Page 47 of Shadow Operative

The woman was an older version of Brittany, one with wrinkles, brittle blonde hair, and ill-fitting clothes. The sound ofWheel of Fortuneblared in the background, and the smell of collard greens filled the air.

The leafy vegetable had been one of his grandmother’s favorites, and Gage would recognize it anywhere.

The woman stared at him as she braced herself between the door and the doorway. “What do you want with my Brittany?”

Her voice sounded deep and throaty, like someone who’d smoked cigarettes for too many years.

“I’m Gage,” he started. “Brittany asked me to help her figure out what happened to her boyfriend, Rob. You may have heard he died.”

She nodded somberly. “I did. I was sorry to hear that.”

“Me too. I had some follow-up questions for Brittany, more information I need to know.”

The woman shook her head. “I’m Brittany’s mom. She lives here with me. But she’s not home right now. She’s out with her friends—just like always.”

Even right after her boyfriend was found dead? Gage swallowed the question. Partying after a loved one’s death seemed disrespectful. But Gage still had doubts that Rob and Brittany had ever truly dated.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what do Brittany and her friends do when they go out?” Gage asked instead.

Mrs. Stevens shrugged. “They party. I thoughtBrittany would outgrow it, but she never did. That’s just who she is. That’s what she always tells me, at least.”

Gage’s opinion of Brittany continued to shrink. “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“There’s no telling. It could be any hour of the night. Or tomorrow even.”

“Doesn’t she have to go to work in the morning?” Gage wasn’t sure what Brittany did for a living, but she wasn’t college-aged anymore.

This woman was clearly aggravated with Brittany if she was telling Gage all this. But he wasn’t going to complain.

“She doesn’t work. Not really. I mean, on occasion she’ll get a modeling job or something. But otherwise, she lives here rent-free and borrows my car. I buy the food and pay the bills. Really, all she needs money for is clothes and having a good time.” The woman frowned. “I know what you’re thinking. And don’t judge me.”

“I’m not judging you.” Gage softened his voice. “I’m just trying to put some pieces together. Did you know Rob?”

Her expression softened ever so slightly. “Never met him. Only heard Brittany talk about him.”

“I’m trying to figure out how long they dated.”

The woman let out a raspy laugh. “Maybe two weeks.”

“That’s all?” Gage had the impression the two of them had been an item for a while. Brittany’s reaction at Rob’s apartment after he died had been over-the-top for such a short relationship.

But that didn’t surprise him. Mostly because Brittany, in general, seemed over-the-top.

“Rob told her he just didn’t see the two of them going anywhere,” Mrs. Stevens continued.

Gage straightened at the statement. “When did he say that?”

She shrugged. “A couple of days ago. Brittany came home crying and dug into some rocky road ice cream to comfort herself.”

So Brittany hadn’t told Gage the complete truth. Not that Gage was surprised. But why would she lie about her relationship with Rob? What did she stand to gain by not telling the truth?

“I heard that Darius was jealous.” Gage might as well ask more questions while the woman was talking.

Mrs. Stevens let out a coughing laugh. “I don’t know about that. Part of me thinks he was ready to get rid of her. In my opinion? Brittany is the one who wants him back and not vice versa.”

Gage stored that information away.

There was clearly more to the story.

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