The Best Man to Trust (11 page)

Greg frowned in mock outrage. “Hey, he’s the one giving you the inquisition, and
I’m
the one you regret inviting? What kind of sense does that make?”

“Fine,” Rachel spat. “I regret inviting both of you.”

“I think it’s safe to say we regret that you did, too,” Greg returned.

“Greg, please,” Scott said with thinly concealed impatience. “This isn’t helping.”

Greg shrugged. “I wasn’t trying to.”

Meredith had already been growing tired of the man’s antics, and she’d finally reached the end of her tolerance. “Why not?” she challenged. “Don’t you want to figure out who’s responsible for this?”

“Sure, but it looks like Alex has that covered.”

“You seem awfully calm given the circumstances,” Meredith noted.

He raised his flask. “A little liquid courage goes a long way.”

Fully out of patience, she automatically reached out and grabbed the flask from him. His reflexes likely impaired, he moved too slowly to retain his hold on it, his fingers closing around empty air a moment later.

His eyes narrowed, glittering with suppressed fury. He slowly held out his hand. “I’m going to ask you to give that back,” he said with deadly calm.

“I think you’ve had enough courage for now. It would be helpful if you did without for a while.”

“You know you have a house full of alcohol. Taking one little flask isn’t going to stop me from getting a drink if I want one.”

“Well, this is one less drink for you to have, and right now that sounds good to me.”

He glared up at her, the look in his stare sending a shiver of warning through her. Then he pointedly looked away. “Suit yourself.”

“Good,” Meredith said. Shoving the flask into her pants pocket, she glanced around the room. “Now I still need to check on Rick and Ellen and try the phone lines again. Can everyone please stay calm while I do that?”

It took a few moments, but she eventually received a few nods in response.

“Thank you,” she said, meaning it. “I’ll be right back.”

Meredith quickly turned and stepped out into the hall. She felt Tom fall into line beside her. She didn’t question his impulse to come with her. Given the current situation and how tense things that gotten, it felt good not to be alone.

They’d crossed the main hall and were entering the side corridor leading to the kitchen, safely out of earshot of everyone in the living room, when she finally spoke. “We have to figure out who’s behind this. If we don’t, the killer might not have to bother taking anyone else out. They’ll all kill each other.”

“This might be what the killer wants,” Tom noted gravely. “Haley’s body was left out to be found and create fear. Even if Jess’s wasn’t, that still might be what he or she wants. To keep everybody on edge and turning on one another.”

His words sent a tremor of unease rumbling through her. “But why?” she asked automatically, even though she knew he didn’t have the answer. It was more a groan of frustration than an actual question.

As expected, he didn’t respond, the tension and frustration emanating from him palpable in the close confines of the hallway.

Two people were dead, and they still were no closer to understanding why.

Chapter Thirteen

They found Rick and Ellen in the kitchen. The pair looked up warily at their entrance, Rick from his seat at the island, Ellen from where she stood at the counter.

“Are you both okay?” Meredith asked.

“As well as we can be,” Ellen said. “Compared to what I saw upstairs, I can’t complain.”

Spotting the phone on the wall, Meredith moved toward it.

“It’s still not working,” Rick said just as Meredith pulled the phone from the wall and raised it to her ear. “Checked it a few minutes ago.”

The silence that met her ear confirmed the statement. “Of course,” Meredith said as she replaced the receiver. “I should have known you would.”

“Can’t hurt to keep checking,” Ellen murmured.

“Did either of you see anything today?” Tom asked. “Anyone coming out of Jessica’s room? Anyone looking suspicious?”

“Nope,” Rick said.

“Like I told Meredith,” Ellen said. “I hadn’t seen anybody in hours before dinner.”

They sounded honest enough. “Everybody’s in the living room if you want to join us,” Meredith offered. It might be better if they all stuck together. She’d certainly feel better if she knew where each person was. Still, she would understand if they turned down the offer, wanting to be nowhere near the people who kept getting murdered, one of whom—if Rick and Ellen weren’t involved—was likely the killer.

“Think I’m going to tuck in early,” Rick said flatly. “So I can get started digging my way to the garage in the morning.”

“Me, too,” Ellen said. “Just as soon as I get this food put away.”

Meredith looked at the meal Ellen had prepared, all of it untouched. Ellen had the storage containers, aluminum foil and plastic wrap out. Meredith figured if anyone was hungry later, it would at least be in the refrigerator. “That’s fine.”

“I can help you dig tomorrow if you have more than one shovel,” Tom told Rick.

The other man eyed him gravely, as though considering whether he trusted him. After a moment, he nodded slowly. “That’d be a big help.”

“Great,” Meredith said. “I’ll see you both in the morning then.”

She quickly turned toward the door, Tom moving to follow. The whole way there, she felt their eyes on her.

No doubt ruing the day they’d ever agreed to work here.

* * *

T
HE
MEMBERS
OF
the wedding party were still in the living room where they’d left them. Everyone was sitting apart from each other, and no one was speaking. Even Scott and Rachel sat on different sides of the room, with Rachel’s back rather pointedly to him.

Greg had a glass of amber-colored liquid in his hand, Meredith couldn’t help noticing. Evidently he’d found the bar. He’d been right, she thought, feeling the weight of his flask in her pocket. Her victory had been a hollow one.

They all looked up when Tom and Meredith entered.

“Any luck with the phones?” Scott asked.

“No,” Meredith said. “They’re still out.”

No one seemed surprised, or even disappointed. She understood their reaction—or lack of it. It probably had seemed too much to hope for that the phones would be back up right when they were needed more than ever.

Meredith had expected the group to be in a hurry to get back to the safety of their rooms, but no one made a move to leave. Rachel still seemed miffed with Scott, so Meredith could understand why they might not feel like being alone together. Greg likely didn’t want to leave the bar. Alex might want to remain where he could question people.

Then again, Jess’s death seemed to indicate they weren’t safe in their rooms, either. Staying together might seem much more reassuring at the moment.

She surveyed Scott and Rachel sitting at opposite sides of the room. They’d been nearly inseparable since they’d gotten here, making it impossible to speak with either of them alone.

This might be a rare chance to talk to them separately. She had to take advantage of it.

Meredith leaned toward Tom. “I’d like to try to talk to Rachel,” she whispered. “See if I can get her to open up.”

He gave a slight nod. “I’ll talk to Scott. I haven’t really had a chance to since all of this started.”

“Good idea.”

Moving away, she casually made her way over to where Rachel sat. Her heart twisted at the sight of the other woman. She sat with her head bent, her hands clutched tightly in from of her.

“Hey,” Meredith said, easing herself into the chair next to Rachel’s. “How are you doing?” As soon as she heard the question, she nearly cringed. It was a question she’d come to hate over the past few years. She’d been asked it herself numerous times. She knew it was typically motivated by genuine concern, or was simply a polite way to start a conversation. But usually when it was asked, it was perfectly clear how the person was doing. Just like it was now. With everything that was happening, Rachel couldn’t be doing particularly well.

If Rachel thought the question was inane, she didn’t show it. She slowly shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t understand what’s happening, or
why
it’s happening, or any of this.... None of it seems real. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and it’ll all turn out to be some terrible nightmare, like I’m dreaming about the worst possible thing that could ever happen at my wedding.” She released a short, humorless laugh. “I thought the worst that could happen would be if something happened to my dress or we got stranded at the airport, but this...”

“I don’t think anyone could have imagined this,” Meredith said.

“But still, Alex is right, just like Jess—” she swallowed hard at her friend’s name “—Jess was this morning. This is my fault. I brought us here.”

“The only person at fault is the killer.”

“Even if that’s true, if we get out of here, I’ve only given them more reason to hate me.”

“I’m sure they don’t hate you,” Meredith said. Remembering Alex’s reaction, she wasn’t sure it was true, but it seemed like the only thing she could say.

“I didn’t realize they were angry at me for breaking up with Scott in college. Maybe I should have, but all that mattered was that Scott and I were back together and the love we felt for each other was still there.” She swallowed hard, her voice softening. “This morning Jess told me that maybe I should have taken what happened in college as a sign that Scott and I aren’t meant to be together. What if she was right?”

“What did happen between the two of you in college? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Rachel’s expression went blank. She didn’t say anything for a long moment, her gaze faraway. Finally she lowered her eyes, giving her head a small shake. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago. It’s in the past.”

I’m not so sure about that,
Meredith thought. Given everything that was happening to members of her college group, it seemed more likely than not that something from the past wasn’t staying there. She studied the woman’s face, more convinced than ever Rachel was hiding something. Whether it was because she truly didn’t believe it was relevant or because she didn’t think it was any of Meredith’s business, it made no difference.

Either way, Rachel wasn’t talking.

* * *

A
S
SOON
AS
T
OM
saw Meredith sit beside Rachel, he turned and moved to where Scott sat across the room. Scott leaned back in an overstuffed leather chair, his gaze distant as he stared straight in front of him.

Tom lowered himself into the chair beside him. “Hey, Scotty. You doing okay?”

Scott let out a long, slow breath. “Honestly? I don’t know.” He turned and looked at Tom, mustering a weak smile. “I’m glad you’re here, man. With Alex throwing accusations around and Greg drinking everything he can get his hands on, it’s good to have somebody I can count on around here.”

Tom glanced over to where Greg sat in an isolated corner. He held a glass in one hand, though he wasn’t drinking from it. Instead, he stared at the liquid it contained, seemingly lost in thought. “He didn’t waste any time finding the bar, did he?”

“No,” Scott said with a grimace. “The sad thing is, he told me last year that he stopped drinking, but I guess that didn’t last. It’s one thing I told Rachel to talk her into inviting him. With Alex performing the ceremony and it looking like you weren’t going to make it, I needed someone to be my best man. I mean, there are a couple of guys I work with I could have asked, but it would have felt strange having somebody here who wasn’t part of the group, you know? I would have felt bad asking them to come all this way to spend a weekend with a bunch of people they didn’t know.” Scott sighed. “Now I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t invite anyone else. I would have hated to put anyone else through this.”

“Did Alex really try to talk you out of marrying Rachel?”

“It wasn’t like that. It was like he said. He asked me if I really believed I could trust her after how she treated me in college. I figured a minister would do the same thing, right? Make sure you really want to marry somebody? I told him we were both more mature now. Seven years is a long time.”

“You never did tell me. Why’d she break up with you?”

Scott sighed. “Guess there’s no reason not to tell you. You remember how crazy things were senior year. Between work and juggling classes I was barely keeping my head above water. She thought I was neglecting her, not paying her enough attention. The fact is, she was right. With everything else, I didn’t have much time for her. She knew I loved her. At least I thought she did. But I guess it wasn’t enough.”

He shook his head. “I was doing it for us. So we could have a good life. That’s the whole reason I was working so hard. To give her the life she deserved. What I didn’t know was that she didn’t want somebody who’d have to work so hard for it. She wanted somebody who could afford to take care of her. Somebody with money.”

For the first time, Tom heard the hint of bitterness in his old friend’s words. They may have gotten past it, but it seemed Scott hadn’t completely forgotten how she’d treated him—or how it had felt.

“She told you that?” Tom asked, more than a little stunned.

“No. She just left it at the neglecting-her part. She cut off all contact, refusing to talk to me, refusing to see me. Her friends were all the same way. Jess, Haley, Kim. They all acted like I suddenly didn’t exist anymore.” A hard look flashed across his face, the expression so fleeting Tom almost missed it.

“It was Kim who told me the truth. I went to their apartment to try to get Rachel to talk to me, to tell her that I’d learned my lesson and wouldn’t take her for granted anymore. Kim refused to let me see her, and when I wouldn’t go away, she finally came out with it.” He drew in a breath. “She said Rachel had decided she couldn’t waste any more time with me. She wanted someone with the ‘resources’ to give her the life she wanted, and that wasn’t me.”

Even after all these years, the pain was evident in Scott’s voice as he related it. Tom wasn’t surprised. He knew how much Scott had to have been wounded by that. Scott hadn’t come from money, but he’d been smart and a hard worker, using scholarship money to pay for school. Meanwhile, Rachel’s family had been well-off. It had been a sore point for Scott. To have that be the reason she’d broken up with him... No wonder he hadn’t wanted to talk about it.

Kim would have known what hearing that would have been like for Scott, too. Yet she’d told him anyway. Tom didn’t know if it was kinder for him to know the truth, or if she’d simply been cruel by telling him. “Is that what Jess meant when she implied Kim wouldn’t have been invited even if she were alive?” he asked. “Because she’d told you that?”

“No, Kim had a falling-out with the rest of them a few years ago. Jess is actually the one who told me about it, since Rachel and I weren’t together then. Evidently Kim’s drinking had gotten worse after college, and she’d developed a drug habit, as well. She showed up high at some event Haley was holding and made a scene. Apparently they’d been trying to help her before then, but after that, they washed their hands of her. It sounds like she got clean last year and tried getting in touch with them, maybe to make amends, but whatever it was she’d done, they weren’t interested.”

“And now she’s dead, too,” Tom said softly, wondering if Alex was right and there was a connection. They’d said she’d overdosed and drowned in her bathtub—an accident, not a violent murder—but was it possible there was more to it than that?

“And Rachel’s the only one left,” Scott said, glancing over at his fiancée.

Tom followed his gaze, watching the woman talk with Meredith. Now that he knew what had happened between her and Scott all those years ago, he couldn’t help but view her with fresh eyes. “I have to say, I’m kind of surprised you’d want to have anything to do with Rachel after she treated you like that, let alone marry her.”

“Maybe there was a part of me that agreed with her,” Scott said quietly. “That didn’t think I was good enough for her. And now I am.” Something in his voice sent an uncomfortable feeling down Tom’s spine, a certain hardness that matched the stoniness of his expression as he stared at Rachel.

“And we both know it.”

* * *

B
Y
NINE
O
’
CLOCK
, everyone was ready to retreat to their rooms. They wasted no time doing so, Greg and Alex heading straight up without a look back. Even Scott and Rachel, without a word and only the barest glance between them, moved silently upstairs.

And Meredith and Tom were alone again.

They sat together on one of the couches in the middle of the room. Meredith leaned back in her seat, puzzling over the multitude of questions running through her head.

“So Rachel broke up with Scott in college because he didn’t have any money,” Meredith mused. “I can’t believe he’d want to get back together with her after that.”

“That’s what I told him,” Tom said. “But the more I think about it, it makes a kind of sad sense. Rachel’s family was loaded and she inherited a lot of money when her father died. Scott was in school on scholarships and I know he always kind of felt he wasn’t good enough for her. It had to have killed him to hear that was why she’d dumped him. But now he’s made it, and he’s proven to her—and himself—that he is good enough.” He shook his head. “I knew it must have meant a lot to him to be able to give her a wedding in a place like this. I just wish he knew he didn’t have to prove himself like that to anybody, himself included.”