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.

his family, but they didn't know anything that would help," Steve

left, right?"

looks like," Steve said, sounding defeated. "Unless the officer left something behind, but his family doesn't know of

my dad's accident was buried too deep-too many years had passed, and anyone who could help

his colleagues? Friends? Did you check with them?" I

finality in his voice that

closed my eyes, feeling like a weight was pressing down on me, "So unless someone

but I could hear the doubt. "I'll keep reaching out to

out at the dark night, a void that reminded me too much of the night my parents never came Home. "No need, Steve. If they knew something, they'd have

And anyone who could tell me what really happened was either long gone or would stay silent.

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gently, "it's best to let the past

believe in digging any further. He had helped me, but deep down,

I said quietly. "Thanks, Steve.

sorry I couldn't find more," Steve paused before adding, "Oh, and congrats

wasn't sure if he meant the park opening or Hayden's proposal, so I just said,

for him in the background, and after a quick goodbye,

thoughts spinning, before I typed out a quick message: [Steve, what was the officer's