Page 63 of The Perfect Marriage

“Jesse Hook confirmed he witnessed Scott physically and verbally abuse Kelly. Why would he lie?”

“Wait. He did? But Scott swore up and down he didn’t.” Why the hell would Scott lie to me? Why would he care what I thought? Something isn’t adding up.

“Who in their right mind would admit to abusing their late wife?”

She’s right. I’m such an idiot. He just seemed like he was telling the truth. He seemed like he… he just wanted to help, and maybe he does. Just because he was abusive doesn’t mean he killed her. I don’t know what I’m saying. Of course, he could have. He has a temper. He’s an asshole. He could get away with it. He’s a cop for Christ’s sake. Maybe I shouldn’t write him off based on one conversation. This whole thing is a mess, and I don’t know if I’m looking at the right person or even in the right direction. But I can’t give up now. I have less than two weeks before my trial starts. There has to be someone out there who knows something.

“What’s all this?” Sarah motions to the papers beside me on the couch. I should have put those away. She doesn’t agree with me, and I think Kelly’s past needs to be looked into. The papers are all the information Rebecca’s given to me concerning Kelly’s old life as well as the phone numbers I need to finish calling. Sarah walks to the couch and starts rummaging through them. She’s quickly scanning everything in sight. If she doesn’t believe this is worth looking into, then why is she looking?

“That’s for my investigation,” I say trying to collect it all into one pile. I don’t need her going through this. If she’s not going to help me, then she doesn’t need to be here. I have work to do. She’s looking at the list of phone numbers, perusing them one by one. What is she looking for? Or is she just trying to appease me? Trying to make it look like she’s taking this seriously? What is her endgame? Her eyes linger a little longer than I’d expect. Then, she finally sets the paper down.

“Yeah, you’re wasting your time.” She pauses. “What did you spend the ten thousand dollars on?”

“What’s it to you? That was my money—an advance on my book,” I say defiantly.

“All right then. We’ll be in touch.” She gets up and starts walking toward the front door. Why is she always in a hurry? I have no idea who she is anymore. How did she know about Rebecca and the phone calls and the money? She’s watching me, or she has someone watching me. But why? To help me? To hurt me? Or to keep me contained?

Before she leaves the living room, she stops and turns around. “By the way, if you end up in prison and you don’t finish your book, I’ll end up paying that advance back. So, please stop spending MY money, asshole.”

“I thought it was our money, Sarah? We’re married. Remember?” I snark back, folding my arms in front of my chest.

“Oh, was it our marriage when you were balls deep in some waitress?” She narrows her eyes at me.

I look away for a moment. She’s got me there.

“Exactly.” She stamps her foot.

“Regardless, you won’t have to worry about your money anymore. I’m writing a tell-all, and there’s already a bidding war for my book.” I smirk.

Sarah’s mouth drops open. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. I’m working my ass off on your case, and you’re turning this whole thing into a goddamn circus, you and your delusional mother.” She puts her hands up. “I’m done.”

Sarah turns on her foot and leaves the house, slamming the door behind her.

39

Sarah Morgan

I’m driving back to the city in a rage, my eyes focused on the spread of my headlights. I’m furious. I need to keep Adam contained. He’s undermining the case, my investigation, and my career with his antics. I can tell he’s drinking too much again. That bottle of scotch was nearly full when I was here on Friday, and now it’s gone, and he’s working on another. What the hell does he think he’s doing? Talking to a reporter. Calling everyone that could have been related to Kelly’s first husband. Writing a tell-all. I know he’s discussing his case with his agent, and he’s not supposed to be talking about it. He’s jeopardizing the whole damn thing.

I slam my hand against the steering wheel in frustration. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I slam it again and once more for good measure.

I dial Anne via the voice command in my vehicle. She picks up on the first ring like she always does. “Hey, how’d it go with Adam?”

“Not great. He’s working with a reporter on his own investigation, and he’s writing a tell-all.” I honk my horn at a person in a mini-van driving too slow in front of me. I swerve out of the way and flip them off as I drive by. It’s a little old woman and a man. What is wrong with me? Adam has got me so worked up. I take a deep breath trying to remind myself that everything is going to be fine.

“Why?”

“Apparently, he doesn’t trust what I’m doing for the case.”

“But you’re doing everything you possibly can. This is an uphill case.”

“I even brought him over copies of all the evidence, so he could be involved,” I groan.

“You did?” Anne’s voice is meek.

“Yeah. But he’s not even looking at it. I could use his help there, another set of eyes on it. He’s been drinking a lot too and that must be clouding his judgment. I need you to get the phone turned off at the lake house. I don’t want him destroying this case with his drunk dialing.”

“I’ll get it done. Anything else?”

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