Chapter Thirty
Meredith let Chicoout for a walk while she waited for Wade.
The crowd dispersed after an ambulance left the scene with Charlie Franklin.Meredith hadn’t seen him, but she’d heard the other bar patrons say his name.She couldn’t believe Wade had gone inside the bar.She’d waited for him to come out with her heart in her throat.When she’d heard the shots, she’d imagined the worst.
The shock hadn’t worn off completely.She was anxious and on edge.She needed to go home with Wade and hug him until she calmed down.
He returned from the chat with Nava, appearing more relaxed than she was.He looked healthy and strong, despite his bandaged arm.She picked up Chico, who thumped his tail happily.The sound matched the wild beating of her heart.She loved this man—and he loved her.He’d said so.
He proved it by wrapping his arms around her and delivering a kiss that curled her toes.Chico got squished between them, but he didn’t complain.The dog licked both their faces, excited by the reunion.
Wade broke the contact with a smile.“Ready?”
She nodded, speechless.
“Let’s go home.”
They climbed into his truck together.Police were still milling about, along with reporters and firefighters.Wade maneuvered through the scene and traveled down backstreets until they were free from chaos.
“What did Nava talk to you about?”she asked.
“Police matters.”
“Does that mean you can’t tell me?”
Glancing at her, he said, “The remains by the lake belonged to Cameron Pickett, my mother’s former boyfriend, and very likely my biological father.Turns out my mother killed him in self-defense.”
Meredith drew in a sharp breath.Wynona had killed Cameron Pickett?No wonder she’d been so disturbed by the discovery of the bones.It also explained why Wynona hadn’t wanted Wade in Lost Lake, and why she sometimes looked at him in quiet horror.
“Nava agreed to keep it quiet and let the investigation stall.”
She hugged Chico to her chest, contemplative.Wynona had been harboring this awful secret for thirty years.Meredith was glad the story had come out, even if they couldn’t go public with the details.
“You can’t repeat this to anyone,” Wade said.
“I know.I won’t.”
“I got in trouble for letting you be my research assistant,” he said, “but I’m grateful for your help on the case.You spotted Cameron Pickett in the yearbook.You remembered the conversation with Cordelia.You were instrumental.”
Meredith flushed at the praise.She’d never beeninstrumentalbefore.“I’m sorry about how it unfolded.”
He slowed before turning onto the gravel road.He seemed no worse for the wear, despite the trauma of the day.She was the one who couldn’t get over the shock of seeing him play the hero in uniform.
“Did you shoot Charlie?”she asked.
“No.Nava shot him.I just wrestled with him.”
“You wrestled with a gunman?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought I could overpower him.”
She shook her head in disbelief.“Your mother almost had a heart attack.And you know what else?When you took off your shirt, one of the women in the crowd gasped in delight.You were risking your life, and she was enjoying the scenery.”
He didn’t smirk at this comment or make light of her distress.“I understand how it feels when the person you love puts themselves in danger, and you can’t stop them.”
