Maybe that's why everyone else could come back here and not be haunted by tragedy.
As Melanie came back into my mind, Sean's comment about Drake rang through my head again.
We'll shut him down just like we did the last time.
What had they done the last time?
Maybe their affair wasn't the only secret they were keeping.
Chapter Eight
On Wednesday morning, I woke up feeling groggy, exhausted, and still in my clothes. Even though I hadn't been able to fall asleep with all the questions running through my mind, I also hadn't found the energy to dig into my suitcase for my PJs. I sat up in bed. I could see that it was still cloudy, but it didn't appear to be raining. That was good. The groomsmen were supposed to play golf today while the bridesmaids were getting massages and having lunch downtown.
My gaze moved to the clock. It was almost ten. I needed to get up, get dressed, and get my head together, so that I could be the cheerleading, supportive, happy bridesmaid I was supposed to be. God, this week was going to be tiring. I should have been good at faking happiness. I'd done it enough as a kid. But for the past decade, I hadn't had to pretend nearly as much, and I'd gotten out of practice.
Maybe this wedding would help reconnect me to the family. Last night, when my father had mentioned watching a movie and having popcorn, I'd been reminded of happier times, and it had felt good. Even talking to Brooklyn about James had broken through the barrier of polite nothingness that had existed between us for so long. It was like we were sisters again.
I told myself not to get too excited. I'd gone down that road as a kid, yearning to be included, wanting to feel the love, and then being left behind or completely ignored. It was easier to expect nothing than to get my hopes up and be disappointed. Nothing this week was about me. I needed to remember that.
As the sound of loud voices rang through the house, I frowned. It sounded like something was wrong. I heard cars in the driveway, more voices outside the house. Rolling out of bed, I hurried to the window. My eyes widened as I saw Ben step out of a police vehicle and join another officer, who was talking to Gage and Carter. They were all involved in an animated, tense conversation.
My stomach tightened. I felt a terrible sense of déjà vu.
Ten years ago, I'd heard cars pulling into the drive. I'd heard shouting and didn't know what was going on. I'd slept in my clothes that night, too.
And then Brooklyn had pounded on my door before throwing it open. She'd told me something bad had happened to Melanie, and I had to come downstairs.
My breath came a little faster with that terrible memory.
And then my heart jumped into my throat when I heard the sharp rap at the door. It opened before I could say come in.
Brooklyn was standing in the doorway again, her face strained, her eyes worried.
"What's wrong?" I asked, wondering if I was dreaming…if I was just reliving the morning from ten years ago.
"It's Kelsey."
Kelsey—not Melanie? This couldn't be a dream, which only made it worse.
"Is Kelsey all right?"
"I don't know," Brooklyn said tersely. "She's missing."
"What does that mean? How can she be missing?"
"Gage said he dropped Kelsey off here last night around eleven, but she hasn't answered his texts since then. They were supposed to have breakfast with some of his extended family this morning, but she didn't show up. Nor has she answered her phone. She also didn't sleep in her bed. You need to come downstairs." Brooklyn's impatience was tinged with fear. "Mom and Dad called the sheriff. The Chadwicks are here, too."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I. Just come now."
"I'm coming. Kelsey has to be all right."
God! Had I said those words the last time, too?
Melanie hadn't been all right. Melanie had never been seen again. That couldn't be true for Kelsey. Kelsey would be found. She would be fine. There was no other option I could handle.
I followed Brooklyn down the stairs. Everyone was now gathered in the living room. Ben stood in front of the fireplace, his deputy hovering near the archway to the dining room. Ben looked extremely somber and very official. Sean and Eileen Chadwick were seated on the couch, my parents on the love seat. Gage was pacing by the window looking nothing like the calm, confident man who was always in control, while Carter stood nearby, his arms across his chest, worry written in every line of his face.
"Now that you're all here, let's go over what we know," Ben said.
"I already told you what happened," Gage said, turning to face Ben. "This isn't getting us anywhere. We need to find Kelsey."
"Let's take a few minutes to compare notes. One more time."
Gage gave Ben a frustrated look. "Are you really the one who's in charge now? You?"
Ben didn't react to Gage's dismissive words. "Tell me again when you last saw Kelsey."
"I saw her when I dropped her off here a little before eleven," Gage bit out.
"Did you walk her into the house? Did you wait to see if she got inside?" Ben asked.
"No. She was almost at the front door. I didn't think I needed to wait."
"So, you didn't see her enter the house?"
"I said no, Ben."
"You also said you texted her after you got home?"
"Yes, around eleven thirty. I said good night, told her I loved her, and I'd see her for breakfast in the morning. She didn't answer, but I didn't think anything about it. I figured she was in bed or talking to her family. We were supposed to meet my parents, my aunt and uncle, and cousins in town for breakfast at eight thirty. When Kelsey didn't show, I called her and texted her. There was no answer. So, I came here. Brooklyn let me in. We went upstairs together, but it was clear Kelsey hadn't been in her room or slept in her bed. We both tried calling her again. Her parents tried, too. But her phone was shut off. That's when I called you."
"Okay," Ben said, turning to my sister. "Brooklyn, do you want to add anything?"
"No. Gage said exactly what happened."
"Where were you, Mrs. Kent?" Ben's gaze swung to my mother.
"I was in the shower when Brooklyn came to my room. I quickly got dressed and grabbed my phone."
"And you, Mr. Kent?"
"I was working out in our gym in the basement. I didn't see anyone this morning until Monica came downstairs, shouting that something was wrong."
"And no one saw Kelsey last night after the bonfire?" Ben asked.
"Monica and I went to bed early. It was a long day," my father replied.
"I was also in my room," Brooklyn added.
"Same for me," I said.
"What about the doorbell camera?" Ben asked.
At his question, my father reached for his phone, muttering, "I should have checked that first thing." He took a moment to open the app, then said, "Gage's car turns into the drive at ten-fifty-six."
My mother moved closed to my dad. "Is that her?"
"Kelsey gets out of the car," my dad said. "Gage backs out. Kelsey doesn't come in the house. She walks to the left and then I can't see her." He looked up from his phone with extreme worry in his eyes. "I can't see her anymore. I don't know what happens next."