Deirdre made up an excuse and got Mrs. Engel out of the way before asking Brendan point-blank, “Did you know Charlene was arrested?”

“Oh. So, you’ve heard. To be honest, it’s not surprising that you’d know. It’s gotten pretty big,” Brendan replied noncommittally and removed his coat. “I was there when they arrested her.”

Deirdre’s lips parted, but nothing came out… at first. She hesitated for a moment and decided to be candid. “Was it you?”

It could not be, could it? Brendan could not possibly have done something that could implicate him as well. He must have known that if the whole thing came to light under a thorough investigation, his role in the crime would be exposed and he would be in hot water himself, right?

Brendan was unfazed. “It wasn’t me at first.”

“What do you mean, ‘at first’?”

Brendan thinned his lips. “The people who saw off Charlene’s leg probably thought she was getting off too lightly, so they decided to get her incarcerated. The only thing I added to the mix…