Free Chasing Second Chances by Shelly Logan Page A

Wilkins spoke before Lt. Paulson could answer. “At this point, we still believe that the same person kidnapped Charlene, Jack and Lena and in light of new evidence, we now believe that person killed Charlene. Whether this was part of his plan all along or an unexpected turn of events remains to be seen.”
    “So you’re saying it could have been an accident?” Lloyd pressed.
    Agent Wilkins met his gaze squarely. “If by accident, Mr. Marrick, you mean that the murderer’s hand slipped, I do not believe that to be the case. What I meant was that the kidnapper…the killer might have gotten rid of her because it became too inconvenient. Maybe she fought back.”
    “The coroner said she had defensive wounds,” Lt. Paulson contributed.
    “Or there might have been a quarrel,” Agent Wilkins added. “But as I said, it could also have been part of the plan all along. I refuse to speculate any further until the new evidence comes in.”
    Lloyd nodded but clenched his fist at his side. “I understand.”
    Kate looked at him, puzzled. He had been so calm until now and yet it seemed he had finally lost it. Was it because he, too, was suddenly afraid? Because he realized for the first time that they might not get the kids back?
    For the first time, she realized that he was just as scared as she was. He had been so calm all this time but for all she knew, he could be suffering just as much as she was. Jack and Lena were as much his children as they were hers, after all. There was no such thing as an ex-father.
    She wanted to place her hand on his shoulder, to offer him some measure of comfort and let him know she was there for him just as he had been there for her but with Bryan’s arms around her, she couldn’t and so she simply frowned.
    Why were things so complicated?
    “It will be all right, Kate,” Bryan told her, holding her tightly against him. “I’m sure the kids are safe somewhere else, maybe somewhere not far from here.”
    Kate just nodded.
    “You!” a woman suddenly shouted.
    She turned her head to find Irene Morrow walking towards her, her eyes red and her cheeks streaked with tears.
    “What are you doing here?” Irene hissed. “Do you feel good now that you’ve learned my daughter is dead and your children are not lying beside her?”
    “Irene, stop it,” the man behind her, who Kate presumed was Mr. Morrow, said.
    “All these years, I’ve done my best to raise my daughter, to give her everything she needed,” Irene went on, heedless of her husband. “But it wasn’t enough, was it? No matter how hard you try to be a good mother, if there’s a mother out there who’s done worse than you, then your child can still end up…”
    The woman sobbed, unable to continue. Her husband placed an arm around her, comforting her.
    “Mrs. Morrow, I’m sorry for your loss,” Kate spoke softly. “Charlene was…”
    “Don’t speak as if you knew my daughter,” Irene said, glaring at her. “You never even really paid attention to her, did you? Anyone was fine as long as she could watch over your children in your place. She should never have…”
    “Mrs. Morrow, we truly are sorry for your loss,” Bryan interrupted her. “We know how hard it must be for you but…”
    “You know how hard it must be for me?” Irene gave a mocking laugh even as more tears seeped from the corners of her eyes.
    Before Bryan could say another word, Irene continued, glaring at Kate once more. “Well, I hope you will truly find out how hard it is. I hope you will never find your children again!”
    “Irene, that’s enough.” Mr. Morrow led his wife away, casting Kate a glance that begged for her understanding.
    Kate understood. She really did. Still, the words Mrs. Morrow spoke, even though she had not meant them, wounded her deeply.
    I hope you will never find your children again.
    She reached for the locket hanging from her neck, clenching her fingers tightly around it. What if she never knew if her children were