Jane waved to show she understood, and Reid draped an arm around her. He didn’t know what to say to Charles, and he knew she didn’t either. He was so private.
Charles rose and went to lean against the door. His shoulders shook, and Reid took a step toward him, then stopped and turned off the video. Charles wouldn’t welcome any kind of comfort from him. He glanced at Jane and inclined his head toward her dad.
Don’t be afraid, Reid mouthed.
She bit her lip and nodded, then went to her father’s side and put her hand on his arm. “I heard what he told you. I’m sorry, Dad. His hatred has to hurt. Reid and I recorded both conversations. He confessed to killing Lauren and framing Will. We can get him out of jail now. Thanks to you.”
Her father gave a long exhale and turned to face her with wet eyes. “How soon?”
“It will probably take until tomorrow. But I’ll get right to work on it.”
The joy in Reid’s heart nearly exploded it. To have their son out of that terrible place and back home where he belonged was almost too much to believe. But Reid knew this day was bittersweet for Charles, who had just lost a brother in the worst possible way.
* * *
Neither of them had slept all night. Reid had gotten Olivia settled while Jane had taken part in the interrogations. The police had picked up Gabriel in Mobile, and he’d chirped like a bird when he was offered a deal of life imprisonment if he gave the details of the murders. The dirty bomb had been all Edward’s idea, and Gabriel hadn’t been happy to hear he’d been cut out of a major part of the plan.
Reid parked in the lot outside juvenile hall. “Ready?”
Jane held up a sheaf of papers. “Let’s do this.”
They got out into a brilliantly blue day with the sun glaring down. He took her hand, and they strode into the correctional facility. Will didn’t know he was about to be a free boy again. Reid’s throat was thick, and he was struggling to keep all the emotion in his heart from incapacitating him.
He stood back while Jane took care of the details. It seemed an eternity before an officer brought Will out into the waiting room.
He looked paler and sadder than they’d seen him two days ago. His brown eyes went wide when he saw them. “Mom? Dad?”
Reid went to him and pulled him into his arms for a fierce hug, then released him, gripping him by the shoulders. “You’re free, son. Totally exonerated. Your mom found the killer. He’s been arrested, and there are no longer any charges against you.”
“What?” Will glanced from Reid to his mother. “For sure?”
Jane was crying now, the tears tracking down her exhausted face. Her hair was a wreck, but Reid didn’t think he’d ever seen her look so beautiful with raw love and joy on her face. She opened her arms, and Will ran into them.
“I knew you’d do it, Mom.” Will’s sobs shook his shoulders. “Thank you. Do I get to go home? Can I have pizza for dinner? Did you bring Parker?”
Reid met Jane’s gaze, and a huge smile broke across his face, so big it threatened to crack open his face along with his heart. A heart could only stand so much joy.
Reid gripped Will’s shoulder. “Yes to all those things. They’re getting your belongings, and we’re out of here. Megan and Parker are waiting at home, along with Olivia. Megan is baking chocolate chip cookies in celebration. I don’t think she slept last night either. We’ll tell you about the last twenty-four hours later.”
He nodded to the officer who brought a bag of Will’s clothes. “You want to change?”
“Can we just go? I want a shower and clothes that haven’t seen the inside of a cell.”
Jane linked her arm in Will’s, and Reid did the same on the other side. They stepped outside into a light breeze. A songbird serenade from the trees added to the joy Reid felt.
Will sniffed. “That’s the smell of freedom. I’ll never take it for granted again.” He broke down again and turned into Reid’s arms to bury his face in his dad’s chest. “I wanted to believe, but I was so scared, Dad. Scared we’d never go fishing again. Scared we’d never take off on one of our adventures again or play Monopoly. That I’d never sleep in my own bed. I can’t believe it’s really over.”
Reid clutched his son and looked over at Jane, who was also crying. He held out a hand to her, and she stepped over to embrace Will too.
“Let’s go home, son.”
Forty
Their borrowed boat sailed under a perfect full moon, and Jane sat on a chaise lounge with her feet up while Reid navigated the boat into a small cove, shimmering with light and fragrant with sea salt.
He dropped anchor and flipped on the running lights around the boat. They gave a romantic glow to the deck. He pulled out the picnic basket before giving Jane a long look followed by a wolf whistle. “You look stunning.”
She stood and did a little twirl that made her tropical dress swirl around her knees. “Thank you, kind sir. This is the first time I’ve had on a fun dress in ages.” She fluffed the tips of her hair. “Megan dolled me all up with makeup and a curling iron. I about didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.” She drank in his tall, dark handsomeness. “You don’t clean up too badly yourself. A collared shirt and khakis.” He looked good enough to eat, but she didn’t say that.
The past four days had been packed to the brim. Olivia had been weak from her ordeal but was doing well today. Jane glanced over at Will, who was lounging next to her. He’d been having nightmares, and both she and Reid had rushed to him in the middle of the night. She’d arranged for some counseling next week.
Reid popped the bottle on some nonalcoholic wine and produced three glasses that he filled to the brim with the bubbly concoction. “I’m ready to celebrate and put this all behind us. Let’s start a new life.”
“I’m ready.” She touched glasses with both of the men in her life and took a swig of her drink. “Perfect. What did you bring for dinner?”
Will sat up and frowned. “It’s not time for dinner.”
“What do you mean it’s not time for dinner? I can smell seafood, and I’m starving. I barely ate while you were incarcerated, you know. I need to find the five pounds I lost.”
Will looked up at his father. “Dad, tell her. I’m dying here.”
Puzzled, Jane stared at Will. “What’s going on? You’re buying this boat instead of borrowing it? You’re moving away? What’s up?”
A tender smile lifted Reid’s lips and lit his eyes with laughter. “Like we’d ever move away from you. Not happening, honey.”
Will scrambled to his feet. “Dad, don’t wimp out. Want me to do it?”
“I think I’m the man for the job, Will.” Reid dropped to one knee and reached into his pocket.
Jane caught her breath, and her stomach took a dive with the next roll of the waves. She covered her mouth with her hand as he opened a black velvet box. Will dropped to both knees and put his hands up in a pleading gesture.
Reid took her hand and lifted the sparkling ring for her examination. “Will you marry me, Jane? For real this time?”
“Marry us. It’s a package deal, Mom. Dad’s had the ring forever. You’re killing me—are you ever going to say yes?”