The Wedding Party

Part 45: A Photo

Macey's voice echoed through the empty halls of the manor as she spoke urgently into her phone. "Detective Scarlet, I need you to have the Harbor Master inform us of any boat traffic in the area." She paused, her eyes narrowing as she listened intently to the response. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against her thigh, betraying her impatience.

"Helena," she called out, finally hanging up. "What have you found?"

"Ana is dead, Macey," Helena replied, her voice hollow with grief. Preston and Ash stood beside her, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and determination.

"Dead? How?" Macey's brow furrowed, concern etched into every line on her face.

"Found her body in the woods," Ash interjected, holding out a photo she'd found in the attic. It was a picture of Brandt, looking very much alive. "We think he's involved."

"Brandt's dead, Ash. We all saw his grave," Macey countered, but doubt flickered across her face.

"Then we dig him up," Ash declared, her jaw set with resolve. "I'll prove it to you."

"No, Ash," Macey said firmly, grabbing her arm. "I can't let you do that." Before Ash could protest, Macey dragged her away, locking her in the Manor's pantry. The sound of the bolt sliding into place felt like a death knell for Ash's plan.

Meanwhile, Olive knocked hesitantly on Yusuf's door, searching for answers. "Yusuf, can we talk about Darrell's false alibi?" she asked when he opened the door, his expression revealing nothing but surprise at her presence.

"False alibi? What are you talking about?" Yusuf feigned ignorance, but Olive caught the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"Amelia told Macey they were together this morning," Olive pressed, desperate for the truth. Yusuf hesitated, then sighed and stepped aside, inviting her into his room.

Across the manor, Helena and Preston met in hushed whispers, their shared grief fueling their determination to uncover the truth. "We need to dig up Brandt's grave, Helena," Preston insisted, his voice low but urgent. "If Ash is right, we can't just stand by and do nothing."

"Alright," Helena agreed, her voice heavy with the weight of their decision. "Let's do it."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ashleigh Lewis and Alanna returned to the manor, clutching their reclaimed ring like a precious treasure. Their victory was short-lived, however, as they were met with somber faces and news of Marina's death. The joy evaporated from their eyes, replaced with shock and sorrow.

"Where have you two been?" Miguel asked, returning to the manor at Macey's request. He eyed the ring in Alanna's hand, but said nothing of it. "Macey wants everyone here until she has a chance to question us all."

"Damn it," Alanna murmured under her breath. As the group gathered in the manor, a sense of unease settled over them like a suffocating fog, each person lost in their thoughts and fears, waiting for answers that seemed impossibly out of reach.