Christmas Peril, page 8
Christmas lights strung everywhere illuminated the downtown area in a glittering fairy-tale setting. The last burst of fireworks Friday night sprayed across the dark sky, a multicolored display that stole Annie’s breath.
“You guys go all out here in Christmas.” Annie made another visual sweep of the square at the south end of the main thoroughfare. All it needed was a blanket of snow to complete the effect of a twinkling winter wonderland. “First a great meal, and now this light celebration.”
“Kinda goes with what we’re doing this evening, celebrating.” Caleb clasped her hand and began walking toward his car. “Tomorrow is our last fireworks display. Let’s bring Sara and Jayden down here after the Christmas party at church. I’m sure they’re watching from the house, but it’s better from the town square.”
“Sounds nice.” Making plans for the future. She wanted to be able to do that, but after all that had happened in the past few weeks, she realized how quickly her life could change.
At his vehicle he opened the door for her. “I’m hoping Downey decides to talk, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll be going away for a long time with what we have here. And I talked to the FBI late this afternoon about Nick Salvador. They’ll be sending someone down from Oklahoma City tomorrow to talk to you and Downey. They are interested in what happened. Nick Salvador has been on their radar for years.” He stepped closer, cupping one cheek. “Put your worries in the hands of the Lord. Between Him and me, you’ll be all right.”
“I’m trying. It isn’t always easy. I want to control every aspect of my life so I don’t have any more surprises like what happened with Bryan.”
“But we aren’t really in control. God is and He’s perfect for the job. He knows the future. We don’t.”
She gave him a smile. “Thursday night I asked for help, and He sent me you.”
He roped her against him. “I’m glad I could help. I want to be there for you.”
A parishioner Annie met at church passed by on the sidewalk and greeted them. Caleb backed away from Annie. A red tinge, highlighted by the streetlamp a few yards away, colored Caleb’s cheeks.
“I guess we’d better go to Sara’s.” Caleb gripped the doorframe.
“We can finish our…talk there.”
Annie slipped into the passenger seat, the heat from her own blush warming her face. She hadn’t flirted in years, and yet that was what she’d been doing. As she watched him round the front of the car, she realized she was falling in love with him. She didn’t know if their relationship was possible, because if she had to leave Christmas to protect Jayden she would. After Christmas she needed to reassess her situation concerning Nick Salvador.
Behind the steering wheel, Caleb started the car and pulled out of the parking space along the main street. He scanned the area as he drove by.
“You won’t be able to keep protecting us indefinitely,” Annie finally said, disturbing the comfortable silence between them.
“We’ll deal with that when we have to. Let’s see what the FBI have to say about the situation. They may be able to locate Salvador and keep an eye on him.”
“If you say so.”
“I’m not gonna let Salvador win.” He pulled into Sara’s driveway.
When Caleb climbed from his vehicle, Annie started to open her door but stopped. He liked to do that, and she was learning to let him. She was so used to opening her own door that she had to work to curb the impulse.
On the walk to the porch she relished the crispness in the night with the scent of burning wood from the neighbor’s fireplace lacing the air. With Caleb’s arm around her, she mounted the steps. Sara had left the outside light off, but the Christmas ones all around them lit the dark shadows.
At the top of the stairs she turned toward him, not wanting the evening to come to an end yet. “I can fix some hot chocolate, if you want.”
He framed her face, his amiable gaze fixed on her. “I’d better try to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow will be another full day, especially with the FBI here.” He moved closer, his arms winding about her. “Are you and Jayden gonna stay after Christmas?”
“It’s a possibility.” One she wanted to make happen with all her heart. Caleb made her feel cherished. No one had made her feel that way, not even Bryan when they had been dating. She didn’t want to give that up, but so much depended on what Nick Salvador did. Even if she was falling in love with Caleb, her daughter had to come first, and she couldn’t live her life with him always having to protect her. She would have to have another solution—even if that meant somehow disappearing somewhere else.
“I’ll just have to keep working on you. I can be very determined when I need to be.”
“If I stay, I’ll have to find a job soon. I can’t continue to live at Sara’s. I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“In the few weeks you and your daughter have been in Christmas, Sara has become her old self again. She’d probably have something to say about that.”
“Maybe I could find a job and rent a room from her. Still be here and even help her.”
He nestled her against him. “I like how you think. What kind of work have you done?”
“I went to college for a year but had to leave when Jayden was born. I’ve recently been an office manager of a roofing company in Crystal Creek.”
“I’ll see what I hear through the grapevine.” He bent closer. “But you’ve given me inspiration to see what I can find.”
His last words whispered across her lips, tickling them, right before he touched his mouth to hers, quickly lengthening the kiss. In that moment Annie knew she wasn’t just falling in love with Caleb but that she was in love with him. Her heart soared with the thought, only to plummet a few seconds later when she realized the implication. She might have to walk away from the best thing that had happened to her besides the birth of her daughter.
When they parted, he took her hand and they walked the couple of paces to the door. She scrambled to mold her features into an expression that didn’t reveal her fear of the unknown future.
Put your trust in the Lord. Those words slipped into her mind. She was trying, but for so long she’d only relied on herself.
“Good night,” she murmured after entering the house and crossing to the staircase. “Tell Tyler thanks for watching Jayden and Sara tonight. It was nice getting out by ourselves.”
Caleb gave her a quick kiss then stepped back. “He owes me.”
On her trek up the stairs she hugged her arms to her, savoring the memory of being in his embrace, experiencing again the feel of his lips on hers.
“I can’t believe I got talked into playing Santa Claus. I think the mayor got sick on purpose just so I had to do this.” In the church classroom, Caleb turned from the mirror after examining the white beard Annie had glued on his face. “How do I look? Do you think anyone will know it’s me?”
Taking in his youthful appearance that the beard couldn’t disguise and his dark hair still not completely hidden by the wig, Annie pressed her lips together, trying to contain her laughter. “Yes, but the kids won’t. All they’ll see is the bundle of presents you’re carrying and your jolly belly.” Patting his padded stomach in the red suit, she finally released the chuckles she’d held inside since he’d asked her to help him with his beard.
“I’m consoling myself with the fact that this is for a good cause. This party is for the disadvantaged children in the area. The presents I’m delivering will often be all they’ll get. This is what makes Christmas so special, giving to others, especially those who don’t have anything.”
Annie stepped close and adjusted his wig to cover his hair. “Yes, you keep telling yourself that and everything will be fine. You know, I think I have just the right touch to make you look official.”
His white eyebrows slashed down. “I don’t think I like your tone. What?”
“You’re way too suspicious.” She rummaged in her purse.
“That’s a good thing for a police chief.”
She retrieved what she’d been looking for and turned back to him. “And I’m glad. I appreciate all you’ve done for me, especially bringing the FBI in on what’s been going on. With them looking for Salvador for questioning, I feel better.”
“Their resources extend further than mine.”
“And maybe they’ll be able to crack Downey.”
“I’m not too sure about that. The man is scared. He’s trying not to act that way, but I see it in his expression. According to the FBI, people who cross Salvador die.”
“And Bryan somehow had. If Downey worked for Salvador, I can’t see Downey killing Salvador’s son without him telling him to. Maybe the FBI will find what someone was searching for in my apartment. Bryan could have hidden something there that I’m not aware of.”
Caleb gestured toward her balled hand. “What are you hiding there?”
She produced a tube of red lipstick. “This.”
His eyes widened. “You want me to wear lipstick?”
She laughed. “Just on the cheeks.”
He swiped his hand across his brow. “For a minute I thought you’d gone loco.” He fastened on her a pinpoint gaze. “Are you crazy? I’m not wearing lipstick anywhere.”
“It might make you look older, disguise you some.”
“Well, guess what? Santa has just gotten younger and looks remarkably like Christmas’s police chief.” With a final glance at the mirror in the church classroom, he headed for the door, grabbing his big, black bag full of presents for the underprivileged. “Let’s get this over with, then on to the fireworks celebration. Remember, stay near me.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” She saluted him.
When Caleb entered the rec room, saying, “Ho ho ho,” the kids’ eyes brightened, and they rushed toward him, an onslaught of twenty-five children ranging in age from three to ten.
Annie crossed to the kitchen entrance and stood with Sara, watching the joy on the little girls’ and boys’ faces. Annie spied Jayden with some of the kids from the church standing behind the refreshment tables waiting to serve the food after the gifts were given out. “This is all Jayden talked about today. The party. The presents. She helped make cards to go with the gifts.”
“I loved helping y’all bake the sugar cookies today then decorate them. I hadn’t done that in years.” Sara flashed her a smile. “Look at the turnout. The town does love a good party. I hope we have enough food for everyone.”
Annie scanned the large room, full to capacity. Quite a few people she recognized. She wanted to stay in Christmas after the holidays and had prayed about it last night after saying good-night to Caleb. In the short time here, Jayden had blossomed. She trusted Caleb. He believed in her and she’d never really had that.
“Is all the food out?” Annie asked over the claps and giggles coming from the children as Caleb handed out the presents.
“I think so…” Sara snapped her fingers. “Except the dip I stuck in the refrigerator in back. No room in the front one. I forgot about it.”
“I’ll get it.” Annie turned into the entrance.
The large kitchen was now empty, but twenty minutes before she’d had a hard time moving around as different church workers took out all the food and made the punch for the party. Making her way around the corner and toward the backup refrigerator and freezer, she listened to the noise coming from the rec hall. Joy. Laughter. The sounds gave her a peace about her decision to stay if the FBI could find Salvador. If not…
She wouldn’t think about that right now. Opening the refrigerator door, she saw the large bowl of dip that Sara had prepared for the feast. As she reached for it, a hand snaked around her mouth while an arm slammed her back against a hard body.
“Don’t make a sound. I don’t have a beef with anybody else, but if I have to, I’ll use my gun. Understand?”
She nodded.
His tanned hand eased from her mouth, but he kept his arm locked about her. Something poked her in the temple, cold and metallic. She slanted her look and nearly collapsed at the sight of the gun to her head.
“We’re going for a ride, so we can have a chat undisturbed.”
His gravelly voice chilled her to the marrow of her bones.
“If you try anything, I’ll shoot you and anyone who tries to interfere. I have nothing to lose.”
He dragged her toward the back door at the end of the short hall. That door had been locked earlier but now it stood open. She shouldn’t be surprised a criminal knew how to get into a locked building, but surrounded by lots of people she knew and Caleb a room away, she’d felt safe. All an illusion.
At the end of the deserted alley behind the church, a car sat parked. If she got into the vehicle, she would be found dead. She couldn’t let that happen.
EIGHT
Mobbed by children, Caleb looked toward where Sara and Annie had been talking. Sara stood alone. His gut tightened. Where was Annie? She wasn’t supposed to leave his sight. He’d made that clear, and she’d been good about it all day. Either him or a police officer at all times.
“This is my last one.” Caleb dug into the bag, grabbing the lone present and pulling it out. “This one is for Danny.”
The five-year-old jumped up, waving his arms, with the biggest grin on his face. “I’m Danny.”
Caleb waded through the crowd of kids and handed the child his gift, then said, “You can open your presents now.”
While they tore into the wrapping, bits of paper flying everywhere, Caleb covered the distance to Sara. “Where’s Annie?”
“She just went into the kitchen to get the dip from the back refrigerator.” Sara’s forehead scrunched. “She’s only been gone a minute or two.”
Too long. His gut knotted.
He pivoted into the kitchen and scanned the area. No Annie. He headed toward the back refrigerator. He hurried down the short hallway and checked the refrigerator. The bowl of dip was inside. Slamming the door closed, he went to the exit nearby and tested the handle. Locked.
Caleb swung around, surveying the corridor, and spied the storage room off it. He strode toward the slightly open door.
“What do you want?” Annie asked as Nick Salvador dragged her toward the car. She’d recognized him from a photo in the newspaper.
“I want the information Bryan Daniels had.”
“What information?”
The large man stopped a few feet from the vehicle and jerked Annie around to face him. “Don’t play dumb with me. He said it was in safekeeping, that if something happened to him it would go to the police. It was photos, a tape and a gun.” The laugh that erupted from Salvador’s mouth scared her worse than the gun he held in his hand. “Just like in the movies. Fool. He thought I would cower at his threat. I’ve killed men for less than that.”
“I can’t give you something I don’t have. Your man searched my apartment and didn’t find anything.”
“It was too important to leave behind. You two probably thought that I would bow down to the blackmail and give him everything he wanted when I didn’t accept him as my son.”
“But he was your son. How could you send someone after him?”
His laugh froze her. “I can’t have children. Never have been able to. He isn’t my son. His mother just tried to claim he was.”
Bryan, what in the world did you do? Frantic to find a way to convince the man she was telling the truth, she lifted her chin a notch and met his gaze. “Bryan didn’t give me anything.”
“I know all about your relationship with him. He had no friends. He called you when he knew he would die to tell you to send the information to the police. Downey managed to stop him before he could. I want the information.”
What gun, photos and tape? Again she searched her mind trying to think where or when Bryan would have done that. But all her thoughts centered on the gun Salvador pointed at her.
“Get in.” He waved the weapon at the back of the car, then took his key out and popped the trunk.
“In there?” Her squeaky words reverberated through the silence.
“Now.” He pushed the lid up and gestured with the gun where he wanted her.
Annie stared at the dark hole he wanted her to crawl into, and fear mushroomed. A band stretched around her chest and contracted. He moved toward her. She scrambled into the trunk before he could lay a hand on her.
The last thing she saw before he slammed the lid was the light at the end of the alley by the closed kitchen door of the church. Then nothing but darkness. Her black surroundings hammered terror into the fiber of her being. Her quaking started in her hands and spread so quickly it consumed her in a matter of seconds.
Sucking in deep breaths that never filled her lungs, she closed her eyes, hoping to trick her mind into thinking she was just resting. But the tight confines pressed in on all sides. Like being in a coffin.
“Lord, help. What do I do?
Part of the twenty-third Psalm came to her, weaving its way through her thoughts. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. In the wake of those words, calmness cocooned her in a sense of peace. Her rapid breathing slowed.
The motion of the car stopped. Hearing the door shut, Annie braced herself. The trunk popped open and the lid flew up.
“Get out.” Salvador stood like an avenger, bent on having his way no matter what it took.
When Annie climbed from the black hole, she hadn’t fallen apart as she would have in the past when greeted with darkness like that. Because God was with her. She wasn’t alone. Even at the moment when she faced Sara’s house, the sense of the Lord’s arm about her shoulders cloaked her in a composure she would need if she were going to make it out alive.
“What are we doing here?”
“Your stuff is here. Downey didn’t get a chance to go through it. We are now. Either you will give me what I want or I’ll kill you. It’s that simple.”
