Page 81 of The Bridesmaid

‘Are we ready to assemble the bridesmaids?’ He looks aroundthe room. I cross the carpet to hold his hand, comforted as always to be around his cool, calm demeanor.

‘Yes,’ I nod. ‘Georgia, can you ask Petra, Ophelia and Holly to come in here?’

‘Holly?’ Mark’s dark brows dance with anxiety. I latch onto it immediately. Something’s wrong.

‘Mark,’ I say carefully. ‘Is there something you’re not telling us about Holly?’

Chapter Sixty-four

HOLLY

Fitzwilliam has maneuvered us both out of the labyrinthine staff quarters and out into the grounds of Fortune House.

More messages have arrived from Ortiz, detailing Silky’s social confession. I don’t know what to make of it.

‘I just can’t see that fitting,’ I tell Fitzwilliam. ‘Silky killed Simone? Why?’

‘That isn’t the point,’ he says. ‘Our cover could be blown at any moment. With all the heightened feelings and armed security, that could place you in serious jeopardy, and Ortiz won’t risk that. Not after Simone’s killer has been identified.’

‘What about the person who kidnapped Adrianna, three years ago? Is that Silky too?’

‘It would all fit, right?’ says Fitzwilliam. ‘Just like you said. Someone sexually and socially obsessed with Adrianna.’

‘And if it doesn’t fit?’

‘Then the kidnap was never our case,’ he points out. ‘It’s the jurisdiction of the Colombian police. Our job was to find Simone’s killer, and that’s been done.’

I’m shaking my head. ‘It just doesn’t feel right,’ I say. ‘Like,how could Silky have uploaded a video, when she doesn’t have her phone?’

‘Silky went missing late afternoon yesterday. She probably snuck back to the airport and retrieved her phone from wherever they were holding it.’

‘Why would Silky do that to Simone’s body?’ I hold my hands out in frustration. ‘Cut her hair? Arrange her so ghoulishly?’

‘Cover-up,’ says Fitzwilliam. ‘Silky’s trying to throw police off the scent.’

‘That wouldn’t fit with the whole profile,’ I point out. ‘Adrianna’s kidnapper was all about power games. I can’t picture Silky dragging a corpse into the box either. Then sneaking into the ballroom in the early hours … She just didn’t seem organized enough for that.’

‘She was organized enough to construct an entire creepy pinchart dedicated to semi-clad pictures of Adrianna Kensington,’ Fitzwilliam points out. ‘And you’d be amazed what addicts are capable of.’

I sigh. None of this feels right.

‘What about the bone pit and bell tower?’ I say. ‘We can’t just give up on that, right? I think Simone would have wanted to lead us to uncover something out here.’

Fitzwilliam sighs. ‘We’re off the case, Holly. It sucks sometimes, but I have to follow orders.’

I ball my fists and close my eyes. When I open them again, Fitzwilliam’s face is filled with concern.

‘Look,’ I say. ‘You’re right, OK? About college. I didn’t have the guts to try out as a forensic lawyer. Harvard was filled with people like you and it scared the shit out of me. But this is my chance to prove Simone’s faith in me wasn’t misguided. I’m the only forensicout on this island. WeknowSimone found something important.’ I take a breath. ‘She was myfriend.’

Fitzwilliam regards me levelly. ‘Holly, this isn’t the way,’ he says. ‘I admire your determination, but breaking the rules and disregarding protocol isn’t the way to do it.’

‘That’s your world,’ I tell him. ‘Not mine. People like me have to break the rules to get somewhere.’

Fitzwilliam shakes his head. ‘Ortiz has closed the case. There’s a boat off the island now. I need to be on it.’

‘Then go,’ I say evenly, not wanting to admit how much this hurts me. ‘I’m going to find out what Simone wanted to expose.’

Chapter Sixty-five