The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,48

she felt their eyes on her.

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

* * *

THE 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