I smiled at the mention of Chase. “We appreciate that.”
“You’re probably not in any danger, but we just want to be careful until more facts emerge.”
“Of course.” It was strange—one nameless baby showed up, and the entire community rallied behind us. It wasn’t a bad thing. Not at all. In fact, it was rather refreshing to see so many people care. “Were you the one driving the unmarked car earlier?”
He stared at me a moment, as if he had no idea what I was saying. I hadn’t seen any unusual cars parked outside, but a lot of people parked around the corner and off the main street.
“I saw the same car pass by several times today. A black sedan. A Crown Victoria, maybe?”
He shook his head, uncertainty in his gaze. “That wasn’t me. I drive a patrol car.”
Chapter 6
When Chase came by at six that evening, I was lying on the couch with Sweet Pea cuddled up beside me. We’d had quite the afternoon together, one filled with an overloaded diaper, a lot of gas, and me attempting to trim tiny, razor-sharp fingernails that had done a number on my arms.
I was worn out by the end of it all.
Like, more tired than I thought possible. I’d assumed I was made for stuff like this, but taking care of an infant was much more draining than I’d realized.
I sat up as Chase approached, securing Sweet Pea against the back of the couch and trying to blink away any sleep from my gaze. My mom had let him in before scurrying back to the attic so she could sort through things there. That was her number one on her priority list this winter.
As soon as I saw Chase was wearing a suit, I instantly went on alert.
I was missing something, but my tired, fatigued brain couldn’t figure out what.
“Are you okay?” He stared down at me and blinked.
I must really look terrible because he was the third person who’d asked me that today. I nodded. “I’m fine. Just tired and adjusting.”
“I should have called before I came, but I got busy with other things.”
“Don’t apologize. You look really nice.” I patted the seat on the other side of me, away from Sweet Pea’s sleeping figure.
What are you forgetting, Holly? Whatever it was, it was at the edge of my recall. I wasn’t quite there yet, though.
“I guess you won’t be joining me tonight at the awards banquet?” he asked.
That was when it hit me. Tonight. The awards banquet. Chase being honored.
Guilt washed through me. I’d totally and completely forgotten.
How could I have forgotten?
My hand went over my gaping mouth. “Chase, I’m so sorry. I—”
He held up his hand to stop me. “I should have reminded you, Holly. You’re usually so on top of things that I figured you’d call and let me know if it wasn’t going to work out. Maybe I was being optimistic. Maybe I was just so busy that I didn’t have the proper time to call you. Either way, it’s fine.”
“No, I should have remembered. You asked me a month ago. I know this is important to you.” Tears started to rush to my eyes. I hated letting people down. Hated it. “Let me see if my mom can watch Sweet Pea. I can be ready in ten minutes—”
He squeezed my leg. “Really, Holly. It’s okay. I can attend a banquet alone.”
“It’s not just a banquet. It’s your banquet. The one where you’re being honored.” I rubbed my forehead, wishing I could rewind time to about an hour earlier. “I’m a lousy girlfriend.”
He nudged my chin back up. “No, you’re not. You’ve had a lot on your mind.”
I fell into his outstretched arms—but only for a minute. Then I reached for Sweet Pea, knowing I needed to secure him. “Thank you.”
He rubbed my back, even as I pulled away. “How’s motherhood treating you?”
I glanced at Sweet Pea as he lay beside me on the couch, his lips moving in and out with every breath. “It’s been totally exhausting. But I’ve already fallen in love with Sweet Pea. He’s such an angel.”
“Holly, you know—”
I raised a hand to stop him. “I know, I know. I can’t get too attached. I haven’t forgotten.”
“I just don’t want to see you heartbroken at the end of all this.” He squeezed my knee.
“I appreciate your concern. I’m just trying to embrace this for all it’s worth. This little guy needs all the love and attention he can get right now. But I also think a lot about his mama. I pray she’s alive but I know that if she is, she’s probably desperate and scared.”
“Or she could be a drug addict who’s on the run. The choice could be selfish. She could be a criminal, for that matter.”
I shifted to face him more, careful to keep one hand on Sweet Pea. “No updates, I take it?”
“Not yet. We’re still trying to figure out his mother’s identity.” He glanced at his watch. “Now, I have a few minutes until I need to leave. Tell me about your day.”
So I did. I filled him in on going to the youth center and the gym, the man with the crazy hands, and arriving back home. I gave him the note that was left on my car, just in case he needed it for evidence, and explained to him what had happened.
“You should have called us,” Chase said.
Half of the time my leads didn’t pan out. The other half I got a lecture from him about snooping, so one might understand my hesitation to share. “You’re right. I probably should have. But nothing came of it.”
“I’ll look into this myself tomorrow, just to make sure.” Chase stood. “I should be going.”
I stood also, that familiar guilt still plaguing me. “I really am sorry about tonight. I wanted to be there.”
He kissed my forehead. “You get some rest. I’ll be okay.”
But, after he left, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was as okay with this as he said he was.
Chapter 7
An hour later, my mom and I had cleaned up from dinner after nibbling on some kind of casserole with a creamy chicken filling and crusty cracker topping. It was good, but my appetite wasn’t very strong this evening. I had too much on my mind.
With everyone fed and happy, and the kitchen clean, Sweet Pea sat in a little bouncy seat and played with the colorful toys that hung over the front of it. My mom sat at the kitchen table with some boxes from the attic around her, and I did my normal stress reliever: I made some cookies, beating myself up still for forgetting Chase’s event tonight.
“Holly, look at this,” Mom said.
“What is it?” I glanced her way as I put a pan of cookies in the oven.
“It’s a project you did in fifth grade. The teacher asked you to predict where you’d be in the future.” My mom held up a poster with crayon-smeared words across it. “You had to imagine the next fifty years of your life. At fifteen, you saw yourself going on mission trips.”
“Check.” I had done several mission trips, starting way back in high school.
“At twenty, you wanted to be in college and be active in volunteering.”
“Another check.” No arguments from me.
“At twenty-five, you were going to be married with two kids and a third on the way.”
I frowned at her words. I was twenty-nine now. Nowhere close to having children. Definitely not married.
The thought caused a lump to form in my throat, but I didn’t want her to see how much that fifth-grade prediction affected me. “Interesting.”
“At thirty, you were going to have three children of your own and you were going to have adopted two more.”
“You know what they say about the best laid plans . . .” I frowned.
“Isn’t that the truth? Life doesn’t always work out the way we’d like. You’ve just to got to roll with it.”
I cast Sweet Pea one more glance, saw that he was still content, and then I sat down a little too hard across from my mom.
“What’s wrong?” Mom’s eyes narrowed, and she paused from her organizing.
“I just feel badly tha
t I missed Chase’s banquet tonight.”
“What was he being honored for again?”
“His work in ending the police riots last year.” The city had fallen into chaos after a police brutality case caused racial tensions. Just when the violence had gotten totally out of control, Chase risked his life to save one of the rioters from certain death. That one act had somewhat helped ease tensions in the area. It hadn’t solved them, but it had started the process.
“Yes, yes. He does deserve the honor. But he understands that you couldn’t be there. He’s not the type who always needs a woman by his side.”
“I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
My mom tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
I started to shake my head and try to weasel out of the conversation that I’d initiated, but I stopped myself. “What if Chase never overcomes his past?”
Mom’s lips pressed together compassionately. “He will.”
“It’s been . . . what? Three years? Three years since his brother was killed and Chase’s life fell apart. I know these things take time to process and learn to live with. But there are certain things in life that we’ll carry with us every day. There are things we have to learn to live with. We don’t ever get over them. We just have to learn to accept them.”
“Wise words, Holly. It’s very true. Life isn’t always a Hallmark movie, is it?”
I shook my head. “I’m trying to do this thing called life right. Trying to make the biggest splash with what time I’ve got. I just really hate wasting even a moment.”
“Oh, sweetie. You really think Chase is a waste of time?”
I swallowed hard. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t know what I mean. I think lack of sleep is messing with my mind.”
“Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll watch Sweet Pea for a couple of hours.”
“Are you sure?” I wasn’t used to depending on other people to help me function. I liked being independent. But I couldn’t deny the fact that I was exhausted—after only a day. I thought I had more stamina than this.
“Yes, now go. Lie down. Relax. We’ll be fine.”
I stared down at Sweet Pea as I pushed him through my church building and my chest swelled with joy. He’d gotten so much attention today, everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of his adorable little face. I loved having a baby.
Movement beside me caught my attention and pulled me away from my idyllic thoughts.
It was a woman. She moved through the crowds like a panther.
Before I realized what was happening, she scooped her arms into the stroller and grabbed Sweet Pea. Despite the stream of people, no one noticed her or stopped her. So she ran.
I chased after her, desperate to get Sweet Pea back. How could I have let someone snatch him? How had she approached so quickly and without notice?
An alarm began sounding in the distance.
An alarm?
Was it a car alarm? Why else would there be an alarm in church?
I sat up straight in bed, sweat across my brow. It was just a dream, I realized. A dream.
Then why was the alarm still sounding?
The security system, I realized. We’d recently had a home security system installed at the house after a string of break-ins in the area. Well, after a string of break-ins—all at this house. But that was neither here nor there at the moment.
My heart leapt into my throat as the high-pitched beeps continued.
Someone was trying to get into my home.
I sprang out of bed.
I had to get Sweet Pea. Was this connected to his sudden appearance in my life?
That was my best guess.
I peered into his Pack ’n Play and saw that he was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the noise. My instinct was to grab him, but I didn’t want to wake him up unless it was absolutely necessary.
At this point, I wasn’t sure.
My door opened and my mom peered into my room. Worry was written on the lines across her face.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
I nodded. “Just fine. You?”
“The police are on the way. I think it would be wise for us to stay upstairs.”
I rushed toward the window and peered outside. My room faced the backyard, but I couldn’t see anything, only darkness.
Was someone out there?
Trust no one.
The words from the note resonated in my mind.
What did that mean?
With my mom standing near Sweet Pea, I rushed toward my nightstand and grabbed my cell phone. I dialed Chase’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“What’s wrong?”
“The alarm is going off on the house.”
“Officer Truman should be there any minute. I’m on my way also. Stay where you are. Lock the door.”
“Okay.” My hands were trembling when I hung up the phone.
This was nothing. The wind. An accidental trigger of some sort.
I was sure there were other reasons for the alarm to go off, reasons that didn’t include anything nefarious.
Then why did I feel so nervous?
Someone rapped on the door downstairs.
I turned to my mom, my blood pressure skyrocketing. No way was I leaving Sweet Pea up here alone. But I needed to see if that was Officer Truman.
“Stay with him?” I asked my mom.
She nodded, remaining by his Pack ’n Play. “Of course.”
“Lock the door behind me . . . just in case.”
I prayed there was no just in case. But I had to use caution here.
I pulled on a robe and wiped my hands against the cottony material. Then I slowly turned the door handle and peered out into the hallway.
Darkness stared back.
I swallowed hard, praying no one was waiting on the other side of this door, just out of my line of sight.
After some of the things I’d been through lately, I’d realized that sometimes worst-case scenarios did happen. They terrified me. Though I tried to battle fear with faith, I had to admit that worst-case scenarios could terrify me. Paralyze me, for that matter.
I pushed myself forward. I had to do this. For Sweet Pea.
Sucking in another deep breath, I pulled the door open farther. By all appearances, the hallway was clear.
I took my first step out and jerked my head to the right.
No one was there.
Thank You, Jesus.
The pounding at the door downstairs continued.
That’s right, Holly. You just have to make it down the stairs and to the front door. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Right?
It didn’t seem so easy at the moment. All I could picture was someone jumping out from behind one of the closed doors lining the corridor.
Dear Lord, help me.
I took my first step, moving at a snail’s pace. That was when I realized speed could be my friend and that being slow would only make me more of a target.
I darted toward the stairs, flew down them, and finally reached the front door. I peaked out and saw two officers on the other side. My hands trembled as I tried to open it, making the task nearly impossible. Finally, I undid the latch and jerked the door open.
Officer Truman and another cop stood there. They didn’t wait for me to ask them inside. They charged into the house, immediately on guard.
Officer Truman took my arm. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, just shaken. Did you see anything outside?”
“No, everything appears in place. We’re going to check the inside, though.”
I nodded, trying to process everything.
“Stay here,” he said.
I wasn’t going to argue. I posted myself near the wall and counted down the seconds, continuing to pray that everything would be okay.
Lord, I just need Your wisdom. I’m kind of selfish and needy. I ask for Your wisdom all the time. I can’t get enough of it. But so many things are coming at me, and the fact that
I’m tired isn’t helping me. Please be with me, Lord.
“Holly,” someone muttered.
I opened my eyes and saw Chase at the door, dressed down in jeans and his favorite University of Cincinnati T-shirt and boots. Before I could say anything, he pulled me into his arms. His embrace immediately made my heart rate return to some semblance of normal. He’d always been my protector.
“Anything?” he asked.
I stepped back and shook my head. “Truman and another officer are checking things out. Last I heard, they hadn’t found anything.”
“The baby?”
“He’s fine. He’s upstairs with my mom.”
At that moment, Truman pounded back down the stairs and approached Chase and me. “Everything appears okay upstairs. Your mom said she’ll stay with the baby for a while so you can talk to us.”
“Did you see anything?” Chase kept an arm curled around my waist as he addressed the officers.
Truman shook his head. “No, nothing.”
The other officer joined him. The twenty-something’s name badge read “Mclean,” and he was a tall, gawky man with short, dark-brown hair, and an expressionless face. “There’s no one here, but there’s something I thought you might want to see.”
We followed him to the back door. He pointed to one of the bay windows around our breakfast nook and shined his flashlight there. “It almost looks like pry marks,” Mclean said.
Chase leaned closer. “You’re right. And they look fresh. You don’t know anything about this, do you, Holly?”
I shook my head. “No. No idea. To my knowledge, they were not here before.”
“How often were you driving past?” he asked Truman.
The older officer looked into the distance and shrugged. “Every twenty minutes usually. But there was an altercation at the bar down the street. I was there as backup for about an hour.”
“Right before this happened?”
He nodded. “Right before this happened. I came as soon as I got the call.”
“Let’s get a forensic team out there to see if there’s any evidence,” Chase said.
“Yes, sir.” Truman stepped away and pulled out his radio.
Random Acts of Greed: Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries, Book 4 Page 5