Free The Best Man to Trust by Kerry Connor

clearly in their eyes.
    “It’s done,” Meredith confirmed. “Everyone can head up to bed.”
    No one gave any sign of relief, only acceptance as they began to rise from their seats.
    “In the meantime,” Tom said, “until we get to the bottom of this, I’d like to suggest everyone try to stay together and not go anywhere alone. It should be safer that way.”
    “Unless the person you’re alone with is the killer,” Alex said darkly.
    The comment was met with a nervous silence. Meredith saw Jessica shudder. Rachel leaned a little closer into Scott.
    Meredith turned to Rick and Ellen. “Would the two of you like to stay upstairs with the rest of us, so you’re not so isolated on the other side of the house? There are still plenty of rooms.” Even without the one that had been turned into a makeshift morgue.
    Rick and Ellen glanced at each other, seeming to share a look, before turning back to Meredith. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d rather stay where I am,” Ellen told her.
    “Me, too,” Rick agreed.
    “All right,” Meredith said. While she wouldn’t have minded having them close so she’d have a better idea whether they were safe, she could certainly understand why they would want to be away from the wedding guests. After listening to all the bickering and suspicions, being isolated on the other side of the house away from these people—one of whom might be a killer—didn’t sound like a bad thing. Not to mention, Rick likely wasn’t in any hurry to spend the night upstairs near the body after what he’d just had to do. “I guess I’ll see you both in the morning then?”
    They both nodded.
    She watched them go, disappearing into the other wing and the darkness that led to the rear of the house.
    The rest of the group made their way up the staircase without speaking. Meredith didn’t know if it was exhaustion or the traumatic events of the past few hours that kept them quiet and subdued. She wouldn’t have blamed them for either.
    When they made it to the second floor, Jessica hurried to her room, quickly slamming the door shut. The sound of the lock fastening was audible down the hall.
    Scott glanced back when he and Rachel reached their room, Rachel ducking inside first. “Good night,” he said.
    “’Night, man,” Tom said. “See you tomorrow.”
    With a nod, Scott went inside.
    Down the hall, Alex and Greg retreated to their respective rooms.
    Until she and Tom were the only ones left.
    Meredith felt a sudden awkwardness as they stood there in the echoing stillness of the corridor. It seemed strange. After everything they’d been through in the past few hours, she should feel comfortable around him. But there it was nonetheless.
    “Thank you for your help tonight,” she said. “I honestly don’t know what I would have done without it.”
    “I’m glad I was able to do something,” he said. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
    She remembered when he’d asked her that in the downstairs hall, remembered the way his low, deep voice had washed over, remembered the kindness and concern in his eyes, much as it was now.
    Remembered how she’d freaked out a little when he’d touched her, her whole body practically having a seizure at the contact.
    Embarrassment flooded her at the memory, as well as fresh anger at Brad and what he’d put her through. When would that nightmare no longer have that kind of effect on her? When would she finally, fully, be able to move past what he’d done to her?
    “I’m as fine as I can be,” she assured him. “We should try to get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Good night.”
    Ducking her head, she turned away. Her room was farther down the hall away from the others. Close to where they’d put Haley, she acknowledged with a shudder. At the time she’d thought it would be best if she stayed nearby in case anyone needed anything. She’d never imagined how necessary that would prove to be.
    She quickly made her way there,