1
Troy
Idon’t need to hear the conversation in the aisle—I can see it.Edmund’s rigid stance, Leah’s slumped shoulders.The parents waving their arms, pointing at each other with blame.
They think Dani ran off.Even Edmund thinks so, but only because the rest of them do.
I shoulder into the group.They immediately make room for me.Not because they want to, but because they have to.“She didn’t run.”
“How do you know?”Ed Senior sneers.“She made no secret about hating our family.”
“I just know.If you clear everyone out, I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
He doesn’t believe me, I can tell he doesn’t.But he nods.There’s no other choice, really.Does he want a church full of onlookers to this humiliation?
“Edmund.”I don’t try to catch his eye—he won’t look at anyone.“Come on.”
He follows me out of the sanctuary and into a hallway.“Take me home, okay?I don’t want to deal with this bullshit.”
“We aren’t going home.We’re going to find Dani.”
“Fuck, Troy.She doesn’t want to be found.”
“Yes, she does.”
“You don’t understand.That last night we spent with her, you fell asleep.I asked if she’d marry me if she had a choice.Troy.”He takes a deep breath.“She said no.”
“Of course she said no.The whole time she’s been with us, it’s been a battle.”I can see why it hurt him, but he isn’t seeing past the pain.“But she agreed to this, and she showed up here at the church.She put on the dress.She was ready to go.Something happened.”
“She got cold feet.”He doesn’t sound as convinced as he was at first, though.
We leave through the front door and make our way to the parking lot.It’s a sunny, beautiful day.I look around at the parked cars, the noisy street separated by nothing more than knee-high bushes and a narrow sidewalk.Plenty of pedestrian and auto traffic.If someone took Dani, they wouldn’t do it here—the street is too busy.Too many witnesses.
The guests inside finally start to leave.Took them long enough.No doubt they were soaking up the drama.Even now, there’s an excited, scandalized note to their quiet chatter.
I take big strides to the side of the church.
Edmund snaps out of his feelings and follows me.“Where are you going?”
Ignoring the question, I make a call to Caleb Morraine.“Who’s guarding the east side of the church?”
“Match and Torkin.Why?”
“Because—never mind.Found ’em.”I gesture Edmund over and point to two sets of legs—the bodies are hidden behind a hedge, but it was a rush job.Their killer didn’t have time to properly hide them.
Morraine’s voice sounds tinny in my ear.“What do you mean?—”
I hang up on Morraine and turn to look at Edmund.“Still think she ran?”
He rubs his hands over his face.“Fuck.Fuck.”
* * *
Edmund
I can’t speak.If I do, I’ll explode.Dully, I listen to Troy explain everything to the families.My grandfather makes a call for someone to take care of Match’s and Torkin’s bodies.I watch Danica’s mother crumple in panic.I want to do the same.
You feel too much.
