Page 284 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Wade contacted the local police to let them know he had a search warrant for Parsons’ boat and then contacted Guy Herndon, the FBI agent assigned to the case, to ask for his assistance.

As he was gathering his things to leave the office, John Cunningham stopped at his desk. “Good morning, Wade.”

“Hey, Cunningham. Need something?”

“My aunt asked me to get a progress update on the case. I don’t know why she didn’t ask Pete. He works at the park, so he should be able to find out as easily as I can.”

“Why would she ask him?”

“He’s my cousin. Her son.”

“Gotcha. I’m on my way out the door to execute a search warrant on our main suspect’s boat.” His brow furrowed. “Who is your aunt?”

“Senator Martin.”

“Pete’s last name is Cunningham, right?”

“Yep. His mother kept her maiden name for political reasons.”

“Ah. That explains why I hadn’t made the connection.”

“My aunt told me Jamie called her a couple of times about someone she knew. A judge. She wondered if you’d found her killer yet.”

“Let Senator Martin know we’re on top of things. Feel free to give her the lieutenant’s number. He’ll be happy to keep her informed.”

“Are you sure he won’t mind?” John asked.

“Managing press and politicians is his specialty.” Wade stood and patted the other man on the back. “It’s all part of the job. Now I’d better get going. I don’t want to keep the FBI waiting.”

“FBI?” Cunningham’s voice trailed after him. The trooper would be in the lieutenant’s office asking about it in no time flat. Good. That would keep them both busy, so he could get on the road with no more distractions.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Emily awakened to the sun streaming in through the gauzy curtains. She’d turned off the alarm on her cell, so she could sleep in for a change. The past two months had felt like flying in turbulence, fully expecting to crash and burn. Between trying to anticipate the moves of a serial killer who had her in his sights and navigating the emotions Wade brought to the surface, she was near her breaking point. Too many sleepless nights and not enough time with God had left her feeling restless and broken. It was her own foolishness. She knew from whom her help came. If she longed for peace, there was only one place to find it. In the arms of her Savior.

It was time to seek God. She took her Bible to the kitchen table and read from it while she drank her morning coffee. She was two days behind in her annual reading plan, so she had some catching up to do. She read up through Jeremiah 7, and then stood and stretched. Most of her reading had focused on the nation of Israel and their refusal to repent and turn back to God, but she clung to verse eight of the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah. The words were spoken to the prophet, but a spiritual application could be made in her own life. “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith theLORD.” She knew from years of Bible reading and study that there was truth in that verse she could apply to herself. She’d long ago memorized verses in Luke where Jesus spoke of the same thing telling his followers not to fear people who could kill the body, but to fear Him who had the power to cast into hell. It was time for her to stop living in fear and trust in God’s protection.

She laced up her sneakers and headed out on her run, waving to Bob on her way past his house. It was uncanny how he always managed to be outdoors when she went out or came home.

As she ran, the tension seeped out of her. Running calmed her but meditating on God’s word grounded her. The serenity she’d been searching for filled her, and she was at peace for the first time in weeks. She slowed her steps to bring her heart rate back to normal. Bob was headed in her direction, so she braced herself for another awkward conversation. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him, but how could she consider dating him when she was infatuated with Wade.

If she believed they could make a life together, she’d jump at the chance to get back together, but her fragile heart barely survived loving him the first time. Fear was holding her back, plain and simple. She was afraid of letting him in and getting hurt again.

“Did you have a nice run?”

“I did.” She stilled and put her hands on her thighs, catching her breath.

“A guy stopped by your house and left a package, but he took off when I asked for a name.”

She couldn’t imagine why someone would run off instead of leaving their name unless they were up to no good. “That’s strange.”

“I thought you should know.”

She turned her head from side to side. “Did you happen to notice his license plate number?”

“He was on foot. I took his picture with my cell.” He handed her his phone so she could see the blurry picture of a guy in a baseball cap wearing a hoodie pulled up over it.

“Would you text it to me, please?”

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