“Do you think Rebecca had something to do with this? Is that why you’re asking?” Georgia asked, eyes widening with realization.

“I don’t think so. But we did see all the messages on your phone. The threats and the warnings. I’m surprised you haven’t taken out a restraining order against her.”

Now it was Georgia’s turn to shrug. “She’s old and she’s hurting. I don’t think she actually wants to hurt me. I think she just wants me to constantly be reminded of what I did and what it cost her. But what she doesn’t realize is that I’ll never forget. I tried to move on and start my own yoga studio but that’s failing miserably, and I still think about that sweet little boy every day. I’m so tormented by what I did, and nobody even really knows. The hospital just swept it under the rug the way hospitals do sometimes.”

“But Asher knew,” Detective Smalls said, raising her eyebrows. “One of the other party guests mentioned your relationship with him, and something about a monthly membership to your gym. He’s your friend and attorney. Is he also your lover, Georgia?”

Georgia took a deep breath, then exhaled noisily. Her breath smelled stale from across the table.

“Of course not. Asher and I have been best friends since we were in diapers. Thinking of him in that way is just plain gross. He’s always been like a brother to me. And as far as the gym membership goes, that was his stupid idea. I’d insisted on paying him for his attorney services with the Massey hearings. I didn’t want to take advantage of his friendship. He deserved to get paid for helping me. It was the least I could do for asking for his legal advice and counsel at the last minute. I forced the money on him, even though he wanted to help me pro bono. When I set up my yoga studio, he was in there the next day, forcing my assistant to sign him up for a monthly membership fee, even though I didn’t even have enough clients to set up regular memberships. Asher hates yoga and I knew right away that it was his way of funneling the money back to me. He knew I was headed for financial ruin after being forced out from my nursing job. All that school debt, no one who would hire me, and my new, destined-to-fail business… He was being a good friend, that’s all. There’s nothing more to it than that. My relationship with Asher has nothing to do with this crime…”