Page 38 of Deadly Past

“If that’s the case, then why wait so long to come after Wynona?” Declan demanded. Wynona reached for his hand, and he squeezed it. He was thinking clearly for them both.

“We tried to come for her, but the police had been called. After that, well, there wasn’t another opportunity. Grace kept you well protected,” she said with a grim expression.

Wynona didn’t know what to believe anymore. She thought she knew her parents, but the way her father had abandoned them after Lacey’s disappearance made her wonder if something in Melia’s story might be true. With her mother’s passing, there was no one to ask.

Lights flashed through the curtains.

“That looks like our backup,” Becky told them with relief. “You’ve got them covered?” she asked her husband.

“I do.”

Soon, the room filled up with officers.

“Boy, are we glad to see you,” Declan told Will.

“The rest of the team is right behind me.”

While Will and his team took custody of the two who had attacked them, Declan kept Wynona close and weaved them through the crowd to Eli and Janine.

“Sounds like you have had a lot of excitement. Glad you’re both safe,” Eli told them. “JT wanted to come, but with Rachel’s due date so close.” He pointed to Declan’s head. “You need to have that looked at.”

“I have paramedics with me,” Will assured him once he’d joined them.

“Appreciate it,” Declan said with a smile of gratitude.

“This is a mess.” Wynona told them about Melia’s claims.

“Chances are she’s covering up something. Why else wouldn’t she and her husband have involved the police once they located you and Lacey twenty years earlier?” Janine squeezed Wynona’s arm. “Hang in there. We’ll get you the truth.”

Wynona hadn’t thought about it, but it didn’t make sense.

After Declan was treated, several officers came over to take both of their statements.

Wynona couldn’t take her eyes off the couple who might be her parents. What Janine said kept playing through her head.

“We’ll be taking them into custody from here,” Will told them. “They’ll be fingerprinted, so hopefully we’ll be able to sort out their identities. Officers are now searching Amos’s cabin for him.”

“Check the basement.” Wynona instinctively stepped closer to Declan. This was a nightmare that was far from over.

After Melia and Albert were removed from the cabin, Will returned to them. “I’ve arranged for you and Declan to watch the interview if you’d like.”

“Thank you,” Wynona told him gratefully before facing Declan. “I want to hear what they have to say.”

He didn’t hesitate. “Then, we’ll go.”

While Wynona packed, Declan closed up the cabin. By the time Will was ready to transport Melia and Albert back to Hope Island, they were ready to go as well.

“We’ll follow you all to the precinct.” Declan helped Wynona and Simone onto the boat. Once Simone was safely stashed below, they followed the police boat.

Wynona wasn’t sure what she feared the most. Finding out the truth about her sister after all this time, or learning that her parents had lied about everything she believed she knew.

???

“We have their identities.” Will came over to where Declan stood with a protective arm around Wynona who was barely holding it together.

“You do?” Wynona’s eyes widened. “Who are they?”

“Tammy and Harvey Kirkland. They may be living in Canada under assumed names now, but they’re wanted for multiple bank robberies and other crimes across the East Coast.”

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