Page 51 of The Engagement Party

That just pissed him off. “Don’t be naïve. That’s not how the criminal justice system works.”

Ruthie let out a harsh laugh. “Says the white guy who’s spent a lifetime benefitting from the system and now dreams up ways to ensure his clients can maneuver around in it.”

Alex’s brain couldn’t form a single response that wouldn’t start an argument. He didn’t have the strength or the time for that right now.

“No, no, no.” Sierra almost leapt off the porch. “Where’s he going? Not that way.”

Mitch caught her arm and eased her back next to him. “Take it easy.”

“I just rolled around in your dead friend’s blood, so no.” Sierra waved her arms. “Hey!”

The screaming screeched right across Alex’s last nerve.

“What’s happening?” Ruthie moved off the stairs. She was at the back of the group up on tiptoes, bobbing and weaving to get a better look. “I can’t see.”

“He’s headed the wrong way.” Sierra’s shoulders fell. “Why can’t he hear me?”

Alex could see the retreating figure now. The officer turned off the path and stalked toward the shed. The one place guaranteed to ratchet up everyone’s anxiety. “He probably saw the blood.”

Mitch frowned. “From over there?”

As if on cue, the officer glanced down at the grass, huncheddown to take a better look, then stood up with his hand on his gun. He hesitated at the shed door before disappearing inside.

The rain continued to stop and start and the dark sky promised hours more, but the time for thinking and planning had passed. Any minute now an armed policeman would storm out, demanding answers, and pick away at every carefully crafted defense they’d manufactured and shored up for more than a decade.

“Where is he? I can’t see anything but the open doorway.” Sierra looked at Mitch as if begging him to do something.

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot to look at in there,” Mitch said.

Ruthie pushed her way to the front of the group. “I didn’t have a chance to meet him before. I am this time.”

“Ruthie, no.” Will tried to catch her before she stepped outside but missed. “Come back in here.”

“Why?” She turned and stared. Her gaze bounced from Cassie to Will to Alex. “What is it with the three of you and your need to hide things?”

“This isn’t the time for drama.”

Alex agreed with his wife.

Mitch snorted. “Seems like it is.”

“Ruthie, don’t make the situation worse than it is,” Will said.

“Do you and Will even like each other?” Cassie took the verbal shot at Ruthie.

Alex guessed Cassie’s goal was to throw Ruthie off, derail her from running out there, spouting theories and launching accusations. The longer they stayed inside, the longer they had to come up with a way to survive this mess. Alex hoped his brilliant wife was working on a solution because his brain couldn’t keep athought for more than a second before the pounding pain moved in again.

“You know.” Ruthie took the bait. “Comments about being a healthy couple are interesting, coming from you.”

Cassie spread her arms wide as if to saycome get me. “Meaning?”

“You two are exhausting.” Sierra shook her head before turning to Mitch again. “Let’s go get him.”

No one was thinking clearly. That was the only explanation Alex could come up with for that ridiculous suggestion. “That’s an invitation to accidentally get shot. He’s going to find the body and come out, gun firing.”

Sierra groaned. “You watch too much tele—”

Bang.

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