Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(109)

She answered on the first ring. “Tell me you found what you needed.”

“We have the backpack,” he said.

“What about... What about any remains?”

“No. Nothing like that.”

That last part wasn’t good news, but Savanna’s relief was still so profound it almost robbed her of strength. She’d been thrown into what felt like an alternate reality ever since Gordon had first become a suspect in those rape cases. It’d been only a few months, but it seemed like years. So much had changed. And now the worst was over. Gordon wouldn’t be able to hurt her or anyone else again. His lawyer, the public defender in whom he placed so little trust, would have a hard time explaining how Emma Ventnor’s backpack wound up in Dorothy Gray’s basement. So even if the backpack didn’t contain any DNA evidence—which, of course, they hoped it did—Gordon would be charged with Emma’s abduction if not her murder. “He won’t be able to get past this,” she said.

“No,” Sullivan confirmed. “Detective March stayed up all night viewing the same video footage she’d been over before, when she was looking for the wrong vehicle. This time, she found two different shots of Dorothy’s car—before it was damaged on the front. Between the backpack, Gordon’s lack of an alibi, proof of an accident and his proximity to where Emma was taken, we’ll have a good case.”

“What about the white paint on the Celica? Will that help?”

“If it’s there. We’ll get everything we can, make sure he goes away for a long, long time. But the backpack is insurmountable. From the beginning, he’s claimed that he’s never seen Emma Ventnor before in his life, never heard of her except on the news. This proves otherwise. And now that we could charge his mother with obstruction of justice for wrecking into Gavin’s truck to cover up the previous damage on her vehicle, and hiding Emma’s backpack in her basement, we might finally get some cooperation from her. Depending on what she knows, it’s even possible we’ll recover Emma’s body.”

“Then you believe Emma’s dead.”

“Don’t you?”

Savanna hated to admit it, but where else could the girl be?

“At least, because of you, Gordon won’t be able to hurt anyone else,” he said.

It was the first time Sullivan had ever attempted to make her feel better about anything. “Whoa! Are you trying to console me?”

There was a brief silence. Then he said, “I owe you an apology, Savanna. You’re not the type of woman I thought you were in the beginning. I didn’t treat you right.”

“I understand why. Cops can get a bit jaded, I guess.”

“Sadly, that’s true. I still feel bad, but...I can’t believe you were ever married to a man like Gordon.”

She backed up so the kids wouldn’t get her wet with all their splashing and running with the hose. “I almost can’t believe it myself. I’m glad that’s no longer the case. I’m much happier now.”

“I hope you stay that way.”

“Thank you,” she said, and disconnected so that she could call and give Gavin the good news.





Epilogue

Eight months later...

Gavin had his hand at the small of Savanna’s back as the hostess guided them through Costantini’s, the nicest restaurant in Silver Springs. They’d left Branson and Alia with Aiyana so that they could have a night out together, and he’d made reservations for the outdoor patio, with its bubbling fountain and myriad blooming plants.

“I love this place,” Savanna murmured.

“I know. That’s why we’re here,” he teased. It was also the perfect place to celebrate all the wonderful things that’d happened. Last week, a hiker had found Emma Ventnor’s remains in a gulley, covered with brush, only twenty minutes outside of Nephi. Now that the police could prove Emma was dead, Gordon would be charged with first-degree murder in addition to kidnapping, and probably be sentenced to life. After months and months of preparation, his trial was coming up soon. But Savanna wouldn’t be required to testify. She was glad for that and glad they hadn’t heard from him or his mother since her visit. Gordon hadn’t even written to the kids.

“Considering all this, you must have something to tell me,” Savanna said after they were seated and the waitress had delivered their water.

“I do,” he admitted.

Although it was subtle, he could see the slight tensing that resulted from his announcement. “Does it have to do with Heather’s baby?”

“It does.” Now that Heather’s baby had been born, they’d been waiting for the results of the paternity test.

She reached out to grab his hand as if she needed it for support. “Tell me.”

“Little Bella Marie belongs to Scott.”

Her jaw dropped as she let go of him to press her hand to her chest. “You’re kidding...”

“No. It was conclusive.”

She briefly closed her eyes. “I would’ve done everything I could to support you in that relationship. I hope you know that. But I’m not going to lie. This will be easier.”

He laughed. “It’ll be easier for me, too. Heather was so bitter throughout the pregnancy.”