Page 292 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I do. Yes. Austin said I’d find you out here.”

“Here I am.”

“I’m glad.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “What brings you back? A new lead?”

“Not much of one. I need to ask Pete a few questions. Turns out he was the security guard on duty the night the judge went missing.”

“Ah.” She shrugged. “He mentioned working there a short time before getting the job here.”

“I imagine his connections helped make that possible.”

“No doubt.”

He sat beside her. “It was nice running with you this morning.”

“I enjoyed it.” The conflicting emotions in her eyes belied her words. He understood. They’d had a nice morning until he’d ruined it by wanting more from her than she was willing to give.

Wade was waitingin front of the park office when Pete arrived for his shift. Pete waved a greeting from his Mustang convertible before putting the top up and sliding out of it. He approached the door. “Morning, Detective.”

“How are things?”

“Good. I love warm mornings where I can ride with the top down. Makes me feel alive.”

“Maybe I should get a convertible.”

“You should.”

“I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes before you take off on patrol.”

“Sure. Give me a minute to get situated, and then I’ll be back out.”

Wade nodded.

It wasn’t long before the door swung open and Pete rejoined him. “Sorry about that. Want to walk and talk?”

Normally, Wade wouldn’t let the interviewee set the tone for the discussion, but he was a fellow law-enforcement officer, so he let it slide. “Why not?” He fell into step beside Pete and after they’d walked for a minute he spoke. “You didn’t mention in our last talk that you worked at the courthouse.”

“To be honest, it hadn’t occurred to me. I wasn’t there long.”

“Three months?”

“About that.”

“Did you know Judge Van Britton?”

“Only to nod as she entered or exited the building.”

“Do you remember seeing her leave work the night she disappeared?”

“Yes. It was late. It stuck with me because she never returned to work.”

“You didn’t spend time with her outside of the courthouse?”

“I didn’t. No.”

“Were you aware she and your mother were acquaintances?”

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