Lingley had planned to meet up with Ava when she relocated, at which point he would have filled her in on the details of what they found regarding Wren and the missing persons ads. Now she’d get the news early, and Ava wasn’t sure she was ready for it.
This could go one of two ways. One would allow her and Richard to stay in Haven Hills, together with the Duran family. A life on the Homestead sounded like a dream, even if theydidhave to be on alert over the years. At least they wouldn’t be alone in it. They’d have the relocation team on surveillance, and Richard’s family by their side.
The other outcome was different. She’d have the man she loved, so long as Detective Lingley agreed. And heck, maybe even if Lingleydidn’tagree, as stubborn as Richard was. But what kind of tradeoff would that be for him? Richard would be giving up his family. Cut off completely, never to reconnect again. Or at least, not in the way they did now. Day to day closeness and connection. Dinners, laughter, and fun.
Her heart was a spinning top as the question poured from Richard’s lips at last.
“Were you able to track Wren’s ads? Do you have an update on his whereabouts?”
She strained to hear over the pounding pulse at her aching temples.
“We know right where he is,” Lingley said over the speaker. “Brandler’s in his hometown, just as clueless as he ever was. Our data shows that he just piled another ten K into ads just this morning. That’s good. It means that, so far, they’ve led him nowhere.”
Ava’s entire body sighed in relief.
Richard clenched his jaw shut and pumped a fist.
“I’m glad you’ve chosen to stay, Ava,” Lingley said. “I had a decent alternative set up for you, but I truly think the Homestead is one of the most secure areas we could offer.”
She nodded. “Thank you. It’s nice to hear that.”
“And,” the detective added, “I got permission to do something that…well, that isn’t easy to do. But with your approval, I’ll follow through, and you’ll be as good as dead to Wren Brandler.”
Ava leaned into the phone, anticipation stirring anew in her chest. “What is it?”
“We can fake your death,” he said. “The missing persons report will get a final stamp, at which point the ads will stop cold. Of course, if they don’t—if Wren suspects you’re still out there and the ads continue, we can have them forcibly removed as the case will have been closed.”
“This is…” Tears pricked at her eyes, the warm stirs of emotion causing her chin to quiver. “That would be incredible. Please, yes. Let’s do that.”
Richard leaned closer to the phone. “How soon can you do it?”
“Right away,” the detective answered. “Like I said, I covered all of my bases. Give us the word, and the death report gets written up tonight.”
Richard rubbed Ava’s back, his head bowed in reverence. “I can’t thank you enough,” he said, his voice no more than a raspy whisper. He cleared his throat. “Really, we owe everything to you guys.”
“Now, now,” Lingley said humbly. “If you’d like the details of your death report, I can give them to you. Some people find it a little…morbid.”
“No,” she blurted. “I don’t need to hear it. As long as you guys can make it look like I’m dead to him…and to my father if he ever cares to look…that’s all that matters.” And how true that was.
“Very well,” the detective said. “You’ll be a missing person no more.”
And as the call came to an end, Richard and Ava expressing their gratitude one last time, Ava tested the new details in her mind. Wren would think she was dead! She felt free before, but not this free. Not this…invisible. This would close that part of her life for good.
Richard disconnected the call and looked up at her with teary eyes as he shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding,” he breathed, taking her into his arms once more. “You’re free!”
“Yes,” she agreed. “I am. I can’t believe it.”
He held her there for a long time, rubbing a hand up the length of her back, and then back down. Up, and down. The reassuring words played over and over in her head.She was free.
Her body sank into new levels of relief and joy, elation and peace.
After a quiet moment, Richard nuzzled his nose into the nook of her neck, his touch sparking a different sort of sensation.
“Ava.” His breath was hot on her skin. “My Ava.”
He pulled back all too soon, took a step away from her, and then reached for her hand. He slid his fingers through hers and gave them an alluring tug.
A pleasing zip of heat trailed up her back.
