Uncovering Colorado Secrets, page 6
The boys stared at her a few seconds then turned to each other and mimicked her shrug. “Okay, Aunt Addie,” they said in unison.
Facing forward, Adeline puffed out a breath and settled into her seat. Through the drive, she periodically glanced in the rearview mirror to check for anyone tailing them.
“Did someone else die?” Matthew asked softly, fifteen minutes into the drive.
She gasped and turned in her seat to face the boys. “No. Oh, no. It’s nothing like that at all.”
“You promise?” Josiah looked up at her with pleading eyes. Matthew reached across and patted his brother’s hand.
“I promise.” Her arms ached to wrap the boys in a big hug. She’d never dreamed they would think someone else had died. Would she ever learn how to handle delicate situations like this? She’d at least like to get through the next six weeks without adding to their trauma. It was bad enough that they’d lost their parents, they didn’t need her making things worse by mishandling every situation that arose. “We’re going to Linc’s house to swap vehicles. Then we’re going to the zoo, where you can eat junk food and ride a train.”
“Oh, boy! The zoo!” Josiah exclaimed. He listed all the animals he wanted to see.
Matthew leaned back against his seat, crossed his arms over his little chest and stared at her, his eyes boring into her as if he were trying to get inside her head to figure out what she was thinking. “Why today? Mom wouldn’t like this. School should come first. We could have gone to the zoo on Saturday.”
“True, but...”
“It will be less crowded today,” Linc interjected, never taking his eyes off the road. “Consider it a field trip. Maybe your teacher will let you do a report for extra credit. You can use my phone to take a video to share with your class.”
“Come on, Matthew. Don’t be a spoilsport. Remember the time Dad checked us out of school and took us to the movies? He said we were making memories.” Josiah smiled. “It’s a great day to make more memories.”
“I guess.” Matthew sighed and looked out the window.
Linc leaned over and whispered, “I thought you were going to wait to tell them about the zoo.”
She shrugged, not taking her eyes off the boys as Josiah drew Matthew into a conversation about which animals they would see. “You heard him. I couldn’t let him think something bad had happened again.”
Convinced Josiah would keep Matthew’s mind off negative thoughts, Adeline settled into her seat and cast a quick glance in her boss’s direction. “Just make sure we aren’t followed, so we can give the boys a nice day.”
“Of course.” He activated his blinker and turned into a gated community.
Adeline watched as the gate closed behind them, relief washing over her for the first time since they’d picked the boys up from school. At least, if someone had been tailing them, they wouldn’t be able to follow them into the neighborhood and see them swap vehicles.
* * *
Three hours later, Linc watched as the boys and Adeline fed the giraffes. It had taken a bit of coaxing, but Matthew had relaxed enough to have fun with his brother and aunt, though he was still mildly cool to Lincoln. Linc didn’t take it personally since the boy had never spent time around him before.
His cell phone vibrated. Ryan’s number flash on the screen. Getting Adeline’s attention, he held up his phone and motioned to her he was going to move beside the snack stand. She nodded and turned back to the boys. Never taking his eyes off the trio, he slid his finger across the phone screen and lifted it to his ear. “Hi, Ryan.”
“I wanted to let you know I finished installing the security system and the repairman just left. The back door looks as good as new, and the boys’ bedroom door frame has been repaired.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Linc smiled as Addie took selfies of her and the boys with a momma giraffe and her calf. “I hate to ask, but do you mind hanging around until we get back? I’d really like someone to be there if the intruder comes back.”
“Sure. No problem.”
“Great. I want to let the boys pick out a toy from the gift shop, and then we’ll head that way.” A father and child walked up, and he stepped aside so they could read the menu posted on the side of the snack stand.
“You know, if you’re not careful, you’ll get too attached to those kids.”
“Not a chance. I just feel bad for all they’ve been through. That’s all.”
Ryan laughed. “Sure, tell yourself that, but remember, I speak from experience.”
Linc was happy his friend had found love and was now a father to a sweet seven-year-old, but he refused to let Ryan goad a reaction out of him. His situation was different for many reasons. For one, even if he wasn’t determined to remain a bachelor, he had no intention of crossing the line and dating an employee, and for another, Adeline had told him on the phone last night when she’d asked for an extended leave that she was going to give up her guardianship of the boys once the school year was over. “Yes, but the kids are going to live wi—”
“Ahem.”
He spun around to find three sets of eyes staring at him. How had they sneaked up on him? He’d only looked away for a moment. “Ryan, I’ve gotta go. We’ll be back at the house soon.” Disconnecting the call, he slipped the phone into his pocket. “All finished feeding the giraffes?”
“Yes. And it seems like we finished just in time,” Adeline said through gritted teeth.
“What kids were you talking about, Mr. Jameson?” Josiah asked.
“Um. It was nothing important. I was—”
“Us. Josiah. He was talking about us.” Matthew glared at Adeline. “You promised we’d stay in our house. We don’t want to move to yours!”
Adeline dropped to her knees in front of the twins. “I know, sweetie. And I promise I won’t move you to my condo.”
“I can vouch for that. She told me the same thing last...” Adeline pushed to her feet and turned on him. He bit off the remaining words.
I’ve got this, she mouthed.
He’d put his foot in his mouth this time. Adeline had told him she was still working out the logistics. He should have known the boys didn’t have any idea what their aunt was up to. Linc wasn’t even sure their aunt knew what she was doing. He suspected Adeline would regret turning her back on her sister’s kids. Oh, well, it wasn’t any of his business. All he could do at this point was keep the boys safe and pray Adeline made the right choice for all of them. “Okay, we’ve seen all the animals. I thought we’d make a quick stop by the gift shop so you guys could get a souvenir of our adventure.”
“Oh, boy! I want a rhinoceros. No, an elephant. Or a zebra.” Josiah grabbed Adeline’s hand and started pulling her toward the exit where the gift shop was located. “Come on, Matthew. Don’t you want a toy?”
Matthew looked Linc up and down then huffed and turned to follow his brother and aunt. “I’m coming,” he yelled.
One thing was for certain, Ryan was way off base if he thought Lincoln was in danger of getting too attached to the boys and vice versa. Matthew had an imaginary brick wall built around himself, and he would surely convince Josiah to distance himself from Linc, too, once they had a moment alone.
That was fine by him. He didn’t need to entangle himself in his employee’s life any more than necessary. His only mission was to keep her and her charges safe from harm while helping her get answers to her sister’s murder. He may have thought Adeline wasn’t thinking clearly when she’d first mentioned the idea that the car accident that had claimed the lives of her sister and brother-in-law hadn’t been an accident, and someone had killed them. But he knew better, now. He also knew the only way to convince the police would be if they found solid evidence. Until then, it would be up to him to keep Adeline and the boys safe.
* * *
“Boys, hurry and pick out a toy. It’s time to go.” Adeline picked up a stuffed penguin and put it back on the shelf it had fallen from. She was convinced Matthew and Josiah had touched every toy in the gift shop. Her stomach growled, and she laughed to mask the sound. The miles they’d walked at the zoo had burned off all the calories from the hotdogs and pretzels they’d eaten when they’d first arrived. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting hungry. The sooner we pay for our purchases, the sooner we can get home and I can make spaghetti and meatballs.”
“Okay, Aunt Addie. We’re ready.” Matthew grabbed Josiah’s hand and guided him toward the register where Linc stood watching them.
Both boys had settled on stuffed animals. Josiah had selected a fox, and Matthew had chosen a hedgehog. She smiled as the cashier rang up their purchases. The toys fit each boy’s personality. Josiah was quiet and sly like a fox while Matthew put up a protective boundary around himself like the hedgehog.
The cashier rattled off the total, and Adeline reached into her back pocket for her wallet.
“This is on me.” Linc slipped his credit card into the card reader.
“I can’t let you do that.” Her boss had insisted on paying their admittance to the zoo and buying their lunch. He’d said it was a business expense since he was protecting an employee. Adeline hadn’t argued with him, but this was too much.
“Too late.” He smiled and accepted the receipt from the cashier. Then he turned to Adeline. “I’ll tell you what. I heard you talking about making spaghetti. You feed me dinner, and we’ll call it even.”
Matthew put his hand on his hip and huffed. “Aren’t you ever going home?”
Lincoln laughed. “Eventually. But you wouldn’t send a single man home to eat a frozen pizza, would you?” He crossed his hands over his chest as if the idea wounded him.
“Of course not. Come on, Mr. Jameson. Let’s go home.” Josiah reached up and slipped his small hand into Linc’s larger one.
“It’s our home, Josiah. Not his.” Matthew shrugged. “But I guess it’s okay for him to eat dinner with us. Since he brought us to the zoo and got us these toys.”
Adeline’s boss placed a hand on Matthew’s shoulder and smiled at her, a strange expression on his face. She was in trouble. If they didn’t capture the person after them soon, the boys and Linc would become too attached to each other.
“Thank you, boys. Okay, Addie, let’s go.” Linc guided the boys to the exit.
Her cell phone rang. The words Unknown Caller ID flashed on the screen. She motioned for Linc to come closer and slid a finger across the screen. “Hello?”
“Looks like the boys have had fun at the zoo today, but don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re safe. Because they aren’t,” a digitally altered voice said in her ear. She tilted her head and pulled the phone away just enough for Linc to hear. “Oh, and don’t think a new security system will stop me from getting back into the house. Even your bosses at Protective Instincts aren’t smart enough to one-up me. They’ll let their guard down, and when they do, I’ll take care of you and get what I’m after.” The line went dead.
She met Linc’s gaze. “How does he know so much about us?”
“I don’t know.” Linc shook his head. “But he’s wrong about two things. He won’t breach the security system, and he won’t harm you. Or the boys. Ryan and I will make sure of that.”
Gratitude swelled in her heart at the thought of having people in her life who had her back for a change. But the realization that the person after them continued to stay a step ahead squashed her joy. It didn’t matter how many people would help protect her and the boys if they couldn’t figure out who was after them, and why.
“Okay, so the first thing we need to do is get the boys home, where that new unbreachable security system can protect them.” Adeline had never been someone who wanted to hide, preferring to face trouble head-on. But this time, she had to think of the twins. She would do whatever it took to keep them safe. Even if that meant staying inside her sister’s house with a security system and guards, and letting someone else take the lead on the case.
“Agreed. How do you want to do this?” Linc searched her face. “We can each tote a boy and run. Or I can leave you here while I go get the vehicle and pick you all up.”
“What’s going on?” Josiah asked.
“Nothing for you to worry about.” She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and hugged him close, her heart racing as she struggled to decide between Linc’s two options. Needing to know both boys were safe, she reached behind with her free hand to pull Matthew closer. Nothing but air. Adeline looked over her shoulder. He wasn’t there. “Matthew! Where’s Matthew?” She turned back to Linc and Josiah.
“He went over there to look at the lion.” Josiah pointed at a large Lego sculpture of a lion across the store, near the double doors that led to the animal enclosure side of the zoo.
Adeline watched as a large man in a hoodie and sunglasses picked up Matthew, slung him over his shoulders and ran into the zoo area. “No!” She darted around a mother and her young daughter and raced toward the person carrying her nephew. “Stop that man!” she yelled at no one in particular, desperate for someone to step in and prevent the abduction. Vaguely aware of onlookers stopping to stare, she kept her eyes focused on her target.
Matthew kicked at his abductor’s chest and beat on his back with his tiny fist. “Put me down! Aunt Addie, help!”
“Security! That stranger is abducting my child!”
The abductor turned sharply to the right and headed for the entrance. If he made it to his vehicle before she could catch him... Her chest tightened. Lord, please, let someone stop him.
Linc tugged on her shoulder, slowing her slightly, and shoved Josiah into her arms. “Here. Take him. I’ll get Matthew.” He raced past her, a uniformed guard on his heels.
Josiah buried his face into her neck. “The bad guy took Matthew.”
“I know, honey, but Linc will save him.” Adeline prayed she spoke the truth. If they didn’t stop the man from leaving with Matthew, she’d never be able to face Josiah again. And she’d never be able to forgive herself.
Four additional guards showed up on the scene. Two from inside the zoo and two from the parking area. The abductor must have seen them closing in, too. He darted his head left and right. Linc closed in on him and stretched his hand out to grasp Matthew. The man half turned and shoved Matthew toward Linc. Adeline hugged Josiah close as Linc wrapped his arms around Matthew and stumbled into the guard behind him. The abductor rammed his way past the people trying to enter the zoo, pushing them into the guards approaching him. The car that had tried to run them over that morning sat at the curb. The abductor hopped inside and zoomed off. He had gotten away. Again.
Still holding Josiah close, Adeline jogged to meet Linc and Matthew. She held out her free arm and her normally tough-acting nephew dove into her arms. Her knees buckled and Linc wrapped his powerful arms around her. Her boss may not have intended to be part of the group hug, but once again, she was thankful for his support. This time literally.
“Folks, let me take you to the security office where there aren’t so many spectators.” A guard motioned to a door behind the ticket booth that bore the nameplate Security.
“I’ll give you and the boys a few minutes, and then I’ll come inside,” Linc said in her ear.
The moment the door was closed and the three of them were alone, she put the boys down on the floor and knelt to face them. Her nephews weren’t babies. They were almost nine years old, and there was no way she could continue to act like nothing was wrong. The twins were too smart to fall for an act. “I’m pretty sure that was the guy who broke into the house last night. The phone call was to let me know he knew we were here.”
“What does he want from us?” Matthew asked.
“I don’t know, but whatever it is, he won’t stop until he finds it. I’m afraid if he gets another chance, he’ll harm us.” She took a deep breath and pushed it out slowly. “Which is why I’ve arranged for you to do your schoolwork online. You’ll be at home where my bosses and I can keep you safe and you won’t be behind when you return to school.”
Adeline searched her nephews’ faces. “This means Linc or my other boss, Ryan, will be with us at all times, helping guard you both, and the house. I need you to follow whatever instructions we give you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Aunt Addie,” the twins said in unison.
She hated the fear she saw in Josiah’s eyes, but it was the fear in Matthew’s eyes that was almost her undoing. Hanging back and not putting on his normal brave front was to be expected after his near abduction, but his loss of innocence weighed heavily on her chest. Her heart broke that she hadn’t been able to shield him and Josiah from the harsh reality of the situation they’d found themselves in. She could do nothing other than pray at this point.
Lord, I know You’ve not answered most of my prayers through the years and I started doubting You, but please don’t let anything happen to the boys. Don’t let me fail at the one task Vanessa trusted me with the most. Protecting her sons.
SEVEN
“Now, it seems, the person who’s been threatening my employee and her nephews has found us here,” Linc said, after giving the security guard his business card and an abridged version of the situation.
“Do you believe the person is waiting for you outside?” the guard asked.
Linc looked through the small window in the door at Addie kneeling on the floor, hugging both boys. “It’s a strong possibility.”
“Where are you parked?”
“In the parking garage.”
The security guard pulled out his walkie-talkie. “Okay, let me radio for assistance, and we’ll escort you to your vehicle.”
Linc nodded. “Thank you. I’ll contact the police to let them know of the most recent attack. They’ll probably want to see the security footage from this afternoon. Maybe there will be something on the video to help us identify the guy.”
