Page 312 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

He did manage to get a lead on why Parsons may have had the large cooler out on Harvey Lake. Dorotthea told him a story about a woman who’d tried to fight back when one of the men grabbed her. Her life had been snuffed out by the ruthless drug dealer. Wade suspected Parsons was the one responsible for disposing of her body.

Early Saturday morning, he took Ruger for a run. While he ran, he prayed. It was the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the twin towers. The day always left him feeling pensive. He was in elementary school back then, and hisparents tried to shield him, but he’d seen the devastation, and everything changed in an instant.

When he returned to the house, Emily was there waiting. He scanned the area but didn’t see her bodyguard. “Are you alone?”

“I wish.” She twirled a strand of hair around her forefinger. “Sandra’s inside.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad you’re here. It’s a nice surprise.”

“I figured if I waited for you to come to me, I’d be waiting a while since you’re busy with Jamie’s case.”

“True. We had a huge combination human trafficking and drug bust yesterday, but it wasn’t what we’d been hoping to find when we searched the property.”

“Where do you think he could be keeping her?”

“If we ever find him, we’ll put a tail on him and see where he goes, but last night’s stakeout was a bust. Parsons never showed.”

“What’s next?”

“I’ll take another look at the evidence and decide where to take the investigation. If I make the wrong choice, it could cost Jamie her life.”

She stared down at her shoes. “If he follows the same timeline he did with Lorraine Moore…”

“I have to believe she’s alive.”

Emily lifted her chin. “How can I help?”

“By staying safe.”

“Don’t shut me out. If I stick with you, I’ll be safe. I want to help.”

“I brought work home with me. We can set up in the dining room and look for new leads.”

“Or an old lead that was dismissed as unimportant,” she said.

“That’s a good point.” He hurried inside with her on his heels. “There was a lead Jamie and I were following before she disappeared.”

“What was it?”

“Probably nothing, but it might be something.”

“Wade!”

“Donations were made to Senator Martin’s campaign by all of the murdered women.”

“You don’t think Senator Martin is somehow involved?”

“No, but someone close to her might be. Possibly the person taking down the information from donors or an aide of some sort.”

“Do you have a laptop I can use?”

“Use my personal one.” He strode into his office and grabbed his computer for her and then dug his work one out of his briefcase. After he logged her in, she collected information on Senator Martin’s staff while he sorted through the other evidence looking for more leads.

Wade paidthe pizza delivery boy and gave him a generous tip. Remembering how much Emily liked peppers on her pizza, he’d ordered half peppers and onions and half meat-lovers. When he placed the pizza on the kitchen table, Emily bowed her head. Once they’d thanked their heavenly Father for the food, she lifted the box lid and smiled.

“You remembered.”

“Of course.”

---