[Ambys 2022: Mystery/Thriller Winner]
Discovering a dead body just minutes from her cottage in the trees is the last thing Dray Dinley expects upon moving to the remote town of Hero.
Being convinced by the town outcast and suspected murderer, Wells...
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They were out the door in no time.
Dray walked close enough to Wells to feel nerves swirl in the pit of her stomach. She let out a deep breath as silently as she could.
"This isn't a good idea." Wells shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, staring straight ahead.
They walked for a while towards downtown, but a little more east and away from the lake. Peter's house stood at the end of the block. Hero was proving to be quite the walking distance town.
Dray glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Not all ideas have to be good, Wells," she said with a pep in her step.
He snorted, shaking his head. "That is horrible logic."
A grin slid to her cheeks, but they had arrived at the door. She knocked before Wells could say anymore.
"Dray!" Porter yelled, swinging open the screen door. "I'm so glad you could make it." His outstretched arm tried to usher her inside, slithering its way between her and Wells.
Dray abruptly stepped away from Porter. "Hi," she said, keenly aware of a different hand that found its place on her back.
Finally taking a hint, Porter stutter-stepped to stop his movement forward and dropped the smile. "Wells."
One side of Wells' mouth lifted up in a smile only there to mock him. "Porter."
Cutting the annoyingly growing tension, Dray grabbed Wells' arm to pull him inside, but was interrupted by the younger Middleton.
"Porter!" Peter's head popped up behind his older brother's shoulder. "Time to check the grill." He pushed him back and slinked around him without a second glance. "Come on in guys." He leaned on the door, holding it back. His hand flopped in the air as he gestured them inside.
Quiet thank yous were given as the duo walked over the threshold, Peter following suit. He led a quick tour, essentially showing where the bathrooms were, and brought them outside to the party.
The backyard filled with people caused a different bout of nerves in Dray's stomach. She didn't know anyone aside form the small group she had met at the block party. Mikki's fiery red hair stuck out like a sore thumb.
Her lack of town people knowledge quickly came to an end as Peter wasted no time in dragging her along to be introduced to—what Dray guessed to be—every single person that stood in the yard. She felt like the special guest, though no one actually cared until Peter walked up to them.
For backup, she made sure to latch on to Wells and surprisingly, most said hi to him. Looked like Hero wasn't as gossip driven as she had originally thought.
With a little lull between handshakes, Dray mistakenly believed the introductions were finished, but Peter snatched her wrist yet again. She turned around to reach for Wells, but only grasped air. He left and she wasn't sure when he had.
