Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Hello 420

Chapter 420

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I knew exactly what I had asked Steve to look into, but this wasn't the time I'd imagined getting an update. My head was spinning with everything that had just happened, but now this uneasiness crept in, making my eyelid twitch. "What did you find?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"The info you had wasn't the full story. There's a final conclusion you missed," Steve replied, sounding just as confused as I felt.

I took a slow breath. "Were you able to find it?"

"No," Steve said, and suddenly his tone got more serious. "The officer who handled the case died shortly after your dad's accident."

A cold shiver ran through me. "When?"

"One month after the investigation was closed."

For a second, I couldn't even breathe. Steve's voice cut through the panic buzzing in my head. "Rea... you there?"

I jumped in, my mind racing. "Do you think his death was connected to how my dad's accident was ruled?" "Tve thought about that," Steve admitted. "But officially, it's listed as sudden cardiac arrest. There's a hospital report and everything." His words left me hollow, like the air had been sucked out of the room.

they didn't know anything that would help," Steve added, and

left, right?" I

officer left something behind, but his family doesn't know of anything. And with his sudden death, the trail's

starting to feel like the truth about my dad's accident was buried too deep-too many years had passed, and anyone who could help was either gone or didn't want to

with them?" I pushed, not ready to

Steve replied, but there was a finality in his voice

like a weight was pressing down on me, "So unless someone comes back

necessarily," Steve said, trying to sound hopeful, but I could hear the doubt. "I'll keep reaching out to the officer's family, see if anything

too much of the night my parents never

did a good job. After ten years, those secrets were buried deep. And

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"it's best to let the past stay where

didn't believe in digging any further. He had helped me,

quietly. "Thanks, Steve. I really

couldn't find more," Steve paused before adding, "Oh, and congrats on the

he meant the park opening or

and after a quick goodbye,

sat there, my thoughts spinning, before I typed out a quick