CHAPTER TWO

An impromptu gathering was going on at the Rybak house. Dan and Sutton were there of course, along with Emma, Ethan, Laurel, Jordan, Mads, Eduardo, Char, Justin, Lexi, Kristen, Peter, Ben and Phyllis. "So, put the date in the diary,"Sutton was telling them.

Dan nodded enthusiastically. "A fortnight on Thursday I will finally get to make an honest woman of Sutton."

"I think it's going to be me making an honest man of you,"Sutton argued playfully.

"I'm pretty sure I'm the more honest out of the two of us."

"Really? Because if we look at the evidence…"

"Congratulations to both of you, anyway,"Kristen interrupted, giving them both a hug.

"Is everyone invited to this wedding?"Ben asked.

Dan managed a smile. "Sure, Dad. Consider it a welcome back to the family."

"I just hope those Rybaks or whatever they call themselves have the sense to realise they're not welcome,"Phyllis commented. She suddenly remembered who was there. "Not you, of course, Mads, you're more than welcome."

"Any thought as to bridesmaids?"Laurel asked.

Sutton nodded. "I was hoping you, Emma and Char would agree to do it."

Laurel grinned broadly. "That is something I never thought you would ask me and I'm really glad you have."

"That goes double for me,"Emma added.

"I was always going to say yes,"Char concluded.

Sutton looked at Mads and Lexi."I hope you don't mind. If I could have you all as bridesmaids I would, and I never thought I'd be spoiled for choice like this. It's just that there's only so many places in the bridal party. Dan doesn't have enough friends to balance it out."

Dan shot her a wry look. "Thanks for a reminder of why I love you."

"Because I'm the most honest?"

"So who is going to be up there with us?"Ethan wondered rhetorically. "Officer Harry?"

"I understand,"Mads told Sutton. "I'm just glad to be able to share this with you."

Lexi looked awkwardly."Actually, can I have a word with you, you and you in private?" She gestured to Sutton, Emma and Laurel in turn. They all nodded.

The three sisters followed Lexi into another room. "What's all this about?"Emma asked. "You're scaring me."

"Whatever you're thinking, it's probably going to be worse,"Lexi replied, not exactly reassuring them. "It's about Thayer."

"What about him?"Sutton asked frostily.

"It's about Thayer and me. I've been seeing him."

"In what way seeing him?"Sutton pressed.

"We met up for a drink a few times and it just carried on from there. We've been spending time together and…"

"You're sleeping with him,"Laurel concluded. Her tone wasn't exactly unfriendly but her gaze was hard.

"Yeah,"Lexi confirmed. "I know you're probably thinking that I've gone crazy."

"Well, we've all been there,"Emma pointed out.

"I'm not going to tell you we're not friends anymore or insist you stay away from him,"Sutton noted. "But if you're about to ask if you can bring him to the wedding…"

Lexi shook her head. "No, it's way too soon for that. For us and for, well, everyone else."

"If Thayer makes you happy, that's okay with me,"Emma decided. "But I hope you don't mind me being a bit cautious about it."

"No, I get it."

Laurel was silent for a moment longer. "When Thayer and I were together, I felt like a princess,"she said at last. "But it didn't last and it turned out he was using me. So…keep your guard up, okay?"

The four of them went back to the others. The mood was so sombre that they thought for a moment their conversation had been overheard. "What's going on?"Emma wondered.

There was a long silence for several seconds. "We just got a call from the station,"Ethan said at last.

"Detective Meadows gave me a courtesy call to update me on the case,"Dan explained. "They've released Nancy Rogers."

"What?"Sutton demanded. "Why?"

"Because she's got an alibi,"Mads explained. "She was in Tucson for a DAR event that day, several witnesses place her there. Whoever killed Mum, it wasn't her."

End of Episode Eight