Page 47

“Sorry.” Zora smiled ruefully. “I just… I didn’t expect to see either of you again.”
“Was it that bad?” Samuel asked softly.
Zora glanced around. Most people were focused on their own work, but several people were watching them.
“Come to my office,” Zora said and turned.
Samuel’s hand pressed against the small of Jessica’s bad. A wave of warmth swept her as they followed in Zora’s wake. His hand fell away, but it didn’t change the fact that it put a little smile on Jessica’s face.
Maybe this wasn’t a fling?
She had no idea how they got to Zora’s office. The halls seemed designed to confuse a person, which Jessica supposed was the purpose.
Zora’s office was stark and white with little pops of color on the bookcases. Her glass desk was regal, right out of a magazine, and covered in stacks of files.
“We thought you were dead,” Zora said the moment the door closed.
Samuel inclined his head. “We thought we were, too.”
“What happened?” Jessica asked. “I know we were there, but we left so fast… Is Maureen okay?”
Zora glanced at Samuel and Jessica’s stomach sank.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Samuel suggested.
Zora gestured for them to use the small seating area in the corner. The four peacock blue armchairs were clustered around a circular table. Jessica sank into the closest one and felt as though exhaustion were crashing down on her head. She could pass out here and now with very little encouragement.
“There’s no easy way to say this.” Zora unbuttoned her suit jacket and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “Everyone died.”
“Shit,” Samuel muttered.
Jessica could only sit there in shock. She’d guessed as much, though she’d hoped for a better outcome.
Zora continued. “We assumed the two of you were taken or dead. The grounds were completely destroyed, leaving no evidence. All we have are some garbled transmissions before they took out the security system.”
Samuel leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and rubbed his face.
“I’m glad the two of you survived. What happened?” Zora asked.
Samuel related the last two days while Jessica was still taking it all in.
Poor Maureen…
Had their attackers known about the pageant? Had that played into their time and date?
“It’s a miracle you made it,” Zora said, bringing Jessica back to the present.
“And you don’t have anything on them?” Samuel asked.
Zora shook her head. “No, but I’m hoping the Jeep tells us something.”
“It’s my fault, isn’t it?” Jessica blurted out.
Both Zora and Samuel turned to look at her.
Jessica could feel her face heating. “I kept looking into Maxwell Edward despite Samuel telling me to stop.”
“It’s a strong possibility,” Zora replied. “But I wouldn’t say it’s your fault. We cannot accept responsibility for the actions of bad people. We can plan and mitigate what they might do, but we cannot let their actions dictate how we proceed. Otherwise, they’re in charge.”