Page 30 of Deadly Past

“For the time being, since there’s been no sighting of the man, I’d say the safest place for you two is right where you are,” JT told them.

Declan agreed. “You’ll let us know if anything pops?”

“You got it, my friend,” JT said. “Until we know more, stay put and stay safe.”

“Roger that.” Declan ended the call and shifted in his seat so that he faced Wynona. “What do you think?”

Her forlorn expression was hard to take. “I don’t think we’ll ever have the answers we need.”

He gathered her close. “You can’t give up, Wynona. I feel like we’re getting closer.”

She leaned her head against his chest. “I’m just so tired. I thought if we could finally know what happened to Lacey once and for all, I could step from the shadow of that night and start living again. It’s followed me throughout my entire adult life. I let it take control over everything.” She pulled away and searched his face. “It destroyed our marriage.”

Declan’s heart broke for her. He couldn’t let her take the blame. “That’s not true. I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”

“No, it wasn’t your fault. I was so obsessed with finding the truth that I couldn’t be the wife you needed me to be. I kept so much of myself from you.”

“Oh, Wynona.” Declan cupped her cheek, hating those tears in her eyes. “I guess we both weren’t the best we could have been.” He leaned his forehead against hers.

She gulped in a breath and nodded. “I guess you’re right.” She pulled away. “But I’m sorry for my part, Declan.”

“And I’m sorry as well.” His heart threatened to take flight at the love he saw in her eyes. But he couldn’t go there again. Not with the possibility of the same outcome. He couldn’t love her again and lose her and survive that much pain.

Chapter Seven

“Sorry to unload all of this on you,” she said to lighten the mood.

The sincerity on his face was almost her undoing. “You have nothing to apologize for, Wynona. I can’t imagine going through what you and your family went through and living with not knowing.”

“It’s been crippling.” She hadn’t admitted that to another person. “I’ve been running from it as well as clinging to it for most of my life.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t give up on me.” Her eyes widened, but he continued. “I think we’re going to find out the truth this time. I really do.”

Wynona somehow kept from showing regret. He was talking about the case. She was hoping for them. Pushing back her chair, she rose unsteadily. “Do you want more coffee?”

Declan’s expression showed regret. What was the cause of it? She’d give anything to know. “Sure. I think I’ll give Becky Peterson a call and try to explain why I pulled a gun on her son.”

Wynona forced a laugh while he stepped away to make the call. She was grateful for the moment alone. It gave her time to collect herself. Her hands were shaking, so she clasped them together.Get a grip.She’d come to Declan for his help in solving her sister’s disappearance, not to retrieve whatever chance she had with him. Pouring two cups of coffee, she found him in the living room as the call was ending. Wynona handed him a cup. “Everything okay there?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I didn’t have to say much. She understands about my job.”

“Because she’s a cop? That’s somehow comforting knowing there are others who can back us up in caseheshows up here.”

“Yes, it is. Anyway, Becky invited us over to dinner tonight—with it being Christmas Eve and all. You feel up to it?”

“I almost forgot it was Christmas Eve.” She didn’t really feel up to going, but getting outside of her head might be exactly what she needed. “It sounds nice.”

“I’ll shoot her a quick text. She’ll be thrilled.” He typed a few words. The response came quickly. “All right, we’re on for seven, and she says not to bring a thing because she has been cooking for days.”

Wynona laughed. “That’s nice. An old-fashioned Christmas sounds like the perfect way to spend the holiday.”

“You’re right. Shall we gussy up this tree?”

She giggled at his wording. “Let’s.” Though the reason she’d come searching for Declan was as terrifying as what she believed would be the truth behind the decade’s-old disappearance of Lacey, she was enjoying every minute with him. Their relationship was different than before, and she believed they might be becoming friends.

Declan opened one of the boxes and stood back. “I don’t think I’ve seen that many ornaments in my life.”

Wynona looked past him to a box filled with antique Christmas ornaments. “Oh, they’re lovely.” She leaned over and pulled one from the box. “These are all glass ornaments. I can’t imagine how old they must be. Why would the owners leave them here?” In her mind, they had to be family heirlooms.

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