Page 121 of Secrets in the Deep

“Stop it.” Melanie stepped forward. “This production was finished a long time ago, Roscoe. If you want to blame anyone, blame local law enforcement for not finding this idiot.”

Ward seemed to pull himself out of his boredom. “Ma’am, we have been doing everything we can to find this person.”

“So why aren’t you out there?” Emily asked.

His cheeks reddened. “Myteamis out there.” His eyes narrowed on Ryan. “Besides, this disappearance happened in the forest. This is SAR territory. Why haven’ttheyfound him?”

“My guys have been searching all night. If there was no foul play, and we have the right location, Preston should have been located by now.”

“You think I lied?” Faye gasped. “Wait, do you think it wasme?”

Silence passed. No one spoke. Not Ryan. Not Roscoe. Not Ward. Not even her mother.

Faye glanced around, wide-eyed. “I didn’t! I didn’t do anything!”

“Let’s go.” Ryan encouraged Emily toward her trailer, but Faye marched toward them and blocked their way.

“No! Say it first. Say you think I killed him. You think I took him to some random location, killed him, then came back to the inn and gave some fake spot for you guys to search.”

“Faye, stop,” Emily said.

Faye’s gaze switched to her, black with rage. “Bet no one suspects perfect Emily Prior. Because what wrong could the golden girl of Hollywood ever do?”

“No one suspects her because she was with me,” Ryan said.

“You got proof? Or we’re just supposed to take your word for it?” She looked back at Emily. “How about this for astory—golden girl Emily Prior gets bored after conquering everything in Hollywood. Decides to make her life more…exciting. She decides to bring the horror story to life.”

“I don’t need to make my life more exciting. I have everything I need.” Emily stepped around the woman and moved toward her trailer, Ryan by her side.

“You okay?” he asked, the warmth of his hand penetrating her back.

“Yeah. Considering how crappy this whole situation is, I am.”

She was about to walk up the steps, when her mother called her name.

“Emily!”

She barely held in the groan.

“Want me to tell her to go away?” Ryan whispered.

She turned to see her mother striding toward them and shook her head. “No. It’s fine.”

Ryan’s phone rang.

Emily nodded. “Answer it.”

He pulled out his cell, Ethan’s name flashing on the screen. He looked back at her. “I’ll be watching.”

“I know.”

Ryan had just stepped away when her mom stopped in front of her, slightly out of breath. “Are you okay?”

Emily raised her brows, because that had to be the most monotone way anyone had ever asked her if she was okay. “I’m fine.I’mnot missing.”

Her mother pursed her lips, looking away before focusing back to Emily. “Look, I think we need to talk.”

“Wearetalking.”