The Yuletide Rescue

by Margaret Daley

  Bree climbed into his car while David rounded the hood and slid behind the steering wheel. “Maybe we should go back and search Jeremiah’s house again.”

  “Did he have any hidey-holes in his house?” David asked as he backed out of the driveway.

  “If he did, I didn’t know about them, but that doesn’t mean anything because obviously I didn’t know a lot about Jeremiah.”

  Bree took in the landscape around them and the absence of homes in the area. Off through the trees, she spied a light from one house and another down the road, but that was all. Suddenly a chill shook her insides. While they had been inside talking with John, the sun had set and it had grown dark. Not far behind them she noticed headlights as a car pulled onto the road and followed them.

  “Where did that car come from?” she asked, trying to think of what they had passed. All she remembered were trees. Maybe a dirt path? A house back behind the woods?

  “I’ve got an eye on it.” David accelerated as much as he could on the snow-packed pavement.

  Bree’s pulse rate increased, as well. Then in the distance coming toward them was another pair of headlights. She breathed a little easier. They weren’t alone. She hated this feeling of being paranoid, but after what had happened to Gail, anything was possible. If the abductors were after her, she was sure they’d realized Gail wasn’t her by now.

  The vehicle behind them picked up speed while the one in front slowed down. Bree gripped the door handle.

  “You’ve got your seat belt on, don’t you?” David asked in a tight voice.

  “Yes,” she squeaked out as the car in front swerved across the road at the last minute, blocking them.

  David braked but drove the SUV toward the side of the highway.

  The headlights behind them were coming fast.

  “Hang on.”

  David plowed his vehicle through half a foot of snow on the shoulder, his rear end fishtailing. But he kept going, even gunning the SUV as the front wheels bounced back onto the road.

  Bree turned around and looked out the rear window. The car blocking their path backed up and fell in behind the other one, still coming toward them.

  “Call nine-one-one, then Thomas,” David said and gave her his phone number. “Tell him where we are and what’s happening.”

  After she disconnected with 911, she called Thomas, who answered on the second ring. She looked around and told him where they were and what was happening. “These guys may be who took Gail.”

  Thomas explained where they would try to set up a roadblock. “Hang in there.”

  As Bree ended the call, David pressed down on the accelerator. She glanced behind them at the two sets of headlights still following, with the lead car gaining on them. “Thomas wants you to get to Otter Road and stay on it.”

  “I want to catch these guys.” David’s fierce tone cut through the charged air.

  Although David slowed for a big curve, the SUV began to glide toward the shoulder. He steered into the slide and managed to right the car. Bree kept her attention focused on the two vehicles behind them. One hit the curve at a high speed and flew off the side of the road into a ditch. The second one decelerated in time and continued pursuing them.

  “One down,” Bree said. “Let’s hope he stays that way.”

  “He isn’t getting out of that ravine. I noticed it on the way to John’s. It’s four or five feet deep. The car will have to be towed.”

  His words comforted Bree until she noticed the vehicle still behind them was recklessly cutting the distance between them. “I don’t think the one left is too concerned about ending up in a ditch.”

  “Otter Road is up ahead. Let’s hope Thomas has everything ready.”

  “I’m so sorry you’re going through this because of me. When you rescued me from the wreck, you weren’t counting on this.”

  “When does anyone know what the future holds?”

  David took the turn as fast as he could and still control his Jeep. The vehicle behind them kept coming like a polar bear stalking its prey. Bree clasped her hands together so tightly her fingers ached. She couldn’t be responsible for David’s life. Please, God, deliver us safely. She repeated it over and over.

  The cell phone rang in Bree’s lap. She noticed it was Thomas calling and snatched it up. “Is the roadblock set up?”

  “Yes,” he said, then told her the location. “There’s a curve, so once David passes, we will be putting out the spikes to stop the car behind him.”

  “Thanks. We’re not too far from there, but the guy after us is daring. He keeps pushing the speed.” When she disconnected, she told David the roadblock’s location.

  “That’s another mile.”

  When David went around the curve, Bree spied the highway patrol on both sides of the road. After they passed, the officers threw out the chain of spikes to stop the pursuing car.

  “I’m not slowing until we get to my house.”

  Bree turned to watch as the vehicle plowed over the spike chain. The driver lost control when his tires blew out. He tried to keep going but didn’t get very far. The highway patrol officers surrounded the car, guns drawn.

  David let out a long breath. “Call Thomas and hand me the cell phone.”

  Bree did. Then, with one last look behind them, she relaxed back against the cushion, exhaustion blanketing her. If there had ever been any doubt that she was the target rather than Gail, the past twenty minutes had erased it.

  * * *

  The next morning, David sat in his living room checking his emails, drinking this third cup of coffee. He looked up as his dad entered. “Did you sleep okay?” His father had complained of insomnia the past few nights.

  “Better. I’m not responding to every sound I hear.”

  “Good. That means you feel safe enough to sleep while I’m on guard duty.”

  “Do you want a coffee refill? I’m going to get me one.”

  David shook his head and finished up his last email, then closed his laptop. He wasn’t looking forward to the day with Jeremiah’s memorial service. Every time Bree left his house, he felt there was a target on her back, especially after the direct assault while returning from John’s.

  “I assume Bree is still asleep,” his dad said when he returned from the kitchen with his mug full.

  “Yes, and I’m glad because she is another one who hasn’t been sleeping. After what happened last evening, she probably fell into bed and was out instantly.”

  “Has Thomas called yet about the man they captured? I hope they were able to get some information out of him last night.”

  “Not yet. He told me he would be over later and fill us in. He’ll also be at the memorial service with several patrol officers.”

  “Did you figure out where Jeremiah’s cabin is?” His father sipped his coffee.

  “Yes. I plotted the coordinates on the map and have the location.”

  “Maybe we should go there for a while. If Bree didn’t know about the cabin, I don’t see how anyone else would.” His father took a seat across from David.

  “I’ve been thinking about that. I feel like we’re sitting ducks here. We could let Thomas know where we’re going but no one else. I’m sure there’s a place to land a plane nearby. That would have been important to Jeremiah.”

  “Let’s see what Bree says.”

  “About what?” Bree came into the living room, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt from the University of Alaska.

  “We thought it might be good to get away from Anchorage while Thomas tracks down any leads from last night.”

  “What leads?” She eased onto the other end of the couch from David, then angled toward him.

  “I don’t know yet. I’m thinking positively since they caught one of the people after us. That was more t
han we had this time yesterday.”

  “True. Where can we go?”

  “To Jeremiah’s cabin.”

  “You know where it is?”

  David rose, went to the dining room table and grabbed the map he’d plotted the location on, then spread it out on the coffee table before the couch. “Here.” He tapped his finger on the general spot on a stream with a forest surrounding it.

  Bree’s face took on a thoughtful look. Her eyes narrowed, and she studied the map. “You know, I think I’ve been there...maybe.”

  “What do you mean? When?” His dad joined them.

  “We flew over this general area, and he came down along a stream like this one. Jeremiah said he had some Christmas presents to drop off at a friend’s cabin. He took a bag, and I saw some wrapped gifts in it. He didn’t stay long and then we took off. It wasn’t long after that he had his heart attack and landed on the lake.”

  David caught his father’s glance. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Maybe something was in the bag of presents those people want,” his father said.

  David nodded.

  Bree straightened. “You two think so?”

  “It’s a good place to start looking. You couldn’t find anything at Jeremiah’s house, and his Jeep is missing from his parking space at the airport. But since Gail was taken after that and you two nearly were last night, I don’t think they found what they want.” His father went back to his chair and sat. “We should plan to stay for a while. That way we can search the cabin and have a hideaway.”

  “But no one should know where. We’ll tell Thomas we’re going into hiding and will keep in touch by satellite phone. I have one I use with my search and rescues.” David studied Bree, who appeared more rested. After arriving home last night, she’d prowled the house, constantly peeking out the blinds until finally the need for sleep overtook her apprehension. “Are you okay with this, Bree?”

  “Yes. I’m curious about the cabin and those packages. If it is Jeremiah’s place, he probably lied to me when he told me he was dropping off the presents at a friend’s. Obviously that wasn’t his first lie to me.”

  Her look of sadness pinned David to the couch. He wanted to comfort Bree, to wipe away all the bad memories of late, but he couldn’t. He sensed her building a wall between them, as though that would protect her. Jeremiah had hurt her, and she was slowly coming to realize that. He knew what that felt like. Trish had done the same thing to him.

  “We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he told her.

  When the doorbell rang, his father pushed to his feet to answer it. “That’s probably Thomas—I hope with good news.”

  Bree captured David’s gaze. “Do you think that’s possible?”

  “Possible, yes. Likely, no.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Just a gut feeling. Those men in the two cars weren’t the people behind all of this. I think something big is going on, and they’re just cogs in the wheel, doing what they are told.”

  A weary Thomas moved into the room, his pace slow, his shoulders drooping. “I wish I had good news for you, but Bruce Keller, the guy driving the car we nabbed at the roadblock, isn’t saying a word. He lawyered up instantly. We’ve come to find out he’s a known hired gun who has had a few brushes with the police. I’ll be interviewing him later after he meets with his attorney. Maybe I’ll have something when I see you at the memorial service at two.”

  “How about the driver and car in the ditch?” David asked as his dad took his mug and headed for the kitchen.

  “He was gone when we arrived, but we have fingerprints in the stolen vehicle, and they’re in the system. Another hired gun. This morning I’ll be tracking down Sonny Franks. He has some ties to a drug gang.”

  “Do you have a photo of both men?” David slanted a look at Bree, who tensed and frowned at Thomas.

  “Yes.” He slipped two pictures out of his pocket and passed them to David.

  After examining them, he gave them to Bree. “Have you seen either one of them?”

  While staring at the top photo, her frown deepened and her eyes darkened. “I saw him the morning my duffel bag was left at work. He was at the end of the alleyway behind the clinic. People loiter there sometimes, so I didn’t think much about it.” She set it on the coffee table in front of her. “So it’s possible he’s the one who left it at the back door.”

  “We’ll ask Sonny Franks when we find him. I have a BOLO out on him, and his parole officer is checking around, too. I came from Keller’s apartment, hoping to find something to indicate where Gail might be. Nothing other than the man is the worst housekeeper and the stench of rotten food turned my stomach.” Before David could say it might not be food, Thomas continued, “And I checked to make sure that caused the smell. His dirty dishes were stacked next to the sink, but that was as far as they got to being cleaned.”

  “I know that David told you what was in Jeremiah’s safety-deposit box,” Bree said to Thomas, concern evident in her voice. “I didn’t realize Jeremiah had that kind of money. I don’t know how he would have gotten it. Is there anything you can do to see where all his money came from?”

  The look on Bree’s face, so full of sadness, made David’s heart twist. If he could, he’d erase the past week.

  “Maybe. We’ll dig into Jeremiah’s financial records. With your okay, we can start right away.”

  His dad reentered the living room with mugs and a coffeepot. He poured and passed the coffee to each person. “Have you told him what we’re going to do tomorrow?” he asked David.

  Thomas’s eyebrows lifted.

  Despite already having had too much caffeine, David took a swig of the coffee. “We’re leaving for a while. If they don’t know where we are, they can’t come after us.” He held up his hand to Thomas. “Before you say anything, you’re the only one we’re telling. I’ll check in with you each morning and evening. I’m taking my satellite phone. We’ll leave before sunrise tomorrow. It’s getting too dangerous here.”

  “Actually that’s not a bad idea. I’d like Bree out of Anchorage until we find out what’s going on and who’s behind it.”

  Bree sagged against the couch. “Good. I don’t want to go on another high-speed chase over icy roads again. Not my idea of fun.”

  His dad chuckled. “It’s right up there with going to the dentist for a root canal.”

  With her mug in hand, Bree smiled at Don and stood. “If you all will excuse me, I’m going to find a quiet place to come up with what I’ll say at the memorial service.”

  After she left, David said to Thomas, “Make sure you keep Bruce Keller in jail until we get out of town.”

  “We can, but without more evidence we won’t be able to charge him with attempted assault and kidnapping, only reckless driving, and I’m afraid he won’t talk, especially with the lawyer he’s hired. Keller isn’t on parole like Franks, and the car he used was his own. If we catch Franks, we might be able to persuade him to tell us who he’s working for.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll see you later today. In the meantime we’ll get ready to leave.”

  “Be careful. With what has happened, whoever is behind it has money. So far we haven’t found the helicopter you described.” Thomas finished his coffee. “I need to go. I’ll let myself out.”

  David followed Thomas to the front door. “I’ve got to lock it anyway.”

  “Who’ll be overseeing Northern Frontier Search and Rescue while you’re gone?”

  “Ella. She can organize a search if you need one.” David shut the door behind Thomas and drew the deadbolt.

  Its clicking sound should have reassured him, but if someone wanted to get in badly enough, it was possible, even with good security. Although last night traffic had been light, Keller and Franks h
ad openly come after Bree. Couple that with what had happened to Jeremiah’s plane, and someone was desperately looking for...what? Drugs? Something else on the black market?

  It didn’t make any difference what they wanted. He had to protect Bree. Maybe if he rescued enough people, his guilt would fade.

  * * *

  Bree stepped away from the podium after delivering the last tribute to Jeremiah at his memorial service and retook her seat. One of his friends ended with singing “Amazing Grace,” which finally brought tears to Bree, who had battled them all the way through her speech. David, sitting next to her in the front pew, clasped her hand.

  Even if Jeremiah had done something illegal, she still loved him and would miss him every day. But it was looking more and more like he had been up to something shady. Thomas was trying to track how Jeremiah ended up with Eurobonds worth about a million dollars in a safety-deposit box. The amount stunned her. She’d never had an idea that Jeremiah had that kind of money. How could she think she knew someone so well and really she didn’t?

  She looked sideways at David and began to wonder what he was hiding. She was falling in love with him and she couldn’t. Right now she needed him, but the second she could, she must put as much space between them as possible or she would end up with a broken heart—again. I can’t take that, Lord. Help me. I know You still are here and love me. I need You.

  When people began to file out of the church to the reception hall, Bree wanted to remain where she was. She didn’t know if she could put on a front for Jeremiah’s friends and colleagues. At the moment she didn’t have it in her.

  “Are you ready to go?” David asked when the pews were empty.

  Bree glanced at the double glass doors into the sanctuary. Thomas stood at them with another police officer. “The whole time I was talking about Jeremiah and his life, I kept thinking which part was a lie.” She shifted to face David. “And what about Gail? The longer she is missing, the more likely she is dead. We haven’t talked about it lately, but I know her chances of being found alive are diminishing each hour. I want to be out there looking for her. I want...” No other words filled her anguish-drenched mind.