Page 308 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“What do you think of her?”

“She’s great, but you’re changing the subject. We aren’t here to talk about your best friend.”

“I wish we were.”

She trudged onward until she reached the front door and rang the bell.

“You don’t have a key to your parents’ house?”

“I do, but it feels intrusive to simply walk in.”

“Fair enough.” He laughed. “I walk into my parents’ house all the time.”

“I’m sure you do.” She tried to smile but couldn’t bring herself to do so. She’d come to complete a morbid task, and it was best to get it over with.

Her father opened the door and frowned down at her. “What are you doing here on a weekday?”

“Didn’t Mom tell you I was coming?”

“It must’ve slipped her mind. Come on in.”

Her dad shouted up the stairs. “Caroline, Emily is here.” He turned back to face them. “I have a tee time. We can catch up when I return.”

“Dad, you need to be here for this conversation.”

Her father smiled at Austin. “Oh? Are you two getting married?”

“Austin is just a friend.”

“Then what is so important it can’t wait until after golf?”

Her mother appeared looking as put-together as ever in black slacks and a pale pink blouse. “Would you like some iced tea?”

“Maybe later.” She gave her mother a stiff hug.

“I’ll be out at the car if you need me,” Austin said.

“You don’t have to go.”

“It’s best if I do,” he said.

She gave him a tiny nod, and he went out the way they’d come in.

“Why is your friend running off?”

“This is family business, and he didn’t want to interfere.”

Her mother pierced her with a cold stare. “Did they find her?”

She nodded.

“Alive?” Her father asked softly.

She shook her head and watched as her mother crumpled in front of her. Her father wrapped his wife in his arms and held her quaking body. Tears streamed down Emily’s face. Her parents were overwrought by their own grief and didn’t notice hers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Wade looked up from his computer when he felt someone’s presence.

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