Epilogue
New Beginnings
Two months later…
Even after two months of being close to Caleb, there were times when Ava still couldn’t believe it was real and they were back together.
Marcus had turned over the leadership role for the Western US to Ava. He planned to open a branch of Redeemed on the East Coast after what was being heralded as an enormous success in bringing down Wax.
The victims’ families had been notified about their missing loved ones. A sad outcome, but hopefully it allowed some closure.
Harper, Micah, and Jace were in the process of relocating to Montana. Caleb had proven to be a tremendous asset to the team in their searches.
And Shadow, well, the dog and Caleb had become quick friends.
Rachel had suffered the most from her exposure to Wax. She’d almost left the FBI entirely, but Ava had convinced her to join the Redeemed team. She and her partner, Titan, were still going through training but Ava believed they’d work well together.
“How are things going?” Caleb asked and then leaned down to give Ava a kiss.
The only remaining mystery was the symbol of the cross and circle that Wax left behind. Ava looked up its meaning and the one she believed fit with his demented mind was a symbol of eternity. In Wax’s mind he and Hannah would be together forever.
She smiled. “Busy, actually. We’ve got lots of cases to choose from.” Since Wax’s identity was discovered, they’d eventually tracked down Harlan Lockfield’s aunt, who told them about the abuse Harlan suffered at his father’s hands, including using hot wax as punishment.
She suspected Harlan had killed his father and she had him committed for a time, but he managed to fool the doctors and get released. That’s when she knew she had to leave.
Ava had learned from the adoption agency that her parents, who were really her aunt and uncle, had supposedly abandoned her, but Harlan took them. They’d left Ava with an elderly neighbor who eventually was forced to give her up for adoption because she couldn’t take care of the child.
That’s when Oscar and Zelda Blake adopted her.
She’d expected to have renewed nightmares after her run-in with Wax, but nothing had been further from the truth. She’d finally brought the monster from her past out into the light and he no longer held the same power over her as he had before.
“I think I’ve chosen our next case,” she told Caleb. A hiker in Idaho had disappeared. The second one in a matter of months. “We could use your help.”
“I’m all yours.” Caleb smiled and claimed the seat in front of her desk.
“I love the sound of that.” Her partner padded over to Ava to get some petting. “What about you? Are you ready to go back to work?”
Shadow barked his enthusiasm and Caleb laughed.
“Looks like he’s as ready as I am.”
Ava smiled at him. She could sit here forever looking into the eyes of the man she loved who had given her a second chance.
Caleb had shared how his parents and he had a disagreement about him staying in Montana. They believed it helped him hold onto false hope that he and Ava would end up together again.
But they’d been wrong, and she couldn’t have been happier that he’d stayed because Ava didn’t think she’d have gotten through her ordeal with Wax without him.
Caleb and his parents were talking more. Things were going to be okay.
And when she looked at Caleb now, she didn’t just see the man she loved—she saw the life ahead of them.
A life Wax had tried to destroy.
A life fear had tried to steal.
But God had been stronger than every shadow.
He had held her steady.
He had brought Caleb back to her.
And now, with Shadow barking his approval and a new case calling them into action, Ava felt faith settle deep inside her chest.
This was only the beginning.
She squeezed Caleb’s hand and whispered her thanks to the God who had never let her go.
The future she’d almost given up on was waiting—brighter than she ever dreamed.