Page 263 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Do you know where she ordered from?”

“From what I’ve heard, the salad place down the street nine times out of ten.”

“All right. Thanks.”

After interviewing three or four more people at the courthouse and receiving similar responses, Wade resigned himself to the fact that he was unlikely to learn anything helpful at Mary Van Britton’s place of employment, so he headed backto the station. Maybe if he went through her file again, he’d find another thread on which to focus his energies. Something was eluding him; a piece of the puzzle just out of reach.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The man pulled his cap low and stared at the park map without seeing it. The park ranger stood a mere ten feet from him talking on her cell phone. He didn’t get service in the remote area of the park, but somehow, she had a signal. He’d overheard her mention Judge Mary Van Britton, so he’d crept closer to eavesdrop on her conversation. They’d identified his first love. He was certain he couldn’t be connected to the judge, but he needed to find out exactly what Emily Davis knew.

He’d taken every precaution possible to keep from being identified.

All would be well, but if Emily got too close, he’d take care of her. And the pleasure would be all his.

Emily was enjoyinga moment’s reprieve in the office on Monday morning when Wade’s voice broke the silence. She spilled the coffee she’d been pouring into her travel mug. After cleaning up her spill, she glanced through the open door into thevisitor center. Austin was pointing something out to Wade in the interactive exhibit area.

She took a deep breath and steeled herself. There was no way she would hide from him. He wasn’t going to disappear from her life again anytime soon, so she may as well get used to having him around. The idea didn’t disturb her as much as it would’ve a few weeks earlier. Forcing a smile, she strode up to the two men. “How’s it going, guys?”

“Never better,” Austin answered in a strange tone.

Wade took a step back from the glass case he’d been inspecting. “I have work to do. I’ll leave you two alone.” Before giving them a chance to reply, he was pushing through the front doors.

“That was an abrupt exit,” Emily said. “Did I interrupt something?”

Austin raised an eyebrow and frowned. “No. I was showing him the exhibits.” His chin jutted out, and she noticed how tightly his jaw was clenched. “You need to tell Wade the truth. He can’t be in the same room with us together because he thinks we’re an item, and he isn’t over you.”

“It’s been more than a decade. I have no doubt he’s moved on.” She straightened her ponytail.

He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re lying to yourself. It’s obvious the two of you have unresolved feelings.”

Maybe she was deceiving herself, but she didn’t need him to point it out. “I need to patrol the campgrounds. I’ll see you later.” She started toward the door, leaving her coffee behind in her haste.

Austin’s words followed her through the door. “If you don’t tell him the truth, I will.”

The following day,Emily was eating her lunch in her vehicle at the turnoff for Boulder Field Road when she spotted Wade’s Crown Vic. If she was going to come clean, now was as good a time as any.

She stuffed her sandwich back into the bag, her appetite gone. When she reached the parking lot, Wade was starting down the deer trail where she’d first come across the skull. She shuddered and braced herself to return to where it all started.

It was silly for it to bother her. She’d been there dozens of times during those first few days after the discovery of the remains. There was nothing to fear now.

She slid from the driver’s seat, shut the door, and dashed to the trail hoping to catch up with him. The birds weren’t singing, so the area was eerily silent.

Wade must’ve sensed someone’s presence on the trail. His posture stiffened, and he reached for his service weapon as he turned toward her. Her hands went up automatically. “It’s me.”

“You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that, Em.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure you’d hear me if I called out, so I tried to get closer first.”

“I can hear you fine.” He took a few steps toward her.

She closed the remaining distance. “I hoped we could talk.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea for us to be alone? If I were Austin, I wouldn’t like it one bit.”

“That’s the thing.” She blew out a puff of air. “Austin and I are not?—”

A bloodcurdling scream interrupted her confession. “I need to see to that.” She jogged toward the sound, and Wade kept pace with her across the uneven terrain.

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