Page 21 of Deadly Past

“So, this happened when?” Declan was grabbing at straws trying to figure out how the young girl’s case related to Wynona.

“Two weeks before Wynona saw the man at her family house.”

“You think this has anything to do with Lacey?” Had they been wrong all along? Was this a separate incident that didn’t relate to Wynona’s sister’s appearance?

JT sighed. “My gut is saying they’re related.”

Declan felt the same way.

“We’ll keep digging,” JT assured him. “So far, we don’t have a hit on the sketch Wynona helped put together. Will’s people have been showing it around the island, but no one has seen him.” That was disturbing. Where was this guy?

“How are things on Breakers?” JT asked.

Declan told him about the Petersons being on the island. “They are both in law enforcement, so that makes me feel good. But they told me they’re leaving after Christmas to spend time with their family in Boston.” He recalled Amos’s absence. “Hey, you remember me telling you about the older man who lives here full time?”

“I do. Amos something or other.”

“Amos Meyer.” Declan told him about the man’s absence. “I know he has a daughter. Would you do a little searching and find her number? I’m worried about the old guy.”

“I’ll check into it and let you know what I find. Oh, I almost forgot. Will didn’t come up with any viable fingerprints on the receipt unfortunately. The man used gloves. Will swabbed for DNA, but there wasn’t enough to use.”

“Our guy knows how to keep his identity hidden. Could be he’s a former cop.”

“It’s possible. Anyway, until we know what’s really going on, stay vigilant. I have a feeling this thing is far from over.”

Long after Declan ended the call, he couldn’t get JT’s warning out of his head. He believed the same thing. This thing—whatever it was—had ties to Lacey and her abduction.

Declan poured the rest of the stew into a container and stored it along with the cornbread in the refrigerator. After he’d cleaned the kitchen, he brought coffee into the living room, grabbed his weapon, and sat watching the fire while pondering everything that had happened since Wynona had arrived at his doorstep. He hated to admit it. Nothing made sense, and the exhaustion of the day was setting in.

With a deep yawn, he set the cup down on the end table. Grabbing a blanket from the chest in the corner, he killed the lights and lay down, staring at the ceiling and willing sleep to come. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Wynona’s heartbroken face as she handed him back her wedding and engagement rings, tears shimmering in her eyes. That face was the last thing he saw before she slowly walked out of his life.

???

Something woke him. Declan’s eyes flew open. He couldn’t believe he’d finally fallen asleep. The last time he’d checked it was almost two in the morning.

Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he listened intently. The sound came from the front of the house. Just the wind? The pit in his stomach wouldn’t let him believe it was something that simple.

He snatched up the handgun and moved to the door, listening. Nothing. Was it the wind? Another movement outside the cabin said otherwise. Wynona had just stepped out. He hurried toward her. “Did you hear it, too?”

She shook her head. “No, I heard you. What did you hear?”

Declan wasn’t sure. “I don’t know. Something out front.”

“Maybe it’s a tree.” Wynona told him about the tree branch against the window.

“Possibly.” Still, he couldn’t let it go. “I’m going to check around the cabin to be sure.”

Wynona cinched her robe tighter and followed him to the living room where Simone had left her bed to investigate as well.

“Lock up behind me,” Declan told her as he grabbed his heavy jacket and pulled his watch cap down over his ears. With the flashlight in one hand and the weapon in the other, he stepped out into the nor’easter that was walloping the island.

Declan had to lean in close to the door to hear the locks engage. He clicked the light on and shined it on the ground. No sign anyone had been here recently. The sound came again from somewhere near the side of the house. One of the trees was almost doubled over from the blustery wind and brushing the side of the house.

Relief flowed through him.Thank you, God.While he was out, he’d check the rest of the perimeter to make sure everything was clear. Declan walked around the outside of the cabin and small garage not spotting anything unusual. Still with the driving snow and wind, even his footprints from earlier had quickly been disguised. Half frozen from the cold, Declan headed for the door when his cell phone rang.

The number on the screen belonged to Amos's.

“Amos, are you okay?”

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