"That's what we are hoping you can help us find out.”
She sniffled and blotted her eyes again.
"Can you think of anyone who may have wanted to harm your brother?”
Lauren frowned and shook her head.
"Was your brother seeing anyone?"
She exhaled. "Liam changed girlfriends like he changed underwear. He had a girlfriend for a little while a few months back. I thought it might stick. I really liked Stacy, but it didn't last."
"I take it you were close with your brother.”
"Yes. Of course. We had our moments, like all siblings.”
"What do you know about his cocaine use?”
Another surprised look widened her eyes. "Cocaine? I didn't know he was using cocaine."
"You know if he was dealing at the club?”
She looked at me like the notion was absurd. "I don't know. I thought he just gave tennis lessons.”
"I think he was giving a little more than tennis lessons," I said, trying not to be too sarcastic about it.
Lauren said nothing.
"When was the last time you talked to your brother?”
She shrugged and thought about it. "I don't know. A couple of days ago, maybe."
"So, you didn't talk every day.”
"No.”
"I take it your parents are no longer in the picture.”
Lauren’s lips tightened, and she shook her head. "It's just me and him. Now it’s just me, I guess. Mother passed a few years ago.”
"Who did he hang around with?"
"He was pretty tight with Blake. I think he was still hanging out with a couple of guys from high school, Rich and Reagan.”
"I'll need contact information for them as well as for his ex-girlfriend, Stacy."
She thought about it for a moment. "I can give you Blake's number, but I don't have anything for the others.”
"Last names, if you’ve got them. I can figure out the rest."
She nodded.
I dug into my pocket and handed her a card. She found her phone and texted me Blake's information.
“I have to ask. Can you tell me where you were between 8 and 10:00 PM last night?” I tried to put it as delicately as possible.
Her brow wrinkled. “I was working.”
“Where do you work?”
