Page 20 of Deadly Past

The question was a knife to her heart. She hadn’t spoken to her dad since he’d left them following Lacey’s disappearance. He’d simply checked out on his family, unable to deal with his youngest child’s absence.

She set her spoon down. “I haven’t heard from him, and I don’t think I ever will. After Mom passed, I posted the news on Facebook hoping it would bring him home for the funeral at least, but it didn’t. I guess he really doesn’t care.” The last part was choked out.

Declan’s gaze softened. “I’m so sorry.”

She kept her attention on her bowl. At one time—before that summer—her dad had been her world. He’d taught her how to ride a bike. Fish.

Wynona struggled to find something safe to say to change the subject. “How have you been, Declan?”

He looked up, and she caught her breath.

“Better. It took me a long time to get here, but I’m okay.”

She wanted to be happy to hear he was doing okay, but it meant he’d gotten over her. But she hadn’t gotten over him. This trip—the past years—had proved as much.

Wynona scraped back her chair and carried her bowl over to the sink and washed it out. She gathered her composure before facing him. “Guess I’m more tired than I thought. I think I’ll call it an evening.”

Declan rose as she passed by. Wynona managed to hold onto the tears until she reached the bedroom. She should never have come to Declan for help. If there had been any other option, she wouldn’t have. Enough of that. Wynona showered and then slipped under the covers. She hadn’t prayed in so long. After Lacey’s disappearance and her father’s abandonment, Wynona had prayed for him to return, but he never did. She’d blamed God for the things that happened to her family. Maybe it was time to stop blaming Him and start asking for help.

She closed her eyes.God, I don’t know how to pray anymore. It’s been so long. Please help me find the answers I need to move on with my life. And help me let Declan go again because I don’t think I can without falling apart.

???

Declan ran his hand through his hair. Just when he thought the past might be overcome, Wynona pulled him back, and he was left feeling as if all the mistakes he’d made in their marriage would forever stand between them. He needed something to take his mind off the woman sleeping in the next room. Declan grabbed his cell and reached out to JT, surprised when the call went through.

“Hey, buddy. How are things there?”

“It’s been quiet. Wynona’s sleeping.” He didn’t want to elaborate. “Was Eli able to speak with the Bangor police?”

The lengthy pause wasn’t encouraging. “He did. The case is being worked by their cold-case unit. Eli spoke to the detective in charge at length and was able to go over the files. They even gave him copies of what wasn’t included in Wynona’s.”

Declan blew out a long whistle. “That’s good. Was there anything useful?”

“Not really. But there was one thing that was interesting. You remember the missing girl that Wynona mentioned recently with a similar MO to Lacey?”

Declan did. “Has something happened to her?”

“She’s been found alive. The girl was dropped off at the local Walmart and told to ask for help.”

“You’re kidding? Did she get a good look at her kidnapper?”

“No, she didn’t. He wore a mask, and she was blindfolded throughout her time. But get this, the person who took her was with someone—a woman. She said they kept asking about her time in the hospital.”

“Her time in the hospital?” Declan was even more confused.

“Apparently, the young girl was supposed to donate a kidney to her older sister, but the sister ended up dying before she could.”

“You’re kidding. That’s horrible.” Declan’s tried to untangle the connection. “Why would her kidnapper care about her being a donor?”

“According to the girl, he asked a bunch of questions. And she could hear him and the woman talking. The girl said they were interested in her kidney. She said they talked about using it.”

“Wait—what?” They were going to take the girl’s kidney? “That’s sick.”

“Werebeing the key word. She said the man told her everything would be fine. They had a doctor who could do the surgery, and she’d be taken care of. Needless to say, she was terrified. When the day of the surgery came, something must have happened because they told her the surgery wasn’t possible anymore. They drove her to Walmart and told her to ask for help.”

“Did she get a look at the vehicle they drove?” Declan tried to untangle the reason why the couple would let the child go. The only thing that made sense was that they’d somehow discovered she wasn’t compatible with the person needing the kidney which had probably saved the young girl’s life. Had the man taken the child to help his wife?

“She did. It was a pickup truck matching the description of the one Wynona saw at her family’s home.”

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