Page 45 of Into The Rabbit Hole

“The evidence needs to be processed first. Once that’s done he’ll bereleased.”

She looked at him, understanding the answer but not wanting to accept it. “But you have the killer, the evidence is allthere.”

“Yes, when can he be released?” Reginaasked.

“A few days,tops.”

“A few days?” Chloewinced.

“Miss Matthews, if he was being kept here then we’d release him immediately, but since Wade is in prison this has to be checked out properly and go through the correct procedures. I promise you he’ll be out in a fewdays.”

The answer still wasn’t good enough, and since she didn’t want to be rude she rose from her seat and left the room, leaving everyone staring afterher.

“Chloe.” It was Wes, he came afterher.

If it was anyone else she wouldn’t have stopped. He rushed up to her and turned to face him, practically falling into his arms as the tears took her and she brokedown.

“There, there,” he said, stroking herhead.

“I just want him home, Wes. I just want him home,” she cried. “Wade’s in prison.” She thought of the visits she’d had and how he looked. Both times he looked like he’d been in afight.

Wes released her and held her shoulders so he could look at her. “He’ll be home soon. Honestly, the worst part is over. This next part, the waiting, is gravy. I know it’s the last thing you want to hear, but they have to process the evidence and verifyit.”

She nodded. He sat her down on one of the nearby benches. That was when she saw Regina. Chloe watched her approach and stop beside them. Wes made a move to go but Regina stoppedhim.

“You really helped us out a lot, son. Taylor’s extremely fond of you. She talks about you a lot. I never dreamed that you’d be the one to help us like this,” Regina said. She reached out and touched his shoulder and a wayward tear ran down her cheek. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. No one would have even thought of what you did. No one.” She shook herhead.

“It’s okay, Mrs. V.” Wes could get away with calling anybody anything. It was the nature of his character. “I’m glad I couldhelp.”

“Because of you my son will befree.”

“It was good to help.” He gave her a curt nod. “I’ll leave you two to talk.” He glanced over at Chloe before he made his way back inside theroom.

Regina then looked to Chloe and another tear ran down hercheek.

“Please don’t tell me off. I can’t bear it,” Chloe said before she could open hermouth.

“Chloe, one of these guys ran Taylor off the road, I received the severed finger and head of a man I used to know, Wade was framed for murdering his ex-girlfriend. Please understand why I’d be a little upset with you right now. I’m grateful, Lord knows I’m grateful, but something could have happened to you andWes.”

Chloe got it. She did. She understood and would probably feel the same if the situation was reversed. However, she had to stand by her actions. Sometimes you had to be brave and take courage to help the ones you loved. If she’d listened to Regina and just sat around being safe, they wouldn’t have had thisevidence.

Not only that, Regina just revealed more to the story that Chloe didn’tknow.

“You knew who the finger and the head belonged to?” she asked, glossing over the other things she had said. “And there’s two of these guys? Regina, what’s the point in holding back importantinformation?”

“Chloe, the less you know the better it is for you. There is a lot more to this story than yourealize.”

“This man is screwing with our lives.” In just a handful of weeks, Taylor, Wade, and Ben were all in the news for various scandals, and then all the events. It would have helped to be armed withknowledge.

“Sweet girl, I know you love Wade and you want to help us, but this is bigger than you. You can’t deny that there was a possibility of something going wrong with yourplans.”

Chloe opened her mouth to protest but couldn’t because Regina was right. “I just wanted him to come home.” She wiped away atear.

“I understand.” She took both her hands into hers. “I just wished you and Wes had at least come to me. We could have achieved the same result, but together. It would have beensafer.”

Chloe nodded, agreeing. That was true. She doubted that anyone would have been against any of the ideas Wes had come up with, but neither her nor Wes had been thinking at the time. They just did what they would normally do when they had an idea and got into it bythemselves.

“I’m sorry. You’re right, I should have come to you.” She pulled in a frustrated breath and gazed at Regina. “The waiting is driving mecrazy.”