Page 47 of The Engagement Party

“Thattopic?” Alex frowned. “We’re talking about the murder of one of our oldest friends.”

“Another murder,” Will said under his breath.

About time someone remembered.This group sucked at mourning. Only Sierra, who didn’t even know Jake, broke down at his loss. The rest of them . . . frenetic with a distinct lack of debilitating sadness. Ruthie wasn’t sure what they meant but she questioned their humanity. Of course, that wasn’t new. She’d been dissecting and studying them for months. The way they forged ahead, not noticeably racked by guilt, disturbed the crap out of her.

“Let’s make some tea. You all need to warm up.” Cassie didn’t wait for a response. She walked into the kitchen, clearly expecting Ruthie to follow.

Caught off guard by what sounded like a hint of genuine concern, Ruthie followed. The two of them buzzed around the kitchen, gathering mugs and heating water, and generally ignoring the fact someone was out there killing people only a few feet away. Cassie hummed, and probably didn’t realize it, but the sound cut off when Mitch and Sierra walked downstairs.

Like Ruthie, they’d showered, dried off, and changed into clean clothes. Mitch handed Alex a new shirt.

Cassie broke the silence by holding up an empty mug. “Coffee or tea?”

“Anything warm. Thanks.” Mitch guided Sierra into the kitchen before turning back to Alex. “You okay?”

“Killer headache but getting better.”

Ruthie winced at the use ofkiller.

“No.” Cassie pointed at her husband when he lifted his upper body off the pillows stacked behind him. “Don’t even think of getting up.”

“Just putting on the dry shirt.” Alex nodded at Will to help him. The two struggled while Alex closed his eyes in obvious pain.

Mitch watched over Sierra as she settled on a barstool, then he sat beside her. “You could have a concussion.”

“Probably.” Alex’s voice sounded deeper than usual, likely because it came slicked with pain.

They all sat there, pretending to relax, as they waited for the water to warm, the coffeepot to finish, and a new round of death to paralyze them.

“We need sugar.” Cassie opened a cabinet door and started searching.

“I didn’t see any earlier.” Mitch likely meant when he went on the hunt for the flashlight, which now sat on the end of the counter.

Ruthie joined the sugar search because it gave her hands something to do. If she concentrated hard enough she might be able to trick her brain into thinking they were fine. That this had all been a disturbing dream or game gone wrong.

“I think you’re out of luck on the... oh, wait. Found it.” Cassie held up a small plastic container with a piece of tape on it that identified it as sugar. In the other hand she held a bunch of papers. “And reading material.”

“What’s that?” Mitch asked.

Cassie gave the first page a quick look. “It’s titled ‘Book Notes.’”

Book Notes. Everything inside Ruthie froze as a wave of new panic swamped her.

Sierra sighed. “I’d welcome any opportunity not to think for a few minutes.”

“I vote with Sierra.” Cassie gestured at the empty mugs. “Ruthie can pour. I’ll read.”

A strange ache started in Ruthie’s chest. Anxiety, possibly? A blaring warning signal, definitely. This wasn’t possible. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”

“Emily Hunt disappeared on Saturday of graduation weekend. No one noticed until Sunday afternoon.” Cassie flipped through the pages. “Wait, what the hell is this?”

Those words. So familiar. Ruthie’s stomach fell. She almost dropped the mug in her hand. In her mind, she saw it hit the granite and shatter into a thousand tiny pieces.

“Where did you find that?” Alex asked.

“It was in the cabinet.” Cassie didn’t look up as she continued to read. “The recent college grad dreamed of becoming an investigative reporter, of breaking big stories, getting awards, and doing splashy interviews. Even ignoring her questionable talent...”

Sierra put up a hand. “Okay, stop.”

---