The Yuletide Rescue

by Margaret Daley

  “Bree called a couple of times,” Ella said to him. “I told her I’d have you call the second you came back.”

  He stepped into the warmth of the reception area. “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know, but she sounded stressed.”

  He strode to his office in the back, sank into his chair, then made a call to Bree. Every muscle tensed. She knew he was on a search and that he would call her when he returned. So why the urgency? As he listened to her phone ringing, a bad feeling gripped him.

  “David, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Bree said the second she answered.

  “Of course, the search was pretty routine, and we found the child within an hour. He hadn’t wandered too far from town.”

  “Gail’s missing.”

  “When? What happened?” His hand clutched his cell phone so tightly he had to make himself loosen his grasp.

  “She borrowed my car to pick up her husband and do a couple of errands at lunch. She never arrived at the base to get John. Thomas is coming to the clinic because they found my car in the parking lot of the market but no sign of Gail. Five hours after she left for lunch.”

  “I’ll be at the clinic soon. Ask Thomas to stay until I get there.”

  “Thanks. I’m so glad you’re back.”

  Her words—almost desperate sounding—unnerved him. His protective instinct flowed through him. He wouldn’t let anything happen to Bree. “I’m fine, and you will be, too. They’ll find Gail.” Why did he say that when he couldn’t shake his bad feeling?

  “I pray you’re right.” Her sentence ended on a sob.

  David shoved to his feet and pocketed his cell phone. As he passed through the reception area, he said to Ella, “Go home. It’s nearly six.”

  “I got the impression something was wrong. No need to round up volunteers to search for someone?”

  “Not at this time. If so, I’ll take care of it. You’ve put in a long day.”

  Ella gathered up her purse and coat. “If you need me, call.”

  David left with Ella and followed her car from the hangar. At least it wasn’t snowing if Thomas wanted to conduct a search for Gail. As he drove toward the clinic, he mentally ran through the handler and dog teams he could call since the scope of the search would be in Anchorage.

  When he entered the clinic fifteen minutes later, the first thing he saw was Bree standing with Thomas. Tears ran down her pale face.

  EIGHT

  David’s heart sank at the sight of Bree crying. A tightness expanded in his chest and squeezed the breath from his lungs. He hurried to her, praying he was wrong and the tears were a result of relief.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Bree said and went into his arms, winding hers around him and holding him close.

  David looked at Thomas. “What happened?”

  His friend scowled. “We’ve towed Bree’s car in, and it’s being processed. We found some blood on the driver’s seat. We’ll see if it matches Gail’s blood type. But at the moment we assume it does, and there has been foul play. We’re treating this as a kidnapping. My partner is with the husband. We brought in a dog to see if the abductor left a trail. It led a few feet away, then ended as if she’d been forced into another vehicle.”

  “Any video surveillance footage of the kidnapping?” David asked as Bree pulled back and pivoted toward Thomas.

  “The one in the parking lot isn’t working. I have officers checking with the businesses, and we’re putting a picture of the car and Gail on the news to see if anyone saw the abduction.”

  “It was the middle of the day in broad daylight. Surely someone did.” Bree wiped wet tracks from her cheeks.

  “We hope, but I think the person parked next to the car and waited for her to come back out after shopping. We found a bag on the front seat and the market confirmed she had made some purchases. The problem is that Gail parked near the end of a lane, so if someone had been next to her, it wouldn’t be obvious if she didn’t fight or scream.”

  “Gail would have fought.” Bree curled her hands, then uncurled them.

  “Not if he got to her fast.” Thomas started for the door. “I’ll keep you informed as the case develops.”

  A chilling thought nagged David. Before his friend left, he said, “Gail’s hair is about the same length and blond like Bree. They are similar in height and build. Gail was driving Bree’s car. Could the kidnapper have made a mistake and taken the wrong woman?”

  Thomas stopped and glanced back. “A case of mistaken identity? It’s possible. Bree, until we know more, you shouldn’t stay at your house alone. If you have somewhere you can go, that might be better.”

  David opened his mouth to say she did, but Bree cut in first. “Yes, I’m staying at David’s. His father is visiting, and he used to be a police officer.”

  Thomas nodded his head. “Good. Then I’ll contact you there.”

  David moved a couple of feet to Bree and clasped her shoulders from behind. When the detective left, she slumped against him, her body trembling. Fear held him still for a few seconds. Then he bent toward her ear and whispered, “Gail will be found. In the meantime, I’ll protect you. I didn’t rescue you so you could be hurt.” He turned her toward him, worried more than he wanted to admit to Bree.

  “If Gail was taken because of me, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. First Jeremiah and now possibly Gail. I don’t know...” She pressed her lips together, blinking away the returning tears.

  He saw the fight for control waged on Bree’s face. She’s an innocent having to deal with something out of her control. Why, Lord? What has she done to deserve this? Anger swelled in David. He’d asked that question many times while serving his country. And now while heading up the SAR organization. Maybe he hadn’t chosen the right vocation after retiring from the air force.

  He pushed those thoughts away. Bree needed him right now. Drawing her against him, he felt her shudder, but she nestled closer. “You aren’t at fault. You did nothing wrong. Jeremiah died of natural causes. Gail borrowed your car. You were being a good friend and helping her out. And it’s possible Gail’s disappearance has nothing to do with you. The police don’t know.”

  She leaned away. “Why did you mention the similarities between us? And why did Thomas tell me not to be alone, to leave my house?”

  “A precaution only. You know the saying, better safe than sorry.” He tried to grin, although he wasn’t too sure how successful he was. “Besides, you’re going to need a chauffeur until the police return your car because you promised me no more skiing to work.”

  “And you’re volunteering?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m at your service, and if I have to be gone, I offer my dad’s service.”

  “Without asking him?”

  “I know him. He’d be the first to step forward.”

  “Still, I’d feel better if you ask him first.”

  He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I will just as soon as we go by your house and you pack a bag.”

  Bree gathered her purse and coat, then said goodbye to the rest of the staff that had kept a respectable distance. Each one’s face reflected concern and worry.

  When David pulled into her driveway, a chill streaked down his spine. He stared at Jeremiah’s place, then Bree’s.

  “I left my front blinds open when I went to work. Ringo likes to sun himself when we have sunlight. Someone’s closed them,” Bree said in a monotone as though she’d had one too many shocks in a single day.

  “I’m calling Thomas. I could go check, but I don’t want to leave you alone, and I don’t want you going in if it’s not safe.”

  * * *

  When Bree finally entered her house after Thomas and a police officer had gone through it and cleared it, she didn’t think she was capable of rea
cting or feeling. But then she saw the same chaos throughout her place as in Jeremiah’s, and it hit her as if she’d been slammed into the side of a mountain.

  She stopped at the entrance to her living room and stared, but she really didn’t see much. Her mind shut down, and she finally closed her eyes.

  From behind, David wrapped his arms around her. She knew it was him from the sense of safety that suffused her and his distinctive scent that was becoming familiar to her.

  “Let’s get some clothes for you and then leave. We can deal with this mess tomorrow.”

  His softly spoken words washed over her, and for a moment she felt at peace as if God had sent David to help her. She wasn’t alone. She nodded, then turned within the circle of his arms, her gaze fixed only on him. “This isn’t important. Only Gail is right now.”

  She picked her way through the disarray on her floor without even noting what it was and entered her bedroom, keeping her focus on finding some clothes and then leaving. While David positioned himself in the doorway, she zeroed in on one item after another tossed on the floor, blocking everything else from her consciousness, until she had what she needed for a few days.

  Ten minutes later, holding one duffel bag stuffed with her possessions, she faced Thomas in the foyer. Her attention strayed to the living room and her pulse rate accelerated when she noticed the cushion seats on the couch, cut open and torn apart. Squeezing her eyes closed, she lowered her head, then slowly opened them to see the relatively clean entry hall.

  David slipped his arm around her shoulders while he took her duffel bag. “She’ll be at my house,” he reminded Thomas. “Either my dad or I will be with her until you figure out what’s going on.”

  “Good. This time we found footprints leading from the back door to the woods behind this house. I have two officers following them right now. I imagine, though, they’ll end when they reach tire tracks.”

  “Please let me know whatever you find concerning Gail. I...” Bree cleared her throat, but no words came to mind to say.

  “I will, Bree. We’ll be processing your house. Maybe we’ll find some evidence that will lead us to who is behind this.”

  A loud whine filled the air. Bree covered her mouth and turned toward David. “I forgot about Ringo. How could I?”

  “You’ve had a lot to deal with. Here, take your bag. I’ll find him. We can stop by the store to get what he needs.”

  “You don’t mind taking him to your house?”

  “I love animals. It’s about time I have one at my place. Remember I volunteered to take him when you’re at a village clinic.” David went to retrieve the cat.

  Thomas waited with her. “He’s a good guy. You’re in good hands. I wish we had the manpower to protect you, but we don’t.”

  “I still don’t understand why someone would search my house. I don’t have any of Jeremiah’s possessions over here except Ringo, and he’s just a stray cat Jeremiah took in a few years ago.”

  “If we knew what they were looking for, we might know what’s going on and put a stop to it.”

  Bree studied Thomas’s face. “I know you still feel this is about drugs. It isn’t.”

  The police detective remained quiet.

  David returned to the foyer, holding a crying and wiggling cat. Bree set her bag on the floor and took Ringo into her arms. He began rubbing against her cheek and his whining stopped.

  “Let’s go.” David grabbed her duffel and opened the front door.

  As Bree left her house, she glanced back over her shoulder and realized her home mirrored her life—turned upside down and shattered into pieces.

  * * *

  Early the next morning, after finding Ringo standing over him on his bed, David threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and headed for the kitchen to make coffee. The quiet of his house soothed his raw nerves from the intensity of the past week. At the end of the hall, he peered back at his bedroom and wondered how Ringo had ended up there. He’d closed his door last night when he’d gone to sleep, but obviously not totally.

  The cat followed him into the kitchen, purring and rubbing against David’s jeans. He checked to make sure Ringo’s water bowl was full, then went to the counter to fix a pot of coffee.

  David knew someone was in the entrance before he heard a sound. He turned. His father ambled into the room.

  “Good morning, son. Did you sleep last night?”

  “Yes.”

  “How long?”

  “Not long. A couple of hours.”

  His dad took down two mugs from the cabinet and slid them toward David. “Me, neither. Every sound had me going for my gun. I haven’t guarded a person in years.”

  “I appreciate you helping me. Maybe we should take turns so we can get some sleep.”

  “That’s a good suggestion, and one I should have come up with last night. I shouldn’t be surprised by the turn of events, but when it is someone you know, it’s hard to think of everything you should do. Emotions get in the way of clear thinking.”

  David filled each mug and gave his dad his coffee. “You like Bree.”

  Although not a question, his father said, “Yes. She’s open and easy to like, but I do think she might be blind about her friend Jeremiah.”

  “I hope not. It’ll shatter her, especially after what has happened with Gail.”

  “The longer Gail is gone, the less her chances are of being alive. There hasn’t been a ransom demand, which means something else besides money is the motive for taking her. Money is easier to deal with.”

  Sipping his drink, David leaned back against the counter and crossed his ankles. “I’m worried about Bree, especially if the police find Gail dead.”

  “Perhaps you more than like her.”

  “I like her, but that is all.” He had to put a stop to the feelings developing between them. “After Trish, I’m not ready to jump back into a relationship. I made a mess of that one.”

  “When she married you, she knew you’d made a commitment to your country. Your life is different now. You have more freedom of time and choices than you had before.”

  “I’ve enjoyed this past year with Northern Frontier, but I’m not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

  “You’ll figure that out. Make sure it’s something you love. God made us for a purpose. Discover yours.” His father went to the refrigerator and pulled out some ingredients. “Do you know if Bree is going into work?”

  “I’m not,” Bree said from the doorway, holding Ringo in her arms. “I asked for the next few weeks off. I can’t put any more people in jeopardy. I hate even putting you two in danger. If something happens to—”

  His dad cut her off. “Stop right there, young lady. It wasn’t that long ago I was protecting a whole town from the bad guys. I think protecting one woman is much safer.” His dad put the container of eggs on the counter beside the refrigerator. He looked pointedly at David, then crossed the room. “I have a few calls to make, then I’ll cook something for breakfast.”

  When his father left, the silence between David and Bree separated them more than the width of the kitchen did. He was at a loss for words. She was worried about him and his dad, while all he thought about was keeping her safe at any cost. When had his feelings shifted from more than friendship? He still wasn’t ready for any kind of serious relationship, and yet there was no way he would ask her to leave because he was beginning to care for her. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.

  “Do you want some coffee?” he asked after several minutes passed.

  She released Ringo, then finally answered, “Yes, please.”

  He poured her some and passed it to her. “Let’s sit and talk. I want to emphasize that my dad is right. You belong here.”

  While Ringo sauntered to his empty
bowl and licked it as if food would somehow appear for him, Bree went into the utility room and retrieved his food bag. After feeding the cat, she came to the table and took a seat across from David.

  “Ringo is definitely taking this better than me. He’s acting like he’s been here for years.” Bree ran her finger around the rim of the mug, studying it intently. “I feel so alone. I can’t shake the feeling I’m responsible for Gail’s disappearance.” She looked up at him. “If this isn’t settled by the time Melissa comes for Christmas, I’m leaving. I won’t put her in danger and nothing you say will change my mind.”

  He captured her hand and cupped it between his. “We have time. Don’t think about that now. Thomas is a friend, and he’ll do all he can to solve this case. I do think you were wise to take a few weeks off, though.”

  “The hard part of taking off is I like to be kept busy. It feels strange to have that much time off. Whenever I take a vacation, it’s only for a week at a time.”

  “I’ll be with you. Ella will contact me if I need to know about any operation that comes up. Otherwise, I’m at your disposal. Chauffeur and friend, all wrapped up in one person.”

  “Good. I’m in need of both.” Her look embraced him. “Today I’m supposed to go see Jeremiah’s lawyer. Then I want to visit John, Gail’s husband.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes. She’s a good friend, and he needs to know I’m here for him.”

  “What time is your appointment with the lawyer?”

  “Eleven. John...and Gail live on the outskirts of Anchorage.”

  David rose. “More coffee?”

  She shook her head.

  “Does he know you’re coming this afternoon?”

  “No. I realize he might not be there, but I’m afraid if I tell him, he’ll say I shouldn’t come. I have to talk to him in person. Let him know I’m praying for Gail’s safe return.”

  “Do you think that will do any good?” The second he asked the question, he wanted to take it back.

  “Yes. I can’t even begin to tell you what God’s plan is for me or anyone else, but at least I can let Him know what I want. If I don’t have Him, what kind of hope do I have?”