Meredith thought of her own grandmother, who’d died last year.Meredith hadn’t attended the funeral.She wouldn’t be surprised if Tripp had one of his goons watching the farm.She couldn’t go home without putting her family in danger.
The ambulance arrived thirty minutes later.Meredith stepped outside with Wade, glad for the fresh air and sunshine.She shook off the memories of her nightmarish marriage and focused on the present.
“Well,” she said.“That was awful.”
Wade smiled at her honesty.“You get used to it.”
They walked toward the Suburban.They’d been working since sunup, and it was late afternoon already.Meredith should have been exhausted from two strenuous days and not enough rest.Instead, she felt invigorated.When they reached the vehicle, she used a water bottle to wash her hands thoroughly.
Wade’s radio crackled at his waist.“Deputy Sheriff Hendricks, come back.”
He picked it up.“Hendricks here.”
“We’ve got a report of a ten forty-five in your area.Can you respond?”
Meredith’s heartbeat kicked up a notch.She wondered what a 10-45 was.
Wade didn’t seem to know, either.“I’m not familiar with your codes, over.”
“It’s human remains, sir.Skeletal remains.”
“Copy that.I can respond.”
The dispatch officer described the location, which was also sent to a navigation system inside the vehicle.
“Can I come with you?”Meredith asked.
“You’ll have to stay in the vehicle.”
“Fine.”
Meredith didn’t mind.She had nothing else to do today, other than hang out with Wynona, and she had a feeling the woman wouldn’t be reasonable as long as Wade was around.She wasn’t ready to face reality.
The report of human remains had been made by a trio of teenaged boys in a beat-up pickup truck.The boys had pulled over at a cul-de-sac at the end of Riverbend Lane.Meredith could see a dirt trail leading through the brush.She knew the lake was a few miles away as the crow flew.
Wade spoke to the boys while Meredith waited inside the vehicle.After about five minutes, the boys got in the truck and left.Wade returned to the Suburban, his expression pensive once again.
“Those kids claim they found skeletal remains at the base of a downed tree along that hiking trail.”
“You don’t believe them?”
He shrugged, as if he didn’t believe anything until he saw it for himself.
“Did they take photos?”
“They meant to, but they were fooling around, trying to push each other into the grave, and caused it to cave in.Now whatever was in there is buried again.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to check it out.”
“Can I come?”
Wade glanced up at the sky, considering.The day had been warm, sticky with humidity, and now clouds were rolling in.He probably wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.He turned his gaze to her and nodded.
She hopped out of the vehicle while he gathered some supplies in a backpack.Then they set off down the trail.It was still hot for April, but Lost Lake was a partial desert.High temperatures were common.She wasn’t squeamish about the prospect of seeing a dead body.She’d enjoyed working alongside Wade yesterday and today.
Twenty minutes into the hike, they came upon a burbling creek, one of the tributaries from Lost Lake.There appeared to be some deeper spots that local kids probably used as swimming holes.One large oak tree had sprawling limbs and a rope swing.The water was dark green, rippling with life.It was murky but inviting.
