Page 63 of My Killer Blind Date

Totally normal.

That was the stuff in Liam’s freezer.

Not nefarious at all. Perhaps he was going to make a hamburger with it – or a hundred hamburgers, considering the quantity. Or taco meat. Or hamburger stroganoff.

Oh my God, stop thinking about what he was going to do with it!

The bottom line is, it’s not Zoe – or anyone else.

I want to burst out screaming, dancing, crying, but happy crying.

This is the confirmation I need that he’s innocent.

‘… I mean gondolas are overrated, we all know it …’

‘It sounds amazing,’ I gush. ‘I’m so happy for you!’

And I’m so happy for me too.

I mean, shit is still bleak, and I’m nowhere closer to solving Zoe’s disappearance … but the guy I have a crush on is not a serial killer. Of course technically he still could be. To George’s point, nothing in life is a hundred per cent certain. But the chance of it feels so tiny, so improbable, and every experience I’ve had with Liam has been so wonderful. This isn’t math. We can’t know absolutely everything about anyone. What George said after hot yoga is right, dammit. At some point, trust truly is a choice.

Not everything with Liam has been wonderful, my annoying brain reminds me. There was that night he almost beat up that thief.

Yeah, fine, there was a scary moment, but the key word is almost. He punched the guy once and then stopped. Anyway, it was all for me, right?

Maybe this moment isn’t just a turning point between me and Liam. Maybe it really should be a turning point between me and Zoe. I return to the thought that barged, uninvited, into my head on the night of our salsa dancing escapade. Is it actually time to lay off the gas with the investigation?

‘But oh my God, I’ve been blathering the whole time!’ George finishes. ‘What’s new, girl?’

‘A few things,’ I say, hearing the quiet happiness in my own voice.

‘You are not allowed to be vague with me!’

‘Fine. Since you insist, I’m applying for a small business loan on Friday.’

There’s silence. Then, screeching.

‘Oh my GOD, Margot! Oh my GOD!’

I have to laugh at my enthusiastic, supportive friend.

‘What changed?’ she asks.

I grin. The truth is, by risking my ass going after the guy who I thought was a serial killer, I’ve proved to myself how brave I can be.

‘Nothing.’ I sigh. ‘And everything. I don’t know. It’s just time for a change.’

‘Listen.’ George’s voice goes into professional mode. ‘Send me your business plan. You know I’m a corporate girlie. And God, Arjun is in venture capital! He’s a genius at this stuff! We’ll both review it tonight and put in our two cents.’

‘Really? You’d do that? With the wedding just around the corner?’

‘Girl …’

‘Thank you,’ I say, and I mean it from the very core of my heart.

We do a kissy sign off, and I finish my breakfast. I can’t stop smiling.

My feeling at the salsa studio was right. Something is shifting. Everything is shifting. And it feels …