Page 105 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I haven’t figured that out.”

Cote stared past her a long moment, then shook his head. “If they used the house back then, your dad could only have known about it if he was involved.”

“Maybe Mom told him?”

“Maybe. But all the evidence must have been cleaned up long ago. When did he buy the house?”

“Two years ago.” So that theory didn’t hold water. “Where do you think my mother went?”

Cote leaned forward and rested his weight on his forearms. “You know as much as I do now. What doyouthink?”

“Dad said she disappeared. Nobody seems to think she’s still alive. You must have a theory.”

“Nothing I could back up with facts. Unlike my theories about the bombing, all I have regarding your mother is educated guesses. I can’t imagine Brent having hurt her, not as much as he loved her. He claimed your father did it. He made a big stink about how they used to fight, how your father was jealous.”

“Dad would never do that.” The very thought of it was abhorrent. “And anyway, he was home with me, right?”

“He wasn’t, actually. His parents—your grandparents—were there. They stayed with you sometimes. They said your dad got a call from your mom and left about nine o’clock.”

That was suspicious. Even still… “You don’t think my dad had anything to do with the bombing or with my mother’s disappearance.” She said the words with confidence, praying she was right.

“The bombing, no.”

She sat back. “You don’t mean… You don’t think my father hurt her.”

“Your father said Jane called him and asked him to meet her up on Rattlesnake. I guess they’d gone up there a couple of times. He said he went, but when he arrived, she wasn’t there. Then he heard the explosion and went home to make sure you were all right.”

“My grandparents were able to confirm that, right?”

“I’m afraid there’s a pretty decent chunk of time missing.”

Aspen didn’t want to hear the chief’s theories. She wanted to cover her ears to keep any more of his words from entering her mind, to keep the doubts at bay. But she’d come here for answers.

“What do you think happened?”

He started to speak, then closed his mouth. After a moment, he said, “Since you came back, an idea’s been forming…about that house.”

She swallowed but kept quiet.

“You’re an intelligent woman. I’m sure it’s occurred to you as well. Maybe your father bought that house because your mother is buried somewhere on the property. But if that’s the case?—”

“My father didn’t kill my mother.”

“If he found out about the bombing, if he found out about her affair with Salcito? Extreme circumstances can make people do extreme things.” The tone was placating. “Would you be willing to let me get ground-penetrating radar out there? If she’s buried on the property, don’t you want to know?”

Aspen had come to Coventry to find her mother.

But if Jane Kincaid was buried near the house Dad bought, then Dad had known all those years. And if he’d known where she was buried…

He’d killed her.

Was it even possible? Was Cote right?

She couldn’t believe it. She wouldn’t.

Cote watched while she wrestled with her thoughts. Wrestled, but there was really only one answer. Because Dad had sent her there to find her mother. To do right by her. And she couldn’t do that until she found her. She had to keep going, no matter how much it hurt.

She swallowed again. “Do it.”

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