question.”

“Yes?”

“I heard—” She took a deep breath. “I heard she might have been murdered?”

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