Page 55 of The Engagement Party

They barely knew each other. Yeah, that was Will’s style. Find someone, overcommit, and drive her away. He’d confided a few weeks ago that he proposed to Ruthie so fast because he felt like she was dropping hints about needing more from him and he’d panicked.

The whole messed up relationship pissed off Alex because it meant Will had dragged them out here to celebrate another wedding that likely wouldn’t happen. In Will’s desperation to create a life that might lead to happiness he’d inadvertently put a target on their backs.

Will’s comment hung there along with Cassie’s question. Ruthie didn’t fill in any blanks. Sierra didn’t say a word. Alex tried to figure if those two things were related.

“Have any of your friends met each other?” Alex really wanted Will to say yes, to describe parties and dinners, so this weekend would feel less like a setup.

“Of course.” Will made a dismissive sound. “There’s Tara. That’s her partner in the gallery.”

One name. One friend. Alex could name Cassie’s friends through Zara’s school, or as she called them, The Mom Squad. He also knew the names of most of the women in Cassie’s yoga class. The neighbors she liked. That’s how a relationship worked. You talked about other people, exchanged stories, found ways to stay engaged.

Ruthie still didn’t say a word.

Will seemed to take the quiet as license to fill them in on the gallery. “You should see the place. Ruthie sets up shows and works with artists.”

“No one wants to hear about that now.” Ruthie’s sharp voice cut through the room as she glanced at Will but only for a second. “What time is it?”

As far as conversation pivots went that one sucked. Alex was not about to let her off that easily. “Why did we change subjects?”

“Yeah, I’d like to hear about the gallery,” Cassie said in a voice that could only be described as too bright and too happy for the circumstances.

Mitch shook his head. “Maybe when we’re not being hunted?”

But Cassie didn’t back down. “We need to stay alert but be able to concentrate. A talk about the gallery and Ruthie’s friend who owns the island strikes me as the perfect listening material.”

“I’m not this evening’s entertainment,” Ruthie said.

Cassie made a humming sound. “But you are defensive.”

If Cassie meant to ruffle and unsettle Ruthie, she’d failed. Ruthie just shook her head. “Probably because an increasing percentage of people on the island are dead.”

“Has he moved?” When Will didn’t respond, Alex tried again. “The police officer.”

Will frowned. “What?”

“Jesus, Will!” Mitch shouted from across the room. “The guy on the ground. Is he moving? We’re trying to figure out if he’s dead or just passed out or injured or what.”

Will glanced over his shoulder at the window. “No.”

Not a surprise but Alex still hated the news. “Then he’s probably—”

“I mean he’s gone.” Will backed away from the window as he delivered the news. “He’s not out there.”

“But you’ve been watching.” Cassie took over Will’s stakeout position. “How could you miss that?”

“I looked away for a few minutes.” Will spread his arms wide. “You walked over there, leaving me with this whole side.”

Never his fault. Will always blamed. Always had an explanation that absolved him. He stayed detached to avoid conflict. Alex could probably recite some psychological reason relating to Will’s past for all the avoidance or parrot Cassie’s thoughts on Will’s blunted development but after a while making excuses for a grown man’s behavior became exhausting.

Alex was two seconds away from strangling the guy. “Are you saying you didn’t see someone drag a body—”

The doorbell chimed before Alex could finish his sentence. The noise paralyzed him. They all stopped doing anything other than staring at the locked front door.

Then the banging started.

Chapter Forty-One

Ruthie

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