Page 325 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Gut instinct.”

“You aren’t one to put much stock in your gut.”

“It can be unreliable.”

“Do you think you’re too emotionally involved in this since you worked with Jamie?”

“My head is clear. I can do this.” It was best to keep his newly rekindled relationship with Emily quiet. If Mac knew he was in love with her, he’d have him off the case before he could snap his fingers.

“Go ahead. Follow up, but tread carefully. Don’t go knocking down any doors.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Wade made another call knowing if he found what he believed he might, he would have to choose between violating the rights of the Cunningham family and throwing away his career or saving the woman he loved. If it meant saving Emily, he wouldn’t hesitate to break protocol.

Wade answeredon the first ring. He’d been anticipating the call from Steve, the researcher. The man was good at his job. And fast. Wade preferred to do his own research, so he didn’t often require Steve’s services, but he appreciated him today.

“What did you find?”

“A large property formerly owned by a Peter Francis Cunningham, Sr. It transferred to his wife when he died.”

“It belongs to Senator Martin?”

“Yes,” Steve answered.

“What’s the address?”

“I’ll text it to you.”

Twenty-five minutes later, Wade waited at the end of a long driveway until his team was assembled. It was time to search the property, but so many things could go wrong.

Austin pulled up in his personal vehicle.

Wade approached him. “Shouldn’t you be at the park?”

“I clocked out hours ago when my pap went missing.”

“What’s a pap?”

“Sorry. My grandfather.”

“Your grandfather went missing? Today?”

“That’s what I meant when I said I was in the middle of a personal crisis.”

“What led you here?”

“Gavin told me you were assembling here to search for Emily.”

“I didn’t know you were friends with Gavin.”

“We weren’t until he started guarding Emily. It’s hard to miss the same man following her around for days at a time.”

Wade cracked his knuckles. “Did you find your pap?”

“No.”

He drew in a deep breath. “It’s time. Do you think your pap could’ve been taken to lure you away from Emily?”

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