forgotten (Twisted Cedars Mysteries Book 2) Read Free

sister.
    Let alone killing her—and burying her body behind the family cottage.
    But it sure looked like that was what had happened.
    Charlotte took a long drink of her beer, thinking she should have ordered something stronger. She suspected Wade had arranged this meeting so he could bring her up to date with the investigation into Daisy’s death. But she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear the details.
    So far, all she knew were the bare facts. Dougal Lachlan, true crime writer, and very recently, and surprisingly, Charlotte’s lover, had been digging up the old garden behind the Librarian Cottage five miles out of town on Old Forestry Road—which he was currently renting—when he’d come across Daisy’s remains, wrapped in a large green tarp.
    That had been a week ago.
    Since then, Charlotte had been living in a state of shock. She’d barely registered Dougal’s decision to make his move to Twisted Cedars a permanent one. Last Friday he’d flown back to New York City to pack up his belongings and his cat. She hadn’t heard from him since, though it was possible he’d left her a message on her phone.
    Charlotte had stopped answering calls on both her home and cell phone. She’d also taken the week off work. So many people, with the kindest of intentions, no doubt, wanted to talk to her about Daisy.
    The problem was, Charlotte didn’t know much more than anyone else. She had nothing to say.
    But she had plenty of questions.
    “Charlotte. Sorry I kept you waiting.” Wade leaned over to kiss her cheek, before taking the empty seat at their table.
    “You aren’t late. I was early.” It wasn’t surprising she’d hadn’t noticed him come in. While it was only eight o’clock, already the pub was hot and noisy. Plus she’d chosen a table tucked in the corner, hoping it would be easier for them to talk.
    They could have met somewhere else, of course. But she was grateful he’d chosen the Linger Longer. It might be chaotic and a little uncomfortable. But it was familiar. She felt safe.
    Charlotte pushed the extra beer in front of him and was surprised when Wade downed half of it in a few seconds. “Tough day?”
    Up close his face was worn down, almost haggard with fatigue. There was a streak of something on his arm that looked like blood.
    “What happened?”
    Wade’s normally bright and observant light brown eyes were dull. He sighed and shook his head. “There was an accident.”
    Charlotte’s stomach muscles clenched as his words triggered a memory. Going to answer a knock at the front door in the darkest hour of the night. Seeing the Sheriff, who’d been Wade’s father at the time.
    She’d known what was coming, even as he placed a hand on her arm and gently suggested they go inside and sit down.
    There was an accident .
    Her parents had been killed in a car crash on their way home from the country club.
    Charlotte tightened her grip on her glass and took a deep breath. Across the table, Wade was contemplating his half-empty glass
    “Anyone we know?”
    “No.” Wade was quick to reassure her. “Sorry, I should have made that clear from the start.”
    He was a good man. She was glad there was no residual awkwardness between them. Or at least very little. The reason for that was the same reason she’d refused his proposal.
    She wasn’t the woman Wade really wanted. His proposal on Jamie Lachlan’s wedding day made that quite clear. But while she’d refused him because she knew she was his second choice, her new affair with Dougal made her realize it had been the right decision for her, as well.
    “It was a commercial truck, a single-vehicle accident,” Wade said. “I was driving back from a fishing trip around noon, on Bear Camp Road, and came upon the scene not long after it happened. The driver crashed down the embankment and overturned his truck.”
    “It’s a bad road.” Several infamous tragedies had occurred on Bear Camp Road, one horrifically involving a family on vacation who