Christmas Conspiracy

by Susan Sleeman

  She put the cleaning bottles and paper towels on the desk, then began clearing it. She lifted her appointment book, revealing a photograph she hadn’t left on her desk. The photo showed her and Jake arriving at her house last night.

  “This is crazy. Who would have taken our picture?” she asked.

  Jake moved closer.

  “No. Oh, no.” She backed away from the desk.

  “What is it?” Jake asked.

  She pointed at the picture. “The intruder. He left this. He was here again. In the center.”

  * * *

  Jake tried to appear calm, but his heart was hammering hard against his chest. He stepped between Rachael and the doorway, so if the intruder remained in the building he’d have to go through Jake to get to her. He grabbed a tissue to protect any fingerprints and lifted the picture to flip it over.

  The backside held a message written in black marker.

  Aren’t you listening, Rachael? Talk to this cop and he will pay.

  Rachael gasped and grabbed Jake’s arm. He wanted to comfort her, but first he had to determine if they were in any danger.

  “I need to ensure we’re alone,” he said, his hand already going for his gun.

  “Alone! Do you think this guy is still here?”

  “No, but we can’t be too careful.” Jake stepped to the door and turned back. “You’ll come with me. Normally I’d do this alone, but with all of these doors and rooms connected, he could circle back here while I’m at the far end of the hallway.”

  “You’re scaring me.”

  “Not my intent.” He forced out a smile. “Grab on to the back of my shirt so I don’t have to wonder if you’re right behind me.”

  “But I—”

  “You can do this.” He squeezed her arm and turned to wait for her to take hold of his shirttail.

  She grabbed a fistful, and he eased down the hallway.

  Memories of the prior day, the bullets slamming into his vest, made his step falter for a second. He forced the thought to the back of his mind and moved ahead, clearing one room at a time. Each time he opened a door, he heard Rachael draw in a breath and hold it, then once he announced the room was safe, she blew it out. By the time they’d cleared seven rooms and twice as many bathrooms, she must have felt like she’d run a marathon.

  He entered the last room, designed for school-age kids. A window was open, but the space was clear.

  “You can let go now,” he said.

  She dropped his shirt and went to the window. “This is how he got in.”

  Jake nodded.

  “I should have come over last night and set the alarm. Then maybe he would have been caught.”

  “Or you could have run into him,” Jake said.

  She pulled in another breath.

  “I’m sorry to frighten you, but you have to realize how careful you need to be.” After this, there was no way he’d let her stay at her house alone, but he would wait to tell her that until he had a plan in place. “I’ll call Skyler to get a team out here and arrange to have this window fixed once they’re done.”

  Rachael stood staring for a long moment before pulling back her shoulders. “My licensing rep can’t come here now. I’ll call her and cancel.”

  “We can’t leave this room or we risk contaminating the evidence elsewhere. In fact, we should take off our shoes to minimize contamination of this room.”

  “My rep’s number is posted with emergency numbers by the phone. But if we can walk around this space in our stocking feet, why can’t we do the same thing in the hallway?”

  “First, the phone is only a few steps away. Second, your socks’ fibers can introduce evidence to the scene. Booties are clean and won’t cause the same problem so we’ll remain put until Skyler arrives.”

  Normally he wouldn’t have been quite this concerned about contamination, but they had few forensic leads other than the single hair they’d recovered from Rachael’s clothing, and they needed to take extra care in hopes of locating one.

  Rachael slipped out of her shoes as he untied his boots. He dug out his cell phone and arranged for Skyler to come right over, then he let his gaze travel around the room. He spotted video cameras discreetly mounted in two corners. He hoped they were functioning last night and had recorded the intruder. Jake would check on that the moment Skyler arrived and gave them booties.

  His thoughts went to the picture lying on Rachael’s desk. He’d gotten only a quick look at it, but the angle of the camera said the photographer had lurked across the street from her house. It was bad enough that Deputy Hill hadn’t seen the guy last night, but with Jake’s many years of training and experience it was inexcusable to miss the guy, too.

  He could just imagine the creep hiding behind shrubbery in the vacant lot across the road. Hunkering down, his camera in hand. He most likely had his gun at the ready as Jake said good-night to Rachael, completely oblivious to the danger. Then Jake had hopped into his truck and driven off, leaving the man who’d threatened to kill her watching her from across the street.

  Grr! Jake had failed and had to learn from his mistake. Do better. Rachael’s life depended on him.

  She continued to talk with her licensing rep, rescheduling the appointment for tomorrow, and Jake wanted to pace, but he stayed put. He tapped his finger on the table instead, his leg bouncing, until he heard footsteps whispering outside their door. It sounded like someone wearing shoe coverings, but he wouldn’t take any chances. He glanced into the hallway, and when he spotted Skyler, he let out a heavy sigh.

  She carried extra booties.

  “Did you stop in the office to see the picture?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I don’t much like that the message says our suspect has added you to his sights.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “I know you can, but I still don’t like the expanded threat.” She handed the booties to him. “Let’s get Ms. Long settled in the staff lounge, and then we can work this scene.”

  Jake took the booties to Rachael, who put them on without speaking. He escorted her down the hallway, his gaze drifting to the bulletin boards mounted outside each classroom. Santa Clauses, sleighs and Christmas trees were stapled on red and green background paper. At least that’s how he interpreted some of the children’s artwork, as it was hard to identity many of the pictures in the under-four-years-old category.

  He opened the lounge door and waited for Rachael to get settled. “I hate to make you sit here all alone, but—”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’d rather you help Detective Hunter than keep me company.”

  He thought he noted an added emphasis on the last bit, but maybe he was imagining things.

  “I’ll check back with you as soon as I can.” He left her behind and joined Skyler in the office, where a computer tech already sat behind the computer.

  Skyler stared down on the tech and the guy seemed afraid of her.

  Jake had to stifle a laugh over the big guy’s fear of itty-bitty Skyler.

  She turned and looked Jake square in the eye. “I’m sorry. We don’t have any video from last night. It’s totally my fault. After the techs pulled the video yesterday they didn’t restart the system. I should have followed up.”

  “Things like that happen,” Jake said, but he was disappointed that they’d missed the opportunity to record the suspect in action.

  “I’ll send a crew over to Rachael’s house,” Skyler said. “Maybe we’ll get be able to locate evidence in the spot where the suspect snapped the picture.”

  “I don’t like the fact that this guy returned to her house again.” Jake clamped a hand on his neck. “Even worse, I was right there when he came back. How could I have missed seeing him?”

  “You’re being too hard on yourself. He
must have concealed himself in the bushes, and none of us would have known he was there.”

  “He could’ve fired on both of us. Rachael might have been...” He wouldn’t put the thought into words.

  “But he didn’t. Likely because you were there, as was Deputy Hill.”

  “I suppose you’re right. It’s harder to commit murder when you have officers with guns nearby who can shoot back.” Jake tried to let go of the vision of the man loitering across the street, but it lingered in his mind.

  “He clearly has no idea that Rachael can’t remember what he looks like,” Skyler said.

  “And as each day passes, he’s got to be getting more and more paranoid that we’ll release a sketch of him to the public.”

  Skyler frowned. “Which means we should watch for him to escalate. Maybe try to take that shot you were worried about last night.”

  “Exactly,” Jake said, and he vowed to find a way to keep Rachael out of the intruder’s sights.

  EIGHT

  It was no minor feat, but Jake managed to gather the entire team together in the firehouse family room while their significant others hung out with Rachael in the game room. He stood at the fireplace, all eyes fixed on him. It was rare to call a team meeting during the day, especially when Jake’s request wouldn’t be offered as a supervisor, but a friend.

  He took a breath and launched into his speech. “Let me start by telling you to forget I’m your team leader, and ask you to give your honest opinion.”

  “Will do,” Cash said. “But honestly, you being the boss never stopped me in the past.”

  “Ditto,” Brady added.

  “Not me, boss man.” Darcie smirked. “I’m always respectful of your leadership.”

  Jake gave them a testy look. He usually appreciated their jokes and ribbing, but not while Rachael’s life was on the line.

  “Whoa.” Archer slid back. “That scowl means you’re not at all pleased with us.”

  “It’s not you.” Jake shoved his fingers into his hair. “It’s the situation. I want to resolve this quickly so I can make other arrangements if needed.”

  “Then tell us what this is all about.” Skyler smiled, but Jake knew that was bound to disappear with his request.

  “Rachael Long received a second warning today.” Jake told them about the picture left at the center. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have her remain in her house alone, so I’d like her to stay here.”

  Skyler’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not a good idea on so many levels.”

  Jake crossed his arms. “Name them.”

  She took a breath and blew it out. “Number one. She’s a suspect in the kidnapping until I prove otherwise.”

  “You’re not moving too fast at the proving otherwise part, are you?” Jake fired back.

  She arched a brow and stared at him for a moment. “Is that a slur on my performance?”

  He sighed. “I’m just saying you’re busy tracking down other leads, too. Besides, if Rachael was truly your top suspect, then you’d focus on her background check, and you’re not.”

  “True,” Skyler admitted, albeit reluctantly.

  Cash stood and glanced between them. “So you don’t think she’s involved?”

  “As I told Skyler,” Jake replied, “if Rachael was on the wrong side of the law, she wouldn’t have a license as a child care provider.”

  “Ah, Jake,” Brady chimed in. “Her license has been suspended.”

  Jake scowled at Brady. “You know what I mean. Point is, she’s not a kidnapper, and she needs help now.”

  “Which brings up my other main objection.” Skyler crossed her arms. “You’ve taken on Rachael as a crusade, and you’re too close to the situation to make an impartial decision.”

  “I beg to differ,” Jake replied. “True, I’ve taken a personal interest in this case.”

  Cash snorted. “Very personal.”

  Jake ignored that. “But I can still form an objective opinion. Rachael’s in danger, and she needs more protection than a deputy sitting outside her house can provide.”

  He widened his stance and ran his gaze over his subordinates. “Let’s take a moment to remember the other people who have stayed here under our protection. Krista and her grandfather. Isabel and her grandmother.”

  He faced Brady. “Your fiancée, Morgan, too. We didn’t turn them away when their roles in the investigation were uncertain. Why turn your backs now?”

  “He has a good point,” Darcie weighed in. “I vote to let Rachael stay here.”

  Cash nodded. “Krista would scalp me if I didn’t agree.”

  Despite the serious discussion, Jake smiled. Of all the men on their team who Jake never imagined would let a woman take charge in his household, it was Cash, but he loved Krista so intensely that he bowed to her wishes most of the time.

  Brady grinned at Cash. “Me, too, and not because Morgan would make me do it.”

  “I’m good with it,” Archer said.

  Jake looked at Skyler. “Then I guess it’s up to you.”

  “Fine.” She tightened her still-crossed arms. “But promise me you’ll keep an eye on her, and if there are any hints that she was involved in Kelly’s near abduction, you’ll tell me.”

  “I promise,” he replied, as he planned to keep an eye on Rachael.

  Both eyes, actually. Not only because he found her beautiful and intriguing, but also because she needed his protection, and another life wouldn’t be lost on his watch.

  * * *

  Rachael was having fun—fun!—while a man continued to threaten her life. She owed her change in attitude to Brady’s fiancée, Morgan, and Cash’s wife, Krista. They’d taken out a well-used deck of Uno cards and insisted Rachael join them for a game.

  At the end of the third game—Rachael had won all three—Krista sat back and frowned. “You didn’t tell us you were an Uno shark.”

  Rachael tried not to smile at the indignant comment. “I thought it went without saying that since I run a child care center, I play games with the school-age kids all the time.”

  “Ah.” Morgan nodded. “That explains it.”

  “Cash and I plan to have kids,” Krista said. “But a center full of them? No way.”

  “It’s really rewarding,” Rachael replied. “Especially when we get to help mold their lives and support their parents.” Rachael felt tears coming on, so she stopped talking.

  “But it’s a lot of responsibility, right?” Krista asked.

  Rachael forced herself to lighten up. “Parents appreciate picking their kids up in the same condition they dropped them off in. You know...with all their fingers and toes, etc.”

  The women stared at her, so she winked. They realized she was joking and started laughing. But then Jake stepped into the room, his expression sober, and the laughter stilled.

  “Uh-oh,” Krista said. “I recognize that look. I get it from Brady all the time before he goes on a callout.”

  “We haven’t been called out,” Jake said. “But if you ladies don’t mind—”

  “You’d like to talk to Rachael,” Morgan finished for him.

  “And just when we were having such a good time getting to know her.” Krista stood. “Or at least getting to know that we should never play games with her.”

  Rachael offered a smile of gratitude, and as the women departed, they seemed to take the fun out the door with them.

  Jake settled on a chair across from Rachael and fiddled with the deck of cards.

  “Just come out and tell me what you need to tell me,” she said. “You’re making me nervous.”

  “I don’t want you to stay at your house tonight. I don’t think it’s safe.”

  “But Deputy Hill—”

  “Is doing a
good job, but with the suspect proving he’s very willing to keep coming back, you need more attention than the deputy can provide from a car.”

  She’d been thinking the same thing, but she didn’t want to impose on Jake any further. “I could stay at a hotel. That way he wouldn’t know where I was located.”

  Jake shook his head. “He could find out, and then you’d be putting others in danger. It’s the same as bunking with a friend.”

  “Then what do you suggest?”

  “I’d like you to stay at the firehouse. You can have my condo, and I’ll bunk on the couch down here.”

  “Here? But no... I’d... You’d... That’s not a good idea,” she said, trying to come up with a reason she couldn’t stay since she didn’t want to discuss how spending more time with each other wasn’t a wise move.

  His eyes narrowed, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Why isn’t it a good idea?”

  “You’d all be in danger, too,” she finally managed.

  “We’re law enforcement officers, Rachael. We know how to handle danger.”

  “What about Krista, Pilar and Isabel? They live here, too, don’t they?”

  He nodded. “We’ve already arranged for them to stay with someone else.” He pushed the card deck away and slid closer. “I know you’re hesitant. If it’s because of the chemistry between us, don’t let it play into your decision and leave you exposed to potential attacks.”

  “It sounds like you think this guy is actually going to try to kill me.”

  “I don’t want to worry you, but I think that’s a possibility, and you couldn’t be in a safer place than with highly trained deputies.”

  She knew there was more to it than he was saying, and she wished he’d just come out with his thoughts. She studied him, wanting so desperately to see what was going through his mind now, especially since he’d admitted he felt something, too.

  But what did she hope to see? That this was a casual flirtation? Something more? Things she wasn’t ready for? Or was he really just worried about an imminent attack?