Page 109 of Want to Know a Secret?

“We have an eyewitness who can place April at the scene of the crime,” Riley explains to me after April is taken away in handcuffs. “They saw her white SUV following Brianna’s car, and they saw them both get out of the car. They didn’t see the attack itself, but considering she has a motive, no alibi, and there’s a witness who saw her there, we’ve certainly got enough to charge her.”

As I watch the police doing their job, all I can think about is how I wish I were the one trying this case. I can’t wait to get back in the courtroom. I’m itching for it.

But I’m not there yet. My old life is still very much in the present. “Do you need me here?” I ask. “I’ve got to pick up my sons from school.” I should probably also pick up Bobby Masterson. God knows April won’t be doing it.

“Well, it would be good if you could stay…” He hesitates. “Any chance your husband could go pick up the kids?”

I snort. “Definitely not. And I’m not excited about calling him to ask any favors right now considering…” I take a breath. “I just told him I want a divorce.”

God, it feels so good to say those words out loud. I want to scream it from the treetops.

Riley’s eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”

“It’s been a long time coming.”

He cocks his head to the side. “I can’t say I’m sorry. Like I said, I never got what you saw in the guy.”

Me either.

“Maria! Maria, are you okay?”

Sean came home and saw all the police cars in front of his house—and was understandably panicked. He sees Maria and runs over to her. I watch as he wraps his arms around her and holds her while she starts to cry. He whispers in her ear, and she clings to him. It makes me ache for what could have been if I had married a decent guy like Sean.

Of course, maybe things would’ve been different for April too if she had married a decent guy. But she didn’t. And now Elliot has to live with the mess he created.

“Go get your kids,” Riley says. “Call me later today, when you have a chance to come down to the police station. We’ll want to get your official statement on the record.”

“Okay,” I agree. “And… thanks. For your help. For rushing over here.”

“It’s my job.” Except it’s not really his job. His precinct is all the way over in Queens, for God’s sake. “Talk to you later?”

I nod. “Looking forward to it.”

Chapter 56

JULIE

It feels so strange to be sitting in Maria’s kitchen after everything that’s happened.

April is in jail. In jail. I still can’t wrap my head around that one. When I texted her with that burner phone months ago, I never thought this would be the outcome. Of course, it’s not because of that phone. It’s her own damn fault.

Maria is checking on something in the oven. She looks pretty today. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. And her eyes look less haunted than they have for the last couple of weeks. You almost can’t see the circles under them anymore.

“Two more minutes,” Maria announces.

“I can’t wait,” I say. Although that’s a lie. The last time I tried Maria’s cookies, they tasted like hockey pucks. I figure I’ll take one bite to be polite.

Maria slides into the seat next to me at the kitchen table. “I still can’t believe you left Keith.”

“It’s the best decision I ever made.” I take a sip of my coffee. “And I’ve got my resume out there. I can’t wait to get back to work.”

“So no regrets?”

“Absolutely none.”

Just the opposite. It’s like being free from shackles. And Keith decided to let me stay in the house, so I didn’t even have to move. Although I will eventually. I’ll be as relieved to get rid of our ridiculously extravagant house as I was to get rid of Keith.

“I’ve got to get Sean to go back to work,” Maria says. “He’s so scared to leave me alone after what happened.”