Guarding the Babies

by Sandra Robbins

  “Are you a roots-rock group?”

  He tilted his head to one side and grinned. “How’d you guess?”

  She looked back at his shirt. “Your Attitude shirt gave you away. Have you ever met Keith Jefferson?”

  The pencil slipped from his fingers, and he stared up at her with a surprised look on his face. “The lead singer of the group? No way, but I wish I could.”

  She laughed. “Well, maybe you can come to Nashville sometime. Keith’s my neighbor, and he’s very friendly with his fans.”

  Jason’s mouth gaped open, and he shook his head in awe. “Wow! I can’t believe you know Keith Jefferson. My band members are gonna be blown away when I tell them.”

  “Well, we’re here on police business, Jason,” Cole interrupted in a sharp tone. “So, if you’d get on with it, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Yes, sir.” Jason’s face flushed as he sat up straighter in his chair. “Now, Miss Lee, let’s see what you remember.”

  An hour later, Holly stared down at the sketch she held and shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you were able to do this. I didn’t think I was describing her well, but you’ve captured her image perfectly. How did you do that?”

  Jason glanced down at his drawing and shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought your descriptions were very easy to follow.”

  She handed the sketch to Cole. “This is the woman I saw in the supermarket. Do you recognize her?”

  He shook his head and handed it to Dan, who studied it for a moment before returning it to Jason. “Can’t say that I’ve ever seen her. We’ll put her picture out to all our units and to other law enforcement in the area. Maybe one of them will spot her or recognize her as someone they know.”

  “Can’t you put this in the newspaper and ask anyone to call if they see her?” Holly asked.

  “We could,” Cole said, “but as far as we know, she’s done nothing illegal. We don’t want to scare her off. For now, we’ll just say she’s wanted as a possible witness to a crime and use our resources to hunt for her quietly.”

  Holly glanced from Cole to Dan before she nodded. “Okay. Is there anything else I can do?”

  Dan scooted to the edge of his seat and stared at her. “It might be helpful if you would come down to the station and look through our mug shots. Maybe she’s been arrested before and has a record. If you can pick her out, we can find her.”

  “Well, of course. When do you want me to come?”

  Cole glanced at his watch and then back to her. “When is convenient for you? I know you have the twins to take care of.”

  “That’s no problem,” she said. “My assistant, Mandy, is here now, as is Mrs. Green. I also had some more of my security team arrive this morning, so I feel safe leaving them here. It’s almost their lunchtime, and then they’ll take a nap. I suppose right now is as good a time as any.”

  Cole pushed to his feet and turned to Dan, who had also risen. “Why don’t you and Jason go on? I have my car here. I can bring Holly to the station.”

  Dan glanced down at his watch. “Okay. Are you going to need me for this?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I’d asked for the afternoon off. My wife and I had planned to take our grandson to the aquarium over at Gatlinburg. I’ll have my cell phone with me in case you need me.”

  “No problem. Jason can ride back to the station with me. Go on and have a good time. I’ll let you know if we learn anything.”

  “Sounds good,” Dan said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned to Holly and held out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Lee. My wife and I are big fans. And we’re going to do everything we can to find out who’s behind these attempts on your niece and nephew.”

  Holly smiled and shook his hand. “Thank you, Detective Welch.”

  Jason closed his sketch pad and grinned at her as he extended his hand. “This has been a real pleasure, Miss Lee.”

  Holly laughed and shook his hand. “Thank you, Jason. It was nice to meet a fellow musician.” He smiled at her, and a thought popped into her head. “Does your band have any performances scheduled around here for the next week or so?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. There’s a rock festival at the Gatlinburg Convention Center tonight. We’re playing in that.”

  “I would love to hear you play. Maybe I can come.”

  Cole frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Holly. You need to stay out of the public eye until we know more about what’s up with these threats against the twins.”

  “You’re right, of course,” she said. “But isn’t there some place I could stand that is isolated from the crowd where I could see the performances?”

  His brow wrinkled as he seemed to ponder her words. “I know some of the staff there. Maybe I could get them to let you into the control booth.”

  “Oh, that would be great! Just let me know what time to be there, and I’ll have my team bring me.”

  He hesitated a moment before he spoke. “I still think this isn’t such a good idea.”

  “Why not?” She could tell he was struggling with something he wanted to say but couldn’t bring himself to do it. “Tell me, Cole. What is the problem?”

  He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ve been involved in some serious attacks in the last twenty-four hours. Even if you were able to disguise your appearance, arriving at the convention center with an entourage of bodyguards is going to attract attention. You’ve already drawn enough attention to yourself by going to the supermarket yesterday. I’m surprised there aren’t photographers camped all over your front yard.”

  She thought about what he’d said before she responded. “I think you’re right. I won’t take my security team. You can take me instead.”

  “Me?” She struggled to keep from laughing at the shocked look on his face. “I don’t remember saying that I wanted to go hear Jason. I’ve heard his band before, and believe me, my eardrums haven’t been the same since.”

  Jason grinned and elbowed Cole in the ribs. “Come on, man—you’re exaggerating. I think Miss Lee has a great idea. You can help her keep a low profile, and she’ll get to hear us play.”

  “Jason’s right, Cole,” Holly said. “What do you say? Want to be my bodyguard for the night?”

  She could tell he wanted to protest, but then he exhaled and shook his head. “Okay, you win. But I’m warning you now—you’d better do everything I tell you to.”

  Holly clicked her heels together and gave a snappy salute. “Aye, aye, captain. And what time will you pick me up?”

  He glanced at Jason. “What time does your band hit the stage?”

  “We’re the next to the last group to perform,” he said.

  Cole nodded and looked back at Holly. “The concert starts at seven, so I’ll pick you up about then. By the time we get there, the crowd should all be inside, and we can slip in unnoticed.”

  “That sounds good. I’ll expect you.”

  He inhaled a deep breath. “Now that’s settled. So let’s get back to the business at hand. Are you ready to go look at those mug shots?”

  “I am. Let me go tell Mandy and Mrs. Green where I’ll be.” She headed to the kitchen and smiled when she pushed the door open and saw Emma and Ethan in their high chairs having their lunch. Mandy sat in front of Emma to assist her while Mrs. Green helped Ethan.

  She stood still and let her gaze drift over the babies. She’d had them for three weeks now, and it was amazing how much they had changed in that short time. As she watched, Ethan grabbed for the spoon Mrs. Green was about to shove into his mouth and gave a loud squeal. He’d just let her know that he wanted to do it himself.

  Holly laughed to herself as her gaze drifted to Emma. She had strained carrots smeared across her mouth, and she grinned up at Mandy. They were already trying to walk, and it wouldn�
�t be long before they’d be tearing around the house and going in different directions probably. Life would get interesting then.

  Emma glanced her way and laughed when she saw Holly at the door. She held up her arms, begging to be picked up. Holly walked over and kissed her on the forehead. “Hi, messy girl,” she said. “Looks like you’re enjoying your lunch.”

  Then she stepped over and kissed Ethan before she looked from Mandy to Mrs. Green. “I’m going to the sheriff’s department to look at some mug shots. Will the two of you be okay with the children until I get back?”

  Mrs. Green smiled and wiped Ethan’s mouth. “Don’t you worry. We’ll take care of these babies.”

  “Good.” Holly started for the door but turned back to Mandy. “Will you let Todd and the team know where I am? Tell them I want security tight on this house until I get back.”

  “I’ll do it,” Mandy said as she picked up the sippy cup of milk and handed it to Emma. Holly’s heart pricked as she watched Emma bring the cup to her mouth and take a long drink. How Ruth would have wanted to be here to watch her children growing up. The loss of her sister grew more painful with each passing day, and she doubted if the hole in her heart left by Ruth’s death would ever heal.

  With tears in her eyes, she turned away and headed back to the den, where Cole was waiting. She only hoped this trip to the sheriff’s department would prove fruitful. As soon as this threat was resolved, she would be able to focus on selling the ranch. Then she and the twins would be out of Jackson Springs, and she would never have any reason to come back.

  She told herself that was what she wanted, but she knew she was only fooling herself. Ruth and Michael might be gone, but Cole would still be here. Through the years, she’d kept up with him through Ruth, but once she was back in Nashville she probably would never see or hear from him again. Now, all she had to do was convince herself that was really what she wanted. It was going to be easier said than done.

  * * *

  At a few minutes before seven o’clock that night, Cole stood on the front porch of Holly’s house ready to knock. He paused for a moment and thought back over the afternoon they’d spent together while she looked at mug shots. Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen anyone who looked familiar, and he had brought her back home around four o’clock to get ready for the concert.

  As he stood there, he thought once again that taking her out tonight was a mistake. Looking at mug shots was one thing but going to a concert was quite another. One was professional while the other might give the appearance of being social. And he didn’t need that. In fact, when he’d first seen her the night of the attempted abduction, he’d promised himself he would stay as far away from her as possible. But that didn’t seem to be working out too well for him. All he could do now was try to get through the night, and then it was back to his original plan to keep his distance.

  With that decided, he pushed the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. When the door opened, a young woman, who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties, stood there, smiling at him. Her dark hair brushed her shoulders, and she tucked one side behind her ear as she stared at him.

  “Hi. I’m Mandy. You must be Cole. Holly is just saying good-night to the children. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the den, and you can wait in there while I go to tell her you’re here.”

  Cole stepped into the foyer and shook his head. “No need to show me the way. I’m very familiar with this house.”

  “Then make yourself at home,” she called out as she headed to the stairs.

  Cole walked toward the room that held so many memories. At the entryway, he paused. Then he took a deep breath and strode into the den. There had been other people in here with him earlier today, and that had made it easy to ignore the way his stomach churned at being in this house again. He’d been right to be concerned that tonight wouldn’t be easy. He glanced around and tried to concentrate on the changes Ruth had made in the room when she and Michael took over the ranch, but it was no use. The feeling of déjà vu that had settled over him when he walked through the door into the den increased with each passing minute.

  It was impossible to count how many times during his teenage years he’d sat in this room waiting for Holly to come down those stairs. The memory of how nervous he’d been as a young boy to be greeted at the door by Holly’s father and escorted into this room to be questioned about where they were going, who would be there and what time they’d be home returned, and he smiled.

  Back then, he’d resented the third degree he’d had to undergo each time he picked her up; but now, years later, he respected it for what it had been—a loving father making sure that his daughter was protected. He’d liked Holly’s father. In fact, he’d liked all of Holly’s family and had thought one day he would have a place of his own at their dinner table. But that dream, along with everything else he’d intended for his future, had died when Holly left town.

  Now she was back, and for some reason someone had placed her and the twins in danger. If it wasn’t for that, he probably wouldn’t have known she was in town. She’d visited Ruth through the years, but she had never attempted to contact him. That shouldn’t have surprised him, though. Right before she left, he had given her an ultimatum—forget the obsession she had with becoming a country-music star and marry him or go to Nashville knowing that their relationship was over and he would never take her back. She’d chosen the second one, and although it had been hard, he had learned to accept it and had gotten on with his life.

  Before he had time to take a longer trip down memory lane, he heard her coming down the stairs and he rose to greet her. When she walked into the room, his breath hitched in his throat at how beautiful she looked tonight. She wore jeans, a denim jacket with a fitted white T-shirt underneath and a pair of cowboy boots that he guessed probably cost a week’s salary for him. She had a baseball cap pulled low over her eyes and a pair of sunglasses in her hand. Her skin seemed to glow with its light dusting of makeup, and for a moment, she looked like the young girl he’d known so long ago.

  She smiled as she came into the room, then stopped and whirled around in front of him. “I was trying to go for incognito. Do you think I was successful?”

  What could he say? He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, but she was probably used to hearing those words from everyone around her. They would have no meaning coming from him. Instead, he cleared his throat and glanced at his watch.

  “You’ll do,” he said. “We’d better be going. One of the convention center’s employees is going to be at the back door to let us in. We don’t want to keep him waiting.”

  A hurt expression flickered in her eyes before she lifted her chin and smiled. “Then let’s go.”

  They didn’t speak as they left the house and walked to his car, which was parked in the circle driveway. She glanced up at him as he opened her door and stepped back for her to climb in. The muscle in his jaw clenched, and he wondered if she noticed how ill at ease he was. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “Okay, Cole. What’s wrong? If you don’t want to go, I can stay here. I understand.”

  He exhaled a deep breath and shook his head. “It’s fine, Holly. I’ve just had a rough few days. Get in the car or we’re going to be late.”

  She stared at him for a moment as if deciding what she wanted to do. Then, with a sigh, she climbed in and pulled her seat belt around her. Cole slammed the door and walked around the back of the car but stopped at the trunk. For a moment, he leaned his hand on the car and closed his eyes.

  This wasn’t good.

  He shouldn’t be here.

  He didn’t want to be here.

  He should tell her to go back inside and let him go back to the lonely house he called home.

  His glance through the rearview window settled on her figure sitting quite still in his car. She looked so small and so fragil
e, and the droop of her shoulders hinted at rejection. And suddenly he knew that it didn’t matter what Holly asked of him. As long as he had breath in his body, he would do whatever it took to make her happy.

  He’d done that ten years ago when he’d let her walk away, and nothing had changed. Right now, she wanted to attend a concert, and he intended to keep her safe while they were there.

  He straightened his shoulders, walked around the car and climbed in the driver’s side. He turned to her and smiled as he cranked the engine. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  His stomach clenched as she reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you for this, Cole. Usually, I’m surrounded by staff and security people when I try to go out anywhere. I can’t tell you what it means for it just to be you and me, together again where we grew up. I’m going to treasure this night.”

  He stared at her but didn’t say anything. Then he gave a slight nod and drove away from the house.

  FIVE

  Two hours later, Holly didn’t know when she’d enjoyed anything as much as she had the concert. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to be on the floor of the convention center. From the control booth where she and Cole sat, high above the last balcony, she had a clear view of the swirling mass of humanity that stood shoulder to shoulder as they sang along with the bands, waved their arms in the air and danced to the rhythms flowing from the stage. At the present time, though, the stagehands were busy tearing down a set and getting ready for Jason’s band.

  She turned to Cole and noticed that he had a more relaxed look on his face than he’d had when they first arrived. Their careful planning had paid off—no one had seen them arrive, and they were able to ride the service elevator up without being spotted.

  She leaned over toward Cole and smiled. “Are you having a good time?”

  He returned her smile and nodded. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a concert. I’d forgotten how much the crowd gets into the music.”