“Where’s Detective Cooper?” Wyatt demanded. He divided his attention between Jamison and the water’s murky surface.
“She’s dead, Sheriff.” Jamison laughed. “You’re too late to save that princess.”
The water suddenly split in front of Prescott.
Adeline rose like a ghost, her arms leveled in a firing posture.
The discharge of the weapon echoed through the night.
Jamison’s head jerked back. He fell backward. Splashed into the water and sank.
Wyatt rushed forward.
Addy jerked at something that looked like a chain, took two steps toward where Jamison had fallen and unloaded the weapon into the water.
Two ... three ... four ... five and six shots resonated, shattering the river’s hum.
The women surrounded her, hugging her against them. Wyatt had to push his way between them to get to Addy.
She turned to him, her face pale, her teeth chattering. “I told you that bastard wasn’t killing me.” She sucked in a shaky breath, then fell into Wyatt’s arms.
“You were right,” he whispered as he held her tight to his chest. “And you’re no princess, either. You’re the best damned detective I know.”
49
Once the women were on dry ground, Addy removed the socks stuffed into their mouths. Sullenger found the key Addy had told her about and released their shackles. The women hugged some more. One of Wyatt’s deputies had called Wiggins and Hattiesburg to let them know the victims had been found and were alive. Wyatt had also called Sheriff Henley to let her know to look for the boy at the Jamison residence. Henley had just called him back to relay that the boy had been found and was safe.
Thank God.
Wyatt kept an arm around Addy as they moved toward the shack. She shuddered every time she thought about how close she’d come to giving up under that water. But she’d remembered telling Wyatt that Jamison wasn’t killing her. She’d felt around the river bottom and found the weapon Jamison had dropped.
Clay broke free from the paramedic treating his injuries. “Addy! You’re alive!” He rushed to meet them. “I was worried sick. You okay?”
Addy pulled away from Wyatt and took the three steps that separated her from her cousin. “I’m fine, Clay, which is more than I can say for you.”
Confusion claimed his face. “What?”
She drew back and slammed her fist into his jaw. Clay staggered back, wailing like a little girl. Addy turned back to Wyatt. “Arrest that piece of shit for conspiracy to commit murder.” She shook her hand and winced.
Wyatt pulled her back into his arms. “I think that’s called police brutality.”
She smiled. “I learned it from a guy I used to know.”
Wyatt tilted her face up to his. “You scared the hell out of me, Cooper.”
She searched his face. “We have a lot to talk about, Wyatt. It’s time we got over the past.”
Before he could ask her what that meant, she walked over to where the paramedics were checking out Prescott and Arnold.
The investigation was pretty much over. The victims were alive and seemingly well.
With the case basically closed and her mother gone, Addy had no reason to stay.
Wyatt wasn’t ready for that. Losing her once was more than enough.
50
Forrest General Hospital