Page 298 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I wasn’t paying close attention to amounts, but I’m thinking they were all around a thousand dollars. I can check.”

“Hmmm.”

“What?”

“Remember the picture from the gala on Mary Van Britton’s profile?”

“Yeah.”

“Could the donations somehow be linked to her gala?”

“Like a ticket cost?”

“Exactly. I don’t know how her invitations are issued, but I wonder if it has something to do with donations over a certain threshold.”

“That’s a good question.” He sighed. “We need to speak with the senator again.”

“Let’s talk to the lieutenant before we go ruffling feathers.”

Wade glanced at his watch.Ten teenagers were assembled outside of the church awaiting transportation to the aerial adventure park. Fifteen permission slips had been turned in, so he’d wait another five minutes in case some parents were running late. He smiled down at Emily. “Do you mind if we wait another few minutes? I don’t want any of the kids to miss out because their parents didn’t get them here on time.”

“I’m happy to wait.” As she said the words, two more cars turned into the lot and let out the remaining five kids. “That didn’t take long at all.”

“I was always one of those kids who ran a few minutes late for everything. My parents couldn’t seem to get out of the house on time.”

“I remember.”

After waving to the parents dropping off their children, Wade opened the bus doors and took his spot in the driver’s seat. The kids made their way inside and Emily followed, dropping into the last remaining spot behind him to his right.

When they arrived at the park, a guide showed them around and then led them through the activities. After working through the ropes course, they reached the zipline. He watched as Emily demonstrated to a thirteen-year-old girl how to put on her harness. She had a way of talking to the kids in the same manner she would use to talk to an adult. Her method of relating to them worked well. He might consider trying it out himself.

When lunch rolled around, he grabbed for her hand. He pulled her gently to him and kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad you came with us today.”

“Thanks for inviting me. It’s been fun.” Her eyes sparkled like emeralds in the bright sunlight.

They made their way to a picnic table and sat. He opened their bagged lunches, and they ate in comfortable silence.

After the meal, he rose. “It’s time to get the kids rounded up for the next activity.”

The adventure park team was assembled near the river with tubes at the ready. He winked at Emily. “Remember the last time we went tubing?”

“Nora came with us. It was the summer before she disappeared. Back before you enlisted.”

He could practically see her shields go up. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s fine.” She carried her tube to the edge of the river. “It’s a good memory.” Emily didn’t say much as they floated down the river with the teens.

When the adventure park bus brought them back to the parking lot, he waited for the kids to load into the church bus before approaching her again. He put his arm around her shoulders, and she stiffened. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No. Everything’s fine.”

She’d been enjoying the day until he’d brought up the past.Was a future together possible when he couldn’t mention their history without causing tension?“You don’t seem fine.”

He’d been planning on taking her out for a romantic dinner but elected to skip it. There was no point. She was in no mood for romance.

Pete sauntered over. “Hello there, Detective.”

She glanced down at her phone and then shoved it in her pocket.

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