Page 23 of The Worst Best Man

As much as Frankie enjoyed seeing all six-feet four-inches of Aiden Kilbourn crammed onto a bus seat, nothing could take away the icy feeling in her stomach. Someone had taken her friend right in front of her and who knew what was happening to him right now. She hated the not knowing.

Her phone buzzed from inside her clutch.

“Oh, shit.” She showed the screen to Aiden.

“Answer it. Maybe someone contacted her?”

“Hey, Pru,” Frankie said.

“Where are you, Frankenstein?” It was Pru’s drunken moniker for drunken Frankie.

Frankie eyed Aiden for a moment. He shrugged. “I’m with Aiden,” she said.

“Ohmygod. I knew it!” Pru’s shriek put a couple of pin holes in Frankie’s eardrum. “I knew you two would hit it off. I’m like literally the smartest person ever.”

“The smartest,” Frankie agreed.

“Ask her about Chip,” Aiden whispered.

Frankie held the phone out so Aiden could listen too. “Sorry for bailing on you. Is everyone else still there?” she asked.

“Well, I think so. Margeaux passed out under the picnic table, so we had the driver carry her back to the car. And I haven’t seen Chip for a little while. I think he went to the bathroom a few minutes ago.”

Frankie covered the phone with her hand. “That’s Pru’s drunk clock. She couldn’t tell time right now if there was a Birkin bag on the line,” she explained to Aiden.

“We need them back at the resort with security,” Aiden told her.

Frankie nodded, not wanting to consider the possibility that Chip’s disappearance was just the beginning. “Is anyone there sober?” she asked.

“Oh sure. Lotsa people. There’s this guy over here. He’s got poodles on his shirt. I think he’s sober.”

“No, I mean a person you know.”

“Huh?”

Oh, for the love of god. Why was talking to a drunk adult harder than prying information out of a kindergartener? “Is Cressida there?” Cressida had the tolerance of an Eastern European man, a big one.

“Sure! Watercress! Phone’s for you!” Pru crooned.

“Yes? What is it you want?” Cressida demanded.

“Cressida, it’s Frankie. I need you to keep a close eye on Pru.”

“Why? Will she attempt a crime?”

“No, nothing like that. Just… don’t let anything happen to her.”

“That is annoyingly vague,” Cressida said.

“Yeah, I know. But I can’t help it. Can you get them all back to the resort? Just tell them that’s where the after party is.”

“I will do this. Mainly because my feet hurt, and I would like to swim naked in the lap pool.”

“Uh, okay. Great?”

“Goodbye now.”

Aiden snatched the phone out of Frankie’s hand. “Just a minute, Cressida. Put Pruitt on the phone again.”