What did they mean when they said Brendan himself was in hot water? What was going on out there?

Deirdre could not stop from asking the police officer leading her away, “C-Can I ask? What has happened while I’m here? Why can’t I be released?”

The police officer regarded her visage. Her experience so far had dealt a blow to her appearance—she looked so feeble. She was so beautiful that nobody could expect her to be so capable of murder. A gorgeous sight like her pushing another woman down the s