It’d been over two hours since Brian left, and Scott was still fuming over his suggestion that Kate had gone with Love International willingly. I had made up an excuse about being out of milk to get out of the house and away from all the tension. I chewed on my cheek while I walked down the dairy aisle at the grocery store, a nervous habit I hadn’t done in years, but it was hard not to be anxious when everyone was staring at you. People tried to act like they weren’t, but I felt their eyes drilling holes into my back as I shopped. Now I understood why Scott had driven forty-five minutes away to do his errands after Kate went missing.

It would be devastating for him if Kate had left on her own, but once he was over the initial hurt, this could be a good thing for us. If they hadn’t kidnapped her, maybe we didn’t have to be afraid of them coming back to get her or trying to hurt us. Maybe she’d been able to come and go as she pleased all along. But that wouldn’t explain her mangled body. There wasn’t any confusion over whether or not she’d been tortured. Everyone agreed on that. None of this made sense. I had wanted to take my time, but it was so uncomfortable being watched that I hurriedly threw milk and eggs into my cart and headed to self-checkout.

I stalled on the drive home, hoping the night shift had replaced the day shift. The questions didn’t stop until the day shift was gone, and I didn’t have any energy left for more questions. I was surprised to find Scott and Kate sitting on the couch when I walked through the door. Normally he would’ve jumped up to help me, even though I only had one bag, but he didn’t move from his spot.

“Hi, guys,” I said, my voice one octave higher than usual. I’d clearly walked in on something. Should I stay? Run to the kitchen? I searched the living room walls like there was an invisible spot on them.

Scott cleared his throat. “We were just talking.”

“Okay, okay . . .” Heat surged through me.

Scott pointed to the club chair in front of the couch. “You might as well be here for this.” He waited for me to sit before turning his focus back to Kate. “I know I just said that this conversation is only between us, but, believe me, you can trust Meredith,” he said.

She peeked up and gave me a tiny smile. I smiled back. There was no way to have a private conversation in a wired room, but I wasn’t about to point that out.