“Did they say why they think he did it?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts. It was a question she hadn’t asked before. During our day in Manu’s office, we’d hardly spoken, despite being in such close proximity. Manu brought us books to read and movies to watch, kept us fed and updated on what was going on, and we’d mostly just existed in silence. Breathing the same air, eating from the same spread, but not really talking.
In part, it was because I felt guilty over what had happened between Nick and me. In part because I was still upset over Brad. But also, and maybe mostly, because I was growing to resent Megan. Her overly positive presence made it hard to hate her like I wanted to. On top of that, I had no idea what she did or didn’t know about what had happened, and it wasn’t my place to tell her. Nick would have that conversation whenever he was ready, or maybe he wouldn’t at all. I had no right to demand that it happen. And, to be honest, I had too much on my mind to worry about it.
A week ago, I hadn’t thought about Nick in such a way for years. But discovering Emily, meeting her and seeing his dark hair and dark eyes in our daughter, brought all the memories rushing back. And now, flooded with emotion and memories from so long ago, I was struggling to deal with processing them amidst such chaos.
But I could never tell Megan any of that. Nor could I tell her why Brad had killed Emily.
So, instead, I said, “I have no idea. I’m sure the police know more.”
“I’m just so sorry, Laura,” she whispered, her voice cracking, and when I looked up, she had tears in her eyes.
“You were close, weren’t you?” I asked, resisting the urge to hug her. “I forgot how close you seemed to Emily.”
“Oh, we hardly knew each other,” she said, waving me off. But that wasn’t exactly true. Megan and Emily had bonded, thrown together as the newbies of the group, and growing closer as time went on. They’d sat next to each other on the plane, giggling the whole way. “All that talk about secrets…” she whispered. “Whoever’s secret she knew, at least it’s theirs to keep now.”
I looked up at her, her tear-filled eyes locked on me with a knowing stare. “What do you mean?”
“Nick said that you mentioned you thought she may have been dangerous because she knew someone’s secret… I just thought, well, whoever’s secret it was, it went with her…didn’t it? In a way, maybe Brad did us all a favor.”
I winced, surprised by her harsh words. “I wouldn’t say that. She was a person. She didn’t deserve to die over a secret…”
Megan adjusted in her seat. “Of course not. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out the way it did.” She glanced back out the window, and a memory rushed back to me.
“Hey,” I said quickly. “Did…she say anything to you at the spa? After we went to get drinks, you talked to her after, didn’t you?” Yes, it was coming back to me then. I’d returned to the room without drinks, leaving Emily to calm down after we’d talked. When Megan asked where our drinks were, I realized I’d completely forgotten them.
Instead of going back, Megan said I looked like I was upset. She offered to go for me, and because I was upset, I sat down next to Natasha, trying to pretend everything was fine.
When Emily and Megan returned with our drinks awhile later, I’d mustered my best everything’s-fine smile, pretending my life wasn’t unraveling at the seams.
“I just went to get the drinks,” Megan said. “I could tell you were upset.”
“But you were gone a really long time…” Wasn’t she? Or had I imagined it? I was so upset and distracted, I hadn’t paid any attention. But there was something Natasha had said that meant nothing to me then, but was striking a chord now.
“Either it’s my birthday and y’all are planning a surprise party or I stink, ’cause I just can’t seem to keep anyone in here with me,” she’d said when Megan walked from the room that day.
I looked up at Megan, remembering her words. I’d been so distracted, why hadn’t I asked more questions?
“You went to the bathroom when Emily and I had gone outside… I remember hearing the door shut.” The memory was there, completely overshadowed by what Emily was telling me, but there nonetheless. And Natasha had confirmed it, though I’d only been half listening when I’d returned.
“Yeah, I went to the bathroom. Why does that matter?”
“Because when we were talking to Andy, you said she seemed fine, but that wasn’t true. You were gone with Emily right after I’d left her upset. She couldn’t have been fine. Were you just protecting her or…” I shook my head, trying to understand. “I didn’t think anything of it because I was so upset, except…you were gone for twice as long as I was. Why did you go out there?” I met her eyes, the challenge there. “You overheard what we were talking about. That was the door I heard, wasn’t it? You knew Emily’s secret all along, same as me, even though you pretended not to, didn’t you?”
She looked as though she were going to deny it at first, but eventually, the indignant look faded from her face. “I couldn’t let her do it, Laura. I couldn’t let her tell anyone. And I can’t let you tell anyone now.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Megan
FOUR DAYS EARLIER
“I’m going to run to the restroom while they’re getting our drinks, okay?” I removed the cucumbers from my eyes as I sat up. Alcohol had always run straight
