Chapter 38
The best man, Tim, took the brunt of the blows. Whether that was because he was outmatched or subconsciously taking the hits on purpose as a penance, Sean wasn’t sure. But aside from the bruises and cuts and the obvious pain from the fight, Tim also looked relieved.
“How is he?” Tim asked.
“He’s upset,” Sean answered.
Tim scoffed. “That’s probably just on the surface.
A lot of people look at Ben and think he’s just some kind of an idiot by the way he looks.
But he’s smarter than people realize.” He looked up at Sean.
“Did you know that he got straight As in college? All four years? He even got accepted into Harvard Law.”
“He’s a lawyer?” Sean asked.
“No, he didn’t end up doing it,” Tim answered. “His father wanted him to take over the family construction business so that’s what he did. He could have done anything, though. Could have been anything.” He shrugged. “I guess I’ve always been a little jealous of him.”
“And sleeping with his bride was a way to even the score?” Sean asked.
“No,” Tim answered. “I loved Karla. From the first moment I saw her, I was head over heels. Obsessed is probably the word. But I never acted on it, never dared to, because Ben was my best friend. And I know he loved her… Or at least I thought he did.” He grimaced.
“Ben cheated a lot. But when he started sleeping with Julie…” He shook his head.
“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Everything’s gone to shit. ”
Sean waited for more, but when the best man remained silent, he cleared his throat. “You know how this looks, right? The bride you’re sleeping with behind your best friend’s back ends up dead. You’re telling me that you had nothing to do with it?”
“I don’t care what it looks like anymore, Sheriff,” Tim said. “The woman I loved is dead. Arrest me. Don’t arrest me. My life is over.”
Sean didn’t expect such apathy from the man, not after how hard he had worked to deceive everyone. But then again, maybe this was just a part of the show.
Sean glanced around the lobby. It was quiet. And for the first time, Sean realized just how deep that snow had buried them. They were cut off from the rest of the world, and this hotel had become an echo chamber, a place for all their fears and insecurities to bounce off the walls back at them.
The violence that had happened here was a stark contrast to the hotel’s beauty. But this place seemed to pull secrets out of people. Like drawing poison from a wound.
“Sheriff?”
Sean turned around. Roman Grayson had never come across as a timid man, but looking at him now, Sean couldn’t help but notice his hesitancy.
“There’s something I need to show you,” Mr. Grayson said.