“He would have been furious if he’d known what you did,” Cate said.
“I know.” Ashlee paled. “But I knew time was getting short. He wasn’t happy that I was pregnant, and I worried what would happen when the baby was born. I had to take the risk. Once I read all those articles he’d hidden, I was terrified for my baby’s life.” She reached out and stroked the hair of the little one in Cate’s arms. “One of the articles said you’d retired and bought a bakery. Getting to that bakery was my only hope.”
Cate remembered when the article was written. She’d been furious that the reporter had included her personal information, creating the potential to guide any criminal she’d investigated to Widow’s Island. Instead the article had saved the baby’s life and probably Ashlee’s too.
Everything does happen for a reason.
When Cate went with law enforcement to Rich Causey’s island tent the day after the rescue, Cate was shown a wooden box. Inside were multiple articles about the missing child and Kori Causey’s search for her daughter. A chill ran up her back when she saw her own name underlined multiple times in the articles. According to Ashlee, Rich was obsessed with the manhunt. He never talked about Jade, but he did talk nonstop about the federal agents he swore would never find him.
Ashlee put the story together when she’d found the box unlocked one day. Jade’s tiny mandible was inside. Ashlee didn’t know where the rest of the bones were, but she suspected that Rich had buried them and also moved them several times. He’d made “special trips” in the past, and she’d wondered about the dirt-covered shovel in his truck after each trip.
She’d also seen several pink hair clips in the box.
Cate had made sure they’d been returned to Kori, who would also receive the mandible once the investigation was closed. She’d told Cate she planned to have it cremated and Jade’s ashes buried under a rosebush in her parents’ yard.
Rich’s death and Jade’s remains brought closure to Kori. She said she’d known in her heart that her little girl hadn’t survived. But having physical proof was an emotional relief. Kori and her parents listened closely as Cate told them how Rich Causey had died.
“Rich hated swimming,” Kori said, a ferocious look in her eye. “I can’t think of a better death for him than drowning. And I hope that Ashlee’s kick to his head is what caused it. Good on her.”
Cate hadn’t brought up the kick with Ashlee. The young woman had little memory of the events in the water, other than being terrified she was about to die.
“Am I a horrible person for being happy he’s dead?” Ashlee whispered. “I was so stupid to leave with him. It’s my own fault that—”
“Stop,” Cate ordered. “He was a dangerous and cruel man. He is dead because of his own actions.” Ashlee nodded in response, but Cate knew the guilt would linger. She’d put in a word with Ashlee’s parents to find the young woman a good therapist.
I’ll never have to waste a thought on Rich Causey again.
Onstage at the park, Bruce and his sisters wrapped up the song, and the audience broke into loud applause and shouted for more. Henry’s voice was one of the loudest, and Cate was pleased to see him enjoying the music. He’d struggled through his own guilt from being unable to resuscitate Rich Causey, no matter how despicable a human being the man was.
The trio onstage started into another song, and the audience immediately quieted as the sound of a popular love ballad filled the air. Several couples stood and moved into each other’s arms to sway to the music. Henry jumped to his feet and held out a hand to Cate, his eyes intense with a deep emotion.
“Dance with me.”
She took his hand, lost in his eyes, and was suddenly in his arms. He held her close, one hand at the nape of her neck, his lips at her temple, and his other hand stroking her back.