Page 13 of Deadly Past

Wynona nodded, her eyes as troubled as they had been since she’d arrived.

“There’s some heavy weather moving in later today,” JT said. “You’d better make sure you have plenty of wood for the stove and supplies in case you’re stuck out there. You know cell service is sketchy during storms.”

“I do.” The tension in his back doubled. Was he making a mistake that might cost both Wynona and him their lives?

Chapter Four

Wynona kept her eyes glued to the rearview mirror.

“Relax. There’s no one back there,” Declan said quietly, yet she still couldn’t relax.

She stroked Simone’s fur. Holding the cat in her lap and hearing Simone’s steady purring comforted her. “I know. It’s just difficult.”

He reached over and squeezed her arm. The meeting with Declan’s team had been both emotionally draining having to share Lacey’s story again as well as eye-opening. For the first time in a long time, she felt as if she had someone on her side.

One thing that was said at the meeting kept bugging her. “Do you really think he came back to the house for something?” Wynona couldn’t imagine why Lacey’s abductor would risk getting caught after so long. She turned her head to Declan as she remembered something that had slipped her mind until now. “I almost forgot to tell you about something that happened back then.”

“What is it?” Declan’s troubled gaze shifted to her briefly before returning to the road ahead.

“I remember Mom telling my dad that she thought someone had gone through things in the house the day after Lacey’s disappearance.”

“You’re kidding. Did they report it to the police?”

“They did. The police told them it was probably just the officers who had searched the house. Of course, after Dad disappeared, the police looked at his involvement. They thought maybe he’d done something to Lacey and had someone else take her. But that theory didn’t pan out. They talked to everyone who knew Dad. Along with my description of the man, they ruled him out as a suspect quickly.”

“Were there ever any other occasions where things were disturbed?”

Wynona searched her memory. “I don’t think so.”

“Still, it’s worth mentioning to the team. It makes me wonder if this might have had something to do with Lacey’s abductor looking for her insulin for whatever reason. Maybe he wanted to keep her alive longer, or maybe he felt sorry for her.” Declan used the hands-free app to call JT. “Wynona remembered something that I think is useful.” He told JT about the incident and his thoughts on the insulin.

“That is interesting. It could be he came back for the insulin, or perhaps Lacey’s abductor realized he’d left something behind when he took her. He might have been worried someone would find it and give it to the police.”

Declan parked the truck in front of a grocery store. “It’s possible. Has anything turned up at my place?”

JT’s sigh said enough. “Nothing useful. Hopefully, the receipt will yield a viable fingerprint. Will gave it to one of his people to take to the lab. We should know something soon. Where are you?”

“At the store near the harbor. I figure we’d better grab some supplies in case the storm keeps us here for a while.”

“Good thinking. Once you reach the cabin, let me know. If you have any problems, call me.”

Declan smiled. “You got it.”

“Be careful, okay? Until we know who and what we’re dealing with, it’s best to be as careful as possible.”

“Roger that.” Declan ended the call and shifted in his seat. “Okay, Simone, you know the drill. Back in your carrier until we come back.”

The cat gave a protesting meow as Declan placed her inside the carrier.

“Ready?” he asked Wynona, his attention on her face.

She pulled in a breath and slowly nodded. Opening the door, she slid out. Declan followed and locked the vehicle. He held the door open for her as they stepped inside a quaint New England grocery that felt like stepping back in time. The counter near the front held a huge, ornate cash register from another era. The ceiling was high and the floors wooden.

“Morning, Declan.” The older man behind the counter laid down his pen. “Looks like you brought a friend.”

Declan looked to Wynona with an apologetic grin. “Yes, sir. We’re here to grab some supplies before the storm hits, Mr. Edwards.”

“Ah, yes. Supposed to be a nasty one. Right before Christmas, too.”

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