Page 26 of The Engagement Party

Alex hummed in response.

Not one to back down, Ruthie came out firing. “Maybe instead of you two sitting there, lobbing veiled accusations, you should just say whatever you have to say. What do you think I did?”

“I don’t trust you.” Cassie folded her arms in front of her. “How’s that?”

Ruthie snorted. “Right back at ya.”

Will groaned. “Both of you stop it.”

“That’s how you defend me?” Ruthie asked.

Will shrugged. “You’re the one who mentioned Emily earlier.”

That comment had Cassie sliding to the front of the couch cushion again. “What?”

“Why?” Alex asked in a less volatile tone but only slightly.

The mood, already tenuous, disintegrated. They’d tipped from careful and assessing to blame-throwing, and Sierra feared if emotions continued to tick off in mini explosions none of them would make it to morning. One of them likely was a killer. She really didn’t want to piss that person off more than they already were.

She tried to ease them back to a less stressful route. “Ruthie, could you just explain what you knew and when?”

But Ruthie’s attention stayed on Will. “I didn’t know about the photos. You have to believe that.”

“I’m trying... but I...”

Alex whistled. “Yeah, you two are ready for marriage.”

“And you all wonder why I don’t come to these things,” Mitch said.

Sierra tried one more time. “Let’s talk about what we do know. The car wasn’t running in the garage yesterday when Will and Ruthie got here.”

Cassie frowned. “How doweknow that?”

“It’s how cars work,” Mitch said. “They run out of gas if you leave them turned on for a day.”

“Exactly.” Sierra appreciated the support. Having Mitch chime in seemed to ratchet down the smothering tension. “And Ruthie and Will didn’t notice the garage door being open earlier, right?”

Will nodded. “Right.”

“So, the car may have been in there but turning on the engine and opening the door likely happened once we were all here, picking rooms and getting unpacked.” For a bunch of college-educated smart people they seemed to need to be baby-stepped through this, so Sierra kept going. “Cassie, you took Will and Ruthie earlier to look around while we were at the garage. Did you go to the third floor then?”

“Nope.” Cassie looked far too satisfied. “Ruthie stopped us.”

Will scoffed. “Come on. That’s not true.”

“I ran downstairs because I heard an engine, which turned out to be the boat,” Ruthie explained.

Cassie shook her head. “Again, convenient.”

Sierra had reached her limit. Ran headfirst into it and ceded the floor. “Okay, counselor. Tell us what you think is happening here.”

“I have no idea.” Cassie gestured toward Ruthie. “This is her show.”

Ruthie looked at Will. “Still nothing?”

“Damn, man.” Mitch shook his head. “I’m starting to see why your engagements don’t stick.”

“At least I can get women,” Will shot back.

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