A Christmas Stolen (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)

by Lillian Duncan

  “The baby was taken this morning.”

  “Oh my.” The woman leaned against the doorjamb as if she might pass out.

  “What did you see?” the officer asked.

  “Well, it was a young girl. I guess she was probably in her twenties. She was all bundled up so I couldn’t really see her face.”

  Danica wanted to scream. She wasn’t as patient as Officer Mackey and had hoped to hurry this along, but she supposed it was best to let the lady talk it out as she remembered.

  “She was putting something in the back of an old station wag—oh my, you don’t think it was the baby, do you?”

  In the back? Without a car seat? Danica’s stomach twisted.

  “It’s possible. What did the station wagon look like?”

  “I don’t know the model or anything, but it was old.” She closed her eyes. “And rusty.”

  “What color was it?”

  “I don’t remember. I’m so sorry. I…just wasn’t paying attention. I…I...wait a minute. I think it was white with brown…no, tan stripes.” She wrung her hands. “Oh, I wish I could remember more.”

  “That’s great. At least we have a description of the car.”

  “Of course.” The neighbor turned to Danica. “Tell Leah and Mark I’m praying.”

  Officer Mackey and Danica walked across the snow-covered lawns and back to Leah’s.

  “The woman three houses down saw a young woman this morning. She couldn’t see her face, but she was driving an old station wagon. She put something in the back of the station wagon,” Officer Mackey told Dan Tate, who’d remained in the house with Mark and Leah.

  “Oh my baby. My baby.” Leah buried her face in her hands.

  “What color was the car?” Officer Tate asked.

  “She thought it was white with brown or tan stripes. But she wasn’t real sure about that.”

  “OK. I’ll call that in and then the chief can talk with the witness when he gets here.” Officer Tate looked at his watch and then outside. “He should be here any minute.”

  As if on cue, another car pulled into the drive. Not a cruiser but an SUV of some sort. Danica opened the front door. Her mouth dropped opened.

  His hand was on the buzzer but when their gazes met. He appeared just as stunned. His once-long, shaggy brown hair was trimmed and neat now, but there was no mistaking him. She stared at his uniform, not quite believing it. “Willie Schaeffer. You’re a cop?”

  “Not just a cop, I’m the chief.” His tone held a tinge of pride.

  “You’re the chief?” Her voice actually squeaked.

  “It’s been a long time, Dani girl.”

  “Don’t call me that. My name’s Danica.”

  “Is it your baby that’s missing?”

  “No, it’s my sister’s. Leah. She lives here. I’m just in for a visit.”

  “Were you here when the baby was taken?”

  She stared, realizing if she’d gotten here earlier she might have been able to stop this all from happening. She managed to shake her head. “I just arrived a few minutes ago. I would have been here earlier, but the roads were so bad. I found her in bed asleep and the baby gone.”

  “It’s not your fault, Dani.”

  He had known exactly what she was thinking. But she didn’t want to be comforted by him—the man who’d ruined her life. “I’m not so sure about that. If I’d arrived ear—”

  He touched her arm. “There’s no point in thinking like that, Dani girl. We can catch up later. After we find the baby.”

  She wouldn’t be talking to Willie Schaeffer to catch up on anything. How could he be Chief of Police? Only in her hometown could the bad boy of her graduating class become a member of law enforcement. Her stomach twisted. Surely, he was way out of his element. They needed a real police officer. “Willie.”

  He turned back.

  “Is someone else coming? To help?”

  “Of course. The state police are on their way. And the sheriff’s department has offered all their resources for us. But I know what I’m doing. We’ll get the baby back.”

  Something in his tone comforted her—even if he was Willie Schaeffer.

  He and the officers held a whispered conference.

  Danica went to her sister.

  Mark was holding Leah as she sobbed. He was holding himself together, but tears tracked down his cheeks that he didn’t bother to wipe away.

  She sat down. “This is horrible. It’s my fault. If I’d gotten here soon—”

  “Don’t think that way. The only fault lies with the person who took Angelica.” Mark looked at her. “But…but this is so unbelievable. Things like this don’t happen in Shreve. Why would a stranger walk in here and steal my daughter? We don’t have any money so it can’t be for ransom. I just don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either.” Danica took a stab at comforting him. “I’m sure she doesn’t want to hurt Angelica. She’s probably one of those women who want a baby so bad she took someone else’s. She won’t hurt her. I’m sure Angelica’s safe.”

  “You might be right, but what if that’s not why she took her?”

  Her throat went dry. “I’m sure she won’t hurt Angelica. I’m sure of it.”

  Willie Schaeffer extended his hand to Mark. “Mark, we’ve got a BOLO out on the vehicle described by your neighbor, a description of the woman, and a state-wide Amber Alert’s been issued.”

  Mark nodded. “Thanks, Will. I know you’ll do everything you can.”

  “I’ve also got every one of my officers driving around town looking for the station wagon. We’ve called in the off-duty officers. The Wooster police and the county deputies are doing the same all over the county. Holmes County’s been alerted as well. Every station wagon will be stopped and questioned—no matter the description. Eye witnesses are notorious for getting details wrong.”

  Danica had to do something. Anything could be happening to their little Christmas angel. Her gaze fell on the Mothers’ Helpers pamphlet that had been tossed on the coffee table. The church people probably knew this woman. She grabbed the pamphlet. “Here. This has to be the key. They must know her. She had their pamphlet.”

  “Already on it, Dani girl,” Willie said.

  “Don’t call me that. My name’s Danica.”

  “Sorry. Anyway, the sheriff’s over there right now talking with the pastor.”

  “Maybe I should go over there, too. I can’t just sit here. I need to do something.”

  Will gave her a look. “The sheriff’s more than capable of handling it, Dani—I mean Danica. He’s a good man with lots of experience.”

  “What about the FBI? Where are they?”

  “They’ve been contacted.”

  “Are they on their way?” Mark asked.

  “They’ll be here soon. But with this snow, it’ll take them some time.”

  “Time we don’t have.” Danica said. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. Leah’s sobbing confirmed it. “Oh, Leah, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  Her sister sobbed more.

  “God will bring our baby back, sweetheart. We have to have faith.” Mark hugged Leah closer.

  “It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry, Mark.”

  “It’s not your fault, sweetheart. It’s that woman’s and only hers. There was no way you could know what she had in mind when you let her in. I would have done the same.”

  Leah hadn’t made a mistake in her choice of husbands.

  Danica looked at Willie Schaeffer. “Isn’t there something I can do? Anything. I need to help.”

  “Not really, Dani…ca. I know it’s horrible just waiting, but we’re doing everything we can.”

  She wanted to disagree. She wanted to call him a liar because he wasn’t trustworthy. Didn’t the people in this town know that? Didn’t they know what kind of man he was?

  The doorbell rang.

  Danica opened it.

  The neighbor woman stood there
with a tote in one hand and a cane in the other, now dressed. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but I thought I’d see if the police wanted to talk with me again.”

  “Come in. I’m sure they do.”

  She held up the tote. “And I brought some food over. I know that’s probably the last thing on anyone’s mind, but people still have to eat.”

  “Clara,” Leah said from behind her.

  “Oh, dear. I’m so sorry.” She set down the tote and opened her arms. Leah went into them. Tears streamed down Clara’s face when they parted.

  “Clara, are you OK? You shouldn’t have come out in the snow. You could have fallen.” Leah looked at Danica. “Clara has brain tumors from some disease called NF2. It’s messed up her balance…makes it hard for her to walk.” Just like Leah to be worrying about someone else—even now.

  “I’m fine, dear. I used my walker. It’s on your porch.” She picked up the tote. “I’ll heat this up. Will, if you want to talk with me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute, Clara.”

  Everyone seemed to know everyone. Apparently Clara was on a first-name basis with the chief of police. That seemed odd considering the age difference between the two.

  Clara took Leah’s hand. “Can you show me how to turn on the oven, dear?”

  The woman shouldn’t be asking Leah to do anything. Angered, Danica stared at Clara.

  But then Leah nodded and went to the kitchen.

  Ahhh. Clara was keeping Leah busy.

  Danica followed both of the women.

  Clara set the tote on the kitchen island and smiled at Danica as she took two casserole dishes out and set them on the counter. “Leah talks about you all the time. She’s very proud of her big sister.”

  “That’s sweet of you to tell me.”

  Clara turned back to Leah. “I hope I haven’t overstepped my boundaries, but I called Sam. He’s on his way over. Is that OK?”

  “Sam’s our preacher.” Leah answered Danica’s unspoken question. “And Will goes to our church, too. Thanks, Clara. We could use prayers.” Her voice trembled. “A lot of them.”

  Will Schaeffer in church? It took Danica a moment to wrap her mind around that revelation.

  “Absolutely. I’ll get the prayer chain going as soon as I get the lasagna in the oven. I know you’re probably not hungry, but I didn’t know what else to do, and you do need to eat.”

  “Thanks,” Leah said. Her tears were gone, but her voice was still husky.

  “Hopefully, this will all be over soon, but if it’s all right I’ll call people to ask them to pray.”

  Leah nodded. “We need all the prayers we can get.”

  Will walked in. “OK, Clara. Let’s talk.” He looked at Leah. “Alone. Can you give us some privacy?”

  “I want to hear—”

  “I promise I’ll tell you everything, but I don’t want Clara stressing out about upsetting you while she’s trying to remember the details. OK?”

  Leah grabbed Danica’s hand. “Come on. Let them do their job.”

  5

  “What do you mean it’s a dead end?” Danica stared at the sheriff. “She had one of their pamphlets. That has to mean something. They have to know this woman.”

  “They don’t. The pastor explained they put their pamphlets all around the county. I described the woman, but she didn’t sound familiar to him.”

  “When is the FBI getting here? It’s been three hours.”

  The sheriff pointed toward the window. “We’re in the middle of a snow storm. They were still about a half hour out, but the Amber Alert has been issued, and cars are being stopped and questioned all over the state. We’re doing everything they would be doing.”

  She hadn’t meant to insult the man. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re doing whatever needs to be done. It’s just that…”

  The sheriff patted her arm. “Don’t worry about it. I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling. If you need someone to yell at, I’m your man.”

  Now, she really felt bad. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Already forgotten.” He smiled before he walked away.

  Danica had no idea what to do. She turned to her sister.

  Leah was sandwiched between two friends. Clara’s prayer chain was working. Several people had stopped by with more food then prayed with Leah and Mark before they left. The house was crowded with so many people. The sheriff was here and another deputy. Sam the preacher was talking with Mark, and now Leah’s best friends sat with her.

  I’m useless.

  A television news van pulled into the driveway outside. The FBI couldn’t get here, but the news van could? A man stepped out from the passenger side and strode toward the house.

  “The news van is here.” Danica announced to no one in particular.

  Will walked toward the door. “I’ll talk to them.” He stepped out into the wintery mess without a coat. A strong gust of wind blew in the house as he re-entered. “Mark, Leah. We need to talk.”

  Leah left her friends and motioned for Danica to join them. Mark was there a moment later.

  “The news media’s picked up on the story. I know they can be annoying but they are your new best friends. We want them talking about Angelica and her kidnapping on air. We need as much air time as we can. You never know who could be watching. It could give us the break we need.”

  Mark nodded. “That makes sense.”

  Leah looked ready to break down once again.

  “There’s a few different ways we can handle it. They can come in and interview the two of you or even just Mark with Leah sitting by your side. Or I can be the family spokesman. But if we do that, we still need them to come in and get some footage of your house, the two of you, and a picture of Angelica. We want people to want to help you. Do you have any pictures?”

  “Pictures.” Leah’s hand moved to her mouth. “Oh my. She took a picture of us on my phone. Her fingerprints might be on it.”

  They hadn’t gotten any useful prints off the cup. The technician said it had been wiped clean.

  Will took charge. “Don’t touch the phone. I’ll get it dusted. What about another picture?”

  “I’ll go print one off from our camera.” Mark looked at Leah. “How do you think we should handle the news media?”

  Leak looked at Danica. “What do you think?”

  “I think you should let them interview both of you at least one time. After that if you want Will to be the spokesman, that’s fine. But they need footage of the two of you to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings.” She looked at Will. “Don’t you think?”

  Will nodded. “Mark go print that photo off, and I’ll get the news crew in here.” He looked around the crowded living room. “Danica, can you move everyone out to the dining room and kitchen area so they can do the interview?”

  Finally. Something useful to do.

  Danica herded the people out of the room. “Please, either stay here or in the kitchen until the news crew is finished.” People murmured their consent as they joined hands for a prayer circle. Danica returned to the living room, staying in the background.

  Will picked up the phone with gloves and went to the kitchen.

  Please, God. Let it have that woman’s fingerprints.

  The doorbell buzzed.

  Danica went to answer it.

  “I’m Agent Donna Fellers from the FBI.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.” Danica opened the door wider.

  “Thanks, but from what I’m hearing your police department’s doing a wonderful job. Are you the mother, Leah Barnes?”

  “No. That’s my sister.” She pointed to the couch where Leah sat. One of her friends was brushing her hair. “They’re getting ready to do an interview for the TV station.”

  “Perfect. I was told Chief Will Schaeffer, is here as well.”

  Danica pointed toward the kitchen. “He’s in there.”

  Agent Fellers nodded and left the living room.

&
nbsp; Danica knelt in front of her sister. “Are you OK? Can you do this?”

  Leah met her gaze. “For Angelica, I can do it.”

  “For Angelica.” She laid her head on her sister’s lap. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “It feels as if it is. If I’d gotten here earlier, who knows?”

  “If it’s anyone’s, it’s mine. And everybody keeps telling me it’s not my fault so it’s certainly not your fault either.”

  “I guess.” Even though she’d heard it several times today, Danica couldn’t erase the guilt.

  Mark took each of their hands in his. “We’ll get through this. God’s working this out for our good. That’s a promise He makes to all of His children. Romans 8: 28. I believe that promise.”

  Leah looked up at him. “I want to believe that. I really do, but I don’t see how any good can come from this.”

  He sat down beside her. “Honestly, I don’t either, but I know God keeps His promises. We need to keep trusting Him—no matter what happens.”

  Leah sobbed. “I know I should but I…I…don’t know how to do that.”

  6

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after the interview was finished. Even Will Schaeffer wiped his eyes. Maybe he wasn’t quite as bad as he used to be. Leah was always telling her God could change people, so this might be an example.

  Agent Fellers had made a point of saying he was doing a good job. No one but Danica seemed to be questioning his ability. And he went to church with Leah and Mark. But her distrust had nothing to do with the present and everything to do with the past.

  Danica was more than a little impressed with Mark and Leah’s church. The kitchen was filled with enough food to feed a small army. Which was a good thing considering how many people were in the house with them. People were stopping in to show their support. And everyone was praying.

  Clara had even dished food and asked Danica to take it out to the news people for supper.

  Will walked up to her. “I’m glad we got it on the air for the eleven o’clock news. People will be out there looking for Angelica. So that’s good. Someone out there knows something. They just need to be moved enough to come forward with the information.”