Page 20 of Coveted Justice

“Last night,” Tanner replied. “I saw Abby as she was leaving the venue. It was probably about ten o’clock.”

“Was Martin with her?”

“No, I don’t where he was. I had seen him earlier though.”

Amanda raised her hand. “I think Josh and I can help with this question. We were outside when we saw him leave. He and Abby were arguing and he stomped off to his car.”

Josh nodded in agreement. “He even stopped to talk to us.”

“What did he say?” Sam asked.

Josh rubbed at the back of his neck. “He said he wanted to give us some advice. Not to ever get married. No matter how in love we are.”

“He also said that Abby was going to hear from his attorney,” Amanda added. “He was really angry. They both were. I saw them arguing even earlier last night when I stepped out for some air.”

“Did Abby say anything to either of you when you saw them argue?” Sam asked.

“No,” Josh replied. “She didn’t even look our way.”

Sam scratched something in his notebook before turning back to Tanner.

“Did Abby say anything to you last night or even recently about any troubles she and her husband might have been having?”

“No, she never said anything, but she wasn’t in the habit of confiding about her relationships with me. We’ve stayed cordial for the kids, but I wouldn’t call us friends. Honestly, I was kind of surprised she and Marty showed up last night.”

“Did she say anything to you, Amanda? When you saw them arguing that first time last night?”

“No, she barely glanced at me. She did talk to me when we first arrived. She said hello and that she thought my dress was pretty.”

“Maddie? What about you? Did Abby talk to you last night or recently?” Sam asked.

“Abby never talks to me,” Maddie replied with a shake of her head. “She avoids me as much as possible and never says anything directly to me unless she absolutely has to. Mostly, she sends messages through the kids.”

“Have you talked to Chris and Emily?” Tanner queried. “Maybe Abby said something to them?”

“I did,” Sam confirmed. “Chris said that Abby mentioned that she was mad at Marty last night, but she also said that it would blow over like it always does. Emily said that Marty was a bit more sarcastic than usual, but he was nice and polite to her.”

Tanner took a sip of his coffee, the dark brew scalding his tongue and burning his empty stomach. He was going to need to eat something eventually.

“What was Abby’s story then? What did she have to say when you talked to her?”

Sam stuck the pencil back in his pocket before answering.

“She says that she doesn’t remember anything from last night.”

“Nothing?”

“Not a damn thing.”

Okay…that wasn’t what he’d expected at all.

What game was Abby playing?

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