Return To Sender (The Hart Brothers #2) - J. S. Cooper Page 0,51
cooking or are we going to the diner?”
“I’m cooking.”
“Then I’ll have a boiled egg and some toast please.”
“You have no faith in my cooking skills.” I made a face as we walked to the kitchen and she just laughed.
“Where’s Wade?”
“He’s gone out.” I shrugged. “I don’t know where, but he said he won’t be back until later tonight.”
“Awesome!” Lucy did a little dance next to the counter. “I think the first thing we should do is look for the basement and then see what’s down there.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, though I have no idea where it could be.”
“Did you see where Wade went when he went to get the wine?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Yeah, me either.” She sighed. “But not to worry, I have faith in us. We will find it.”
“I sure hope so.” I opened the fridge and took out four eggs. “I just hope we don’t find something gross hidden buried down there.”
“We have searched this house for two hours and nothing.” Lucy’s voice expressed the frustration that I felt. “How can a basement be hidden this well?”
“I wish I knew.” I sighed. “But we’ve looked absolutely everywhere.”
“He obviously doesn’t want anyone to find it.” Lucy hit the side of the wall. “So what do we do now?”
“I don’t know.” I was out of ideas. “Let’s go to the library? Maybe we can look for some more photos and letters from Wade’s mom or dad. Maybe there will be some clues. Lucy, are you listening to me?”
“Savannah, I think our luck has just changed.” Lucy looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“Why?”
“I just received an email from The New York Public Library with some attachments.”
“The articles?”
“It has to be the articles.” She nodded. “Let’s go to the library. You look through the letters and photos and I’ll go through these articles. You know I’m a speed-reader. Let’s see what we can figure out.”
“Yes, Sherlock.” I laughed as we walked into the library. Lucy immediately went to the desk and sat down and I walked over to the stacks of books that I’d found photos and letters in before. I grabbed some of the books and started leafing through them, not really knowing what I was hoping to find. Most of the books were empty, and I put them down quickly. I was putting back one particularly dense book, when a piece of paper slipped out of the bottom.
“Oh shit, how did I miss that?” I admonished myself as I lightly pulled the letter out of the book and walked over to the table.
“Did you find something?”
“A letter, but I don’t know if it will be helpful. How are the articles going?”
“They’re interesting, very interesting.” She looked up, pen in her mouth.
“Are you going to tell me more?”
“Read the letter. We’ll talk later.” She shook her head. “Now, shh, I need to read.”
“Fine.” I took a seat and read the letter. It was from Joseph Hart, Wade’s dad, and once again I felt like I was intruding on someone’s personal thoughts. I could feel myself choking up as I reread the letter. It felt so raw and my heart broke for Joseph, Wade, and Henry. “Lucy, you have to hear this. I found something interesting.”
“So did I.” Lucy’s eyes were blazing. “But you go first. What’s it about?”
“It’s a letter from Wade’s dad to his mom.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, listen to this. To my darling Louisa, my heart beats only for you. I was staring at the stars last night and I saw a shooting star. I stopped and I watched it and I realized the last shooting star I saw was with you when we were in Australia. I love you, my dear. I miss you. Forgive me. Please forgive me. I cannot go on without you in my life. I feel like a doe that has lost its mom and is living in the woods alone. The loneliness is unbearable. I need you more than I need air. Return to me. Come home. Save me or I shall surely die.”
“Oh wow.” Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Oh man.”
“What?”
“So the articles I found. I think they might relate to that letter?”
“Oh how?” I looked at her questioningly.
“Do you know exactly how Wade’s dad died?”
“No, why?”
“So get this.” She looked at my laptop, surveying the screen again and then continued talking. “It looks like he killed himself in front of his sons.”
“Oh no.” My hand flew to my face. “That’s horrible.”
“Supposedly, he jumped off a cliff into a