The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,61
Scott’s face, Tom had no idea what he was thinking, the face of his old friend suddenly seeming more mysterious than ever before.
Chapter Sixteen
The group that assembled for dinner was understandably subdued. Tom eyed the others, taking in the grim faces and downcast eyes. Scott and Rachel sat next to each other but didn’t so much as glance in each other’s direction. Greg’s head was still bandaged. Alex looked up from his plate every once in a while to shoot glances at the others before dropping his head again.
Meredith and Ellen had just begun placing the meal on the table when Rick walked into the dining room. “Ms. Sutton—” He came to an abrupt stop once he saw the scene in front of him. “I’m sorry. Don’t mean to interrupt...”
“It’s all right, Rick,” Meredith said, straightening to face him. “What is it?”
“Just wanted to let you know I managed to get the plow hooked up to the truck. I tested it and it’s good to go. I can start trying to clear the road in the morning.”
Tom felt a trace of guilt for having left Rick to finish with the plow on his own. But after what had happened to Meredith, he hadn’t wanted to let her out of his sight even for a moment. And he hadn’t.
“Why wait until then?” Rachel asked. “Can’t you get started now so we can get out of here sooner?”
Rick gave his head a tight shake. “Too dangerous trying to navigate that winding mountain road in just the lights from the plow. The snow’s so high I won’t be able to see anything else. I’d rather to wait until daylight when I can see better, especially since it’s my first time trying to do it.”
As Tom listened to the man’s words, he had to frown. He was the one who’d driven a plow before, a remnant of his childhood growing up in Minnesota. The job would go faster if a more experienced driver were operating the plow. Not to mention it probably would be better if there was more than one person doing the job—two pairs of eyes to keep a look out on that treacherous, winding mountain road, another pair of hands if something went wrong. Anything to get them out—and the police in here—faster.
Then he glanced at Meredith, the words dying on his lips.
If he was with Rick working on clearing the road, Meredith would be here in the house alone.
With the killer.
A chill swept over him, every part of him recoiling at the idea. He couldn’t leave her. Not after today. The memory of how she’d looked lying on the floor, the terror that had ripped through him, all came rushing back. No, if there was even a chance of it happening again...
He looked around the table for any other options. “Rick, do you need any help?” he asked, gauging the others’ reactions.
Rick appeared to consider the question. “It couldn’t hurt. Might get the job done faster.”
No one else at the table gave any indication they’d picked up on the hint. But then, with his head injury and likely self-medication, Greg was in no condition to help. Even if things were tense between them, Scott wouldn’t want to leave Rachel for that long, and Tom wouldn’t have felt right asking him to do it. Alex made no move to volunteer. He shot Rick a suspicious look before lowering his eyes.
Considering the wary glance Rick shot across the table, he didn’t particularly want to work with any of them, either. Of course, Tom thought, swallowing a groan. After today, any suspicions he’d had toward Rick were gone, and Rick seemed to trust him, too. But as far as he knew, one of the others was a killer. Any of the others who were innocent might suspect the same of him. None of them would want to work together and be alone for long stretches at a time.
That left Tom.
He looked at Meredith. She stood biting her lip, apparently deep in thought. Most likely she was also considering her options, not feeling right asking one of her guests for their help, especially after all they’d been through.
He needed to do something to get her—get all of them—out of here.
He forced himself to swallow his ambivalence. “I’ll help you,” he told Rick. “We can get started first thing.”
He would just have to make sure Meredith was safe while they worked.
* * *
AFTER AN INCREDIBLY tense dinner, the guests quickly retreated to their rooms. Rick