The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,43

about to think.

She slammed to a stop, her heart seizing at the question. The dishes and silverware clattered on the tray in her hands, the noise jangling her nerves further.

Everyone in the room seemed to freeze, all eyes going to the place where Jessica had sat during the previous meals, including at lunch.

The seat was empty.

“No one’s seen her?” Tom asked, glancing at the others.

“No,” Greg said. The others shook their heads.

Meredith’s gaze flew to Tom’s, meeting for a split second before she immediately placed the tray she carried onto the nearest table and moved for the doorway.

“It could be nothing,” he said right behind her, and she realized he was following her. From the sound of the footsteps behind her, he wasn’t the only one. “She could be fine.”

“I hope so,” Meredith said. Prayed it was the case, was more accurate.

Arriving in the main hall, she hurried up the stairs, doing her best not to break into an all-out run. No need to show how concerned she really was and make everyone more nervous than they had to be.

As soon as she reached the second floor, she saw the door of Jessica’s room was closed. Moving straight to it, she knocked on the hard surface, hoping she’d get an angry yell in response. “Jessica?”

No answer. Meredith didn’t detect a single sound on the other side of the door.

Her unease growing, she heard those who’d followed her coming to a stop behind her.

“She could be asleep,” Rachel suggested weakly, the fear in her voice making it clear how much she believed it.

“Maybe,” Scott murmured in a comforting tone, not sounding at all convincing.

“Jessica?” Meredith tried again. When there was still no response, she reached down and tried the knob.

It turned in her hand.

Meredith immediately froze, her fingers holding the knob in midturn as the implications of it sank in. Behind her, someone inhaled sharply, everyone going still.

“She wouldn’t have left her door unlocked,” Alex said softly, giving voice to what they all were thinking.

No, she certainly wouldn’t have. Not as scared and suspicious as Jessica was.

Trying to hold back the terror she felt climbing in her throat, Meredith slowly pushed the door open.

“Jessica?” she called again, just in case, not wanting to surprise the woman if she somehow was fine, somehow hadn’t heard the knock. She probably had armed herself, would attack if startled.

The door slowly opened, gradually revealing the room inside. Everything appeared to be quiet and still.

Her heart pounding, deafening in her ears, Meredith took one step into the room, then another.

And stopped.

She didn’t need to go any farther. She could see the bed from there.

Could see that Jessica would never answer again.

What stood out the most was the blood. It was splattered across the bedspread, garish and ugly against the muted colors of the comforter.

And in the middle of it was Jessica, lying on top of the mattress, a knife in her chest.

Chapter Twelve

Tom barely had time to process the horrific sight before the first shocked gasp behind him jolted him back to awareness.

“Jess! No!” Rachel screamed.

Tom quickly turned around and held out his arms, both to block their view and shepherd them from the room. “All right. Everybody out.”

“Are you sure she’s dead?” Alex asked hesitantly. “Maybe there’s some way...”

From what he’d seen Tom didn’t think there was any way Jessica was alive, but this wasn’t the time to destroy even the slightest bit of hope for any of them. “I will check to confirm, but in the meantime, everybody needs to go downstairs and wait. Maybe go back to the dining room.”

“You can’t really expect us to eat at a time like this,” Greg objected in disbelief.

“I don’t care what you do, but you need to go. This is a crime scene. Unlike with Haley, there’s no need to move her, so I’m sure the police would like the room as undisturbed as possible.”

“Who put you in charge?” Alex griped.

Tom opened his mouth to respond. Before he could, Meredith did.

“No one,” she said behind him. “So I’ll say it. Please go downstairs.”

At the back of the group, Rick and Ellen needed no encouragement, quickly turning to go.

“It’s a good idea,” Scott said gently, placing his hands lightly on Rachel’s shoulders. “Come on, Rach.”

Staring dazedly at Jess, Rachel didn’t respond at first. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her mouth hanging open as though in a silent scream. Finally she nodded slightly, allowing him to turn her away from the scene and out of the doorway.

Greg quickly