“If that’s true, then he would have told the sheriff. He wouldn’t have confessed to the murder.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If my aunt didn’t know who to trust, how would Wade?”
The question socked him like a punch to the gut. In the years since her brother’s conviction, Luke had reasoned Wade’s nervous behavior was attributed to guilt.
“You’re telling me Wade confessed to Franny’s murder because someone threatened him?”
“Not him. I think someone could’ve been threatening to harm June or me. There’s nothing Wade wouldn’t have done to protect us.” Megan scowled. “If you had just talked to him, convinced him to tell you the truth, we wouldn’t be in this mess now.”
“Megs, there are things about your brother—”
“What? That he was partying? Drinking? He’d gotten in trouble for some barroom brawls.” The color in her cheeks deepened. “I already know, Luke. June came clean after his confession. Too bad neither of you thought to tell me before it was too late.”
Her tone was caustic. He opened his mouth, but she cut him off with a slice of her hand through the air. “Don’t. There’s nothing you can say to fix it now.”
He gritted his teeth and wrestled with his temper. What was the point? She was right. They were too far gone for explanations. Not that she’d given him the chance—ever—to give one.
“Fighting grown men in a bar or drinking too much is a far cry from murdering a woman in cold blood.” She jutted up her chin. “I don’t believe Wade is capable of it, and the only reason he confessed is because he was forced to.”
“How do you know all of this? Has Wade told you?”
“My aunt spent some time looking into the case after his arrest. We managed to put a couple of things together.” Her shoulders slumped. “Wade refuses to talk about it. He insists June and I both leave it alone.”
Megan was a criminal defense attorney. If Wade refused her help, there were only two explanations. Either he was guilty or he was trying to protect her. June’s recent attack coupled with the voice mail gave serious weight to the latter. A cold, insidious finger of self-doubt crept across Luke’s heart like barbed wire. He closed his eyes. God, did I help put an innocent man in jail?
The concept made his stomach roll. When Megan had come to him and shared that Wade had been in the cabin with Franny on the night of her murder, Luke had taken the information straight to the sheriff. His decision led to chain of events affecting all of them. Wade was arrested and convicted. Megan broke off their engagement. Luke felt the responsibility of his choices resting on his shoulders, weighted down by the ranger badge and his own personal code of conduct.
“Do you have any idea what the evidence June found might be?”
“No. I didn’t even know June was investigating until I heard the voice mail.” Megan stared down at the table. “If the evidence wasn’t with her, then where is it?”
“The vehicle caught fire. It’s possible the evidence was destroyed.” He blew out a breath. “The forensic unit will go over the car with a fine-tooth comb, but I’ll tell them to keep an eye out anyway. I’ll also put out feelers to see if June was asking questions around town about Franny’s murder.”
Megan opened her mouth, and he held up a hand.
“Hold on, I want to be clear. I’m not convinced Wade is innocent, but I’m also not going to ignore what’s right in front of me. If there is any way June’s accident is connected to Franny’s murder, then it’s a thread I have to pull.”
Her lips flattened into a thin line, but she nodded. “Visiting hours are over, so I won’t be able to see June until tomorrow morning. I’ll stay at the house tonight.”
Luke caught his objection moments before it left his mouth. As a law enforcement officer, he needed a warrant or permission from June to search her house. Megan didn’t. She only needed lawful entry, which she had, thanks to her spare key. No doubt the brilliant woman was five steps ahead of him and had already figured that out. He couldn’t help her search for the evidence, but he could provide protection.
“I’ll follow you home and make sure you get there okay.”
Megan nodded, her hair caressing her cheeks, before turning to collect her jacket and purse. He watched her, a mix of emotions churning inside him. She’d shown up only two hours ago, and yet her reappearance in his life had imploded everything Luke thought he knew.
Three
His hand tightened around the syringe filled with enough barbiturates to kill a horse.
He adjusted the doctor’s surgical mask over the lower half of his face and peeked out from inside the supply closet. The scrubs he’d stolen from the back of a truck in the parking lot smelled like musky cologne and his stomach revolted. A trooper stood guard outside June’s hospital room. Even dressed in disguise, there was no way he could slip by unnoticed and finish the job.
A string of curse words ran through his head. June should be dead. That road was rarely used. What were the chances a good Samaritan would see the wreck and call it in?
The door leading to the break room opened, and Megan appeared followed by Luke. Her chin was high, and there was a determined march to her step. His teeth ground together. The ranger was an aggravation, but one he could manage. He had connections, and he knew the pressure points. Wade’s sister, on the other hand, was a wild card and far too much like her aunt. He should have gotten rid of the Hunt family a long time ago.
He took a deep breath to settle his nerves. There was no reason to panic. Not yet. Things hadn’t gone as planned, but they hadn’t
