Page 2 of Twisted Game (Margot Harris 6)

Radcliff shrugged. “I can’t ask her to put in the kind of time this requires for nothing.”

; Phoebe looked at Margot, “Are you worth it?”

“She is…”

“I was asking her.”

“Yeah, I’m worth it.”

“Do you believe I didn’t kill my husband?”

“I haven’t done enough work to draw a conclusion. So, I don’t believe you did either.”

“You have an open mind?”

“It’s the best way to get to the truth. So, yeah.”

Phoebe seemed to like that.

“Tell me your side of the story,” Margot said as she took the digital recorder out of her purse and set it down in front of Phoebe.

“I don’t really like to be recorded.”

Margot shrugged and waited. She wasn’t all that concerned about what Phoebe liked or didn’t like.

“Where should I start?”

“Wherever you want.”

“Can’t you talk to the lawyers? I already gave them the whole sad story.”

“I’d prefer to hear it from you.”

“Why?”

“It’s your story, not theirs.”

When Phoebe stayed silent, Margot added, “You have an appointment or something?”

Phoebe smiled again as she took a cigarette out of the pack in front of her. She lit it up with a disposable lighter and blew a smoke ring before she said, “I came home, changed clothes, and noticed the hot tub was running. I went out and found Tim and Rita floating in hot red water. I screamed for a while and then called the police. There’s not much more to tell.”

“There’s always more to tell.”

After a long pause Phoebe asked Margot, “Did Rick tell you I left him for Tim?”

“Until today I never knew you existed.”

“You thought you were the first?”

“No, I just didn’t care.”

“It wasn’t Rick’s fault that Tim drove a Ferrari. Though it was his fault he chose a profession that ensured he never would.”

“It’s not always about money.”

“No, but most of the time it is. I bet you’d be leaving poor Rick behind if the guy driving the Ferrari was looking your way.”