“We didn’t kill anybody!” Brenda exploded. “Don’t you ever say that again. Are you listening to me, Fran? What happened was an accident. For all we know, he was already dead.”
“Quiet down, both of you.” Alison said, knowing she had to take charge. “Arguing won’t help us. We had this same argument a hundred times last summer. The fact is, none of us knows whether he’s dead or alive...”
She froze aghast at her slip, at the idea that must have formed deep in her mind the moment she had read the chain letter. Fran and Brenda were staring at her, waiting for an explanation. She had meant to say: The fact is, none of us knows whether he was dead or alive. Of course, he must be dead now. They had buried him.
