Page 9 of Cold Case Discovery

“Go on, then,” Jack said, not unkindly but with that stoic detachment of his firmly in place.

“Another set of remains was found next to the first.” Chloe had to resist the urge to clear her throat, but she couldn’t resist the urge to look at Jack, to try to see what he was really feeling under that mask of stoicism.

Mostly, she figured no one would see that lost look to his dark eyes. They’d see the grim expression, the hard line of his mouth, and think he had it under control.

He didn’t. Chloe knew he didn’t, and she knew he’d die before admitting it to anyone. Even himself.

“Any identifying information?” he asked.

“They wouldn’t tell me anything, but I took a slightly illegal and unauthorized picture of some evidence they gathered. I can show whoever is willing to bend the rules a little bit what I’ve got.”

Immediately, most of the Hudsons crowded around her as she took out her phone. She pulled the picture up on the screen and tried not to betray her surprise when Jack stepped close enough in front of her to see it as well.

“You already saw one ring, Jack, but there was a ring with the other remains as well. They’re both in this evidence bag.” She zoomed in on the picture so they could see the rings.

Then she looked up at Jack. He didn’t have to say anything. Chloe could see it in his eyes.

He nodded.

Chloe knew it would be Dean Hudson’s wedding band, but maybe she’d hoped... Oh, she didn’t know. There was very little possibility the two skeletal remains weren’t the missing Hudson parents.

She had to remind herself to look away from Jack, to focus on her job. “The detectives will be by to fill you guys in. To ask questions, I’m sure. I...tried to convince them to let me, but it was a no go.”

“It’s best if it’s a third party,” Jack said. “We’re all staying out of it, letting Bent County do their job.”

Chloe opened her mouth to say something, but she forgot what because that didn’t makeanysense. “I’m sorry. What?”

“See?” Anna muttered. “Staying out of it doesn’t make any sense.”

But Jack’s expression remained firm, and he didn’t look at Anna. “Thanks for the update, Deputy Brink, but we think—”

“Youthink,” Palmer interjected.

“—it’s best if we let police handle this.”

“Oh. Well, sure.” She had just been resoundingly dismissed. She was so shocked by it, so confused by Jack’s unusual response, she just stood there for a moment, not quite sure what to do.

“Are you sure you don’t want any breakfast, Chloe?” Mary asked.

Chloe shook her head. No. She needed to leave. She needed... She glanced at Jack. He was calmly sipping from his coffee mug. But she recognized those careful, mild movements.

They were very deliberate. Verycareful, like he was holding himself braced for a blow. He’d looked like that when Louisa had been kidnapped last year, when Anna had been in the hospital—basically any time a member of his family was in trouble, it was like there was a ticking time bomb inside he was doing everything he could not to detonate.

And it wasnoneof her business. “Well, I’m heading into my shift. I’ll...” She didn’t know what to say if they didn’t want insider updates on the whole thing. Well, notthey. Jack.

But Jack ran the show. This time she had to clear her throat in order to speak. “I’ll see you all later.”

She turned on a heel, and she had no idea why she feltemotional. And just so very, very alone. But she walked out of the house having to work way too hard to fight back tears.

She just needed rest. After she worked her shift, she’d sleep. Of course, first she’d have to deal with what she was going to do with her brother. Which was a whole other headache she didn’t have any answers for.

Before she could reach the bottom of the porch stairs, she heard Jack say her name.

She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Repeated herBe strongmantra a few times before she turned to face him.

“Thank you for coming out,” he said, a little stiffly. “We appreciate the update.”

She couldn’t help but be amused despite everything churning inside her. She knew them all a little too well. “Mary made you come say that.”

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