by Joanna Wayne
“Admit it, Susan. Admit I’m not crazy.”
She tried to jerk from his grasp, but he twisted her arm until pain shot through her body in paralyzing stabs. She’d learned enough. It was time to call in the troops.
She stamped on his foot as hard as she could and fought to twist away, to make him face the east wall. But he was much too strong. She couldn’t pull free.
In the struggle, the scarf fell from his hand. She kicked it away, and that was when she noticed the pistol in his hand. Fear consumed her. She’d waited too late to call for help. Even if Jack and the other police officers rushed in now, the gun would still go off, the pistol that was all but touching her left temple. He would kill her and possibly Jack as well.
“So long, Susan.” He pointed the gun at her head and cocked it.
She gave one last twist, trying desperately to escape his grasp. The bullet cracked through the silence, echoing like rolling thunder in her brain. A crippling pain slammed against her chest, and she fell to the cold, hard floor.
Chapter Sixteen
“The game’s over, Darby. You lose.”
Susan jerked to attention at the sound of the voice. The hard, rough tone was as unmistakable as Jack’s ho, ho, ho. Or was she hallucinating? She tried to move, but her legs wouldn’t budge.
Finally, she twisted until she could see her feet and legs. They were under a body, Darby’s. A jade handle stuck out from between his shoulder blades, but he wasn’t dead. A couple of policemen were helping him up and into a pair of handcuffs. For once, he was silent.
Jack stooped down beside her and cradled her head in his arms. “Are you all right?”
“Am I alive?”
“You are unless the fall killed you.”
She rubbed her aching wrist. “Where did you come from?”
“The loft. When Darby pulled the gun, Casanova and I had to move quickly. By that time we’d already given up on your being able to get him to face the opposite wall, so while you kept him talking, we crawled across the beams and took up new positions. I took the loft. Casanova took that beam behind you.”
Susan looked up. The loft had to be at least twenty feet above the floor. “You jumped from there?”
“I didn’t have a lot of choice. Besides, I planned on Darby breaking my fall. After listening to him talk, I decided it could be the first useful thing he’d ever do in his life.”
“Was that a knife in Darby’s back?”
“No.” This time it was Casanova who answered. She turned as he stepped from the stairs that led to the loft. “The handle was attached to a dart. Mine.”
“Where were you?”
“Do you see that beam up there?” He pointed to a spot high over their heads.
Susan’s mind was still reeling. “Wait a minute. You threw that dart from the top of the warehouse. What if you’d missed your mark?”
“It can’t happen.”
“Don’t believe him,” Jack said. “He was off by at least an eighth of an inch.” Jack helped Susan to her feet, steadying her in his arms.
“I thought I’d waited too late to call you,” Susan said, her mind still in a state of semishock. “How long had you been in the loft?”
“Since before you came into the building. There was no way I was leaving you or Timmy alone with Darby.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“It was my plan, and I’m the detective in charge.” He hugged her against him. “Now are we going to stay here and argue all night, or do’ you want to go home? It’s Christmas Eve, you know, and Timmy and Rebecca are waiting for you.”
Susan blinked, and a tear of pure joy escaped. “I’m ready to get out of here, Detective. But, for the record, it’s been one hell of a ride.”
Friday, December 24 10:00 p.m.
SUSAN SAT on the couch and stared into the fireplace and the fiery glow of dying embers. The last few days would live in her memory forever, a bitter reminder of the power of evil, but she wouldn’t let John Jasper Darby rob her or the children of the precious moments of the present
She was still amazed that Rebecca and Timmy had come out of this virtually unscathed. Attribute it to the resilience of childhood, and the fact that Darby for some unknown reason had not wanted to hurt Timmy. He’d even managed to keep Timmy from seeing him when he’d attacked Hammonds.
Within the hearts of the vilest of men, there is always something they hold sacred. A quote from Dr. Kelsey McKnight. Apparently, Darby’s sacred area was children. As far as Timmy was concerned, he and Mr. John had experienced a wonderful adventure. Except for the bran cereal, which was yucky.
Still, sleep had been slow in coming tonight for either of the children. It was Christmas Eve, a magical evening, and anticipation had them flying high. Now they were finally nestled all snug in their beds and dreaming pleasant dreams, no doubt. If not visions of sugar plums, then at least reindeer and Santa and wonderful surprises they’d find under the tree Jack had brought them. She only hoped they wouldn’t be too disappointed when Santa didn’t fulfill their wishes exactly as they’d requested.
She wasn’t really worried about Timmy. He would probably be thrilled with the tricycle and the toy train, especially after she assured him they could get a puppy later. She wasn’t so sure about Rebecca. She had her heart set on something that only she and Santa knew about. If Jack was in on the wish, he had been as secretive as Rebecca.
Detective Jack Carter, a man of many talents. Her heart warmed, thinking of him. She’d wanted this Christmas to be special for the kids. As late as this morning, the chances for that had been almost nonexistent. Tonight, she doubted anything could spoil the day.
The nightmare was over, and most of the thanks had to go to Jack. She glanced at the clock over the mantel She hadn’t heard a word from him since the rescue. She wasn’t surprised. He was busy wrapping up the investigation, making sure the case against Darby was airtight. All or nothing, the only way Jack knew to operate.
Still, it would have been nice to see him or at least talk to him tonight. Now she’d have to wait until tomorrow to tell him Merry Christmas. And wait to tell him that she loved him.
No strings, no promises, he’d said, but she knew she could never settle for that, not for herself or the children. She hoped he couldn’t either.
She wanted strings, rings and the ties that bind. Living with Jack wouldn’t be easy. They were opposites in so many aspects of their lives, but vive la différence. Now that she’d been on the roller coaster, she had no desire to return to her life of steady walking on level ground.
She’d learned a lot about herself and about Jack in a very short time. She’d made her choice. The rest would be up to Detective Santa and the magic of the season.
10:30 p.m.
“SCORE ONE MORE for the good guys,” Casanova said, sticking his head into Jack’s cubicle. “I just watched the evening news, and the reporters who were lambasting the police a couple of nights ago are now calling us heroes.”
“Heroes who had a lot of luck on our side. Maybe even an angel, if you believe Lucy Carmichael.”
“Tomorrow I may doubt, but tonight I believe,” Casanova said, propping himself against the door frame. “When Darby disappeared with Timmy, I wouldn’t have bet you a warm beer that we’d see him alive again.”
“Susan never gave up hope.”
“No, the dragon lady’s got guts. But when Darby pointed that gun at her head, I thought she was history. Obviously, you did, too. I’ve never seen a man turn that shade of white and still be breathing. Come to think of it, why aren’t you over at the McKnight house tonight?”
“I’ve got some paperwork I need to catch up on.”
“Paperwork? You’re kidding me. You’ve got a beautiful woman waiting, and it’s Christmas Eve. And in case you haven’t noticed, the beautiful woman is crazy about you.”
Jack leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. “She is now. I’m the hero. But what are the chances it would last? A woman like her
. A man like me. I’ve seen explosives with a better chance of blending peacefully.”
“You wouldn’t get my vote for most compatible couple of the year, but it could happen. Look at…Beauty and the Beast.”
“That’s a fairy tale.”
“So, you’d just walk away without trying?” Casanova shook his head. “I’m glad I didn’t know you were such a coward today when I was depending on you to take that leap from the loft. If you hadn’t taken Darby out before he figured out where the dart came from, he’d have fired on me. I’d have been an easy target, perched up there on the beam.”
“This is not a matter of bravery. It’s a matter of good sense and doing what is right. If I get involved with Susan, I also get involved with Rebecca and Timmy.”
“So? You love kids.”
Jack tapped the eraser end of a pencil against the arm of his chair. “Especially those two. I didn’t mention this, but that first night when I showed up at Susan’s house in the Santa outfit, Rebecca told me what she wanted for Christmas.”
“Yeah?”
“She wants a husband for her auntie mom. She reminded me of that again the other night.”
“Apply for the position. You could do a lot worse.”
“I’ve seen my résumé. I’m not husband material.”
“So settle for a fling. I do it all the time. A few months dating a cop who’s never around when they need him, and they dump me. I get over it.”
“You just don’t get it, do you, Casanova? It’s not just Susan and me who would suffer when the inevitable breakup happens. It’s the kids. And they’ve already had enough loss in their lives without going through it again. The best thing I can do for all of them is to just close out the case and walk away. They’ll forget me soon enough. Susan will go back to her original theory of situational attraction, her term for falling for the cop in charge. For all I know she has already.”
Casanova walked over and shoved a stack of clutter to one side of Jack’s desk to make some sitting space. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t get it, Jack. You’re underestimating the dragon lady. She’s not about to go running when the going gets tough. If you don’t know that by now, she’s too good for you anyway.”
Casanova reached in his shirt pocket and pulled out the jade-handled dart, his new good-luck piece. He took aim and hurled it at the target. It hit its mark, right in the center of the bull’s-eye. “I’m out of here, old buddy. I’ve got a new girl waiting who thinks I’m the best thing since microwave popcorn.” Casanova retrieved his dart and headed toward the door. “Merry Christmas and all that jazz.”
“Yeah, sure. You, too,” Jack answered without looking up. “Merry Christmas, Casanova.”
Jack sat at his desk, in no mood to go home and spend Christmas Eve alone. Today, in that warehouse on the river, he’d been to hell and back. That split second when Darby had pulled the gun from inside his jacket and pointed it at Susan, Jack had known his first taste of hopeless terror.
Fortunately, his training had taken over, made him focus on what had to be done, helped him coordinate his movements with Casanova’s, the way they’d done so many times before in tough situations. But, even now, just thinking how close he’d come to losing Susan to a bullet, he felt the terror all over again.
He wanted Susan more than he’d ever wanted any woman in his life. Cared for her enough that he could make himself walk away if it would be best for her and for Rebecca and Timmy.
Or was Casanova right—was he only kidding himself? Was he just too much of a coward to take a chance on love with the beautiful dragon lady?
Jack picked up a dart from his desk and hurled it at the target, not bothering to aim. He walked closer to get a better look. Son of a gun. A perfect bull’s-eye. He grabbed his jacket and headed home. It had been days since he’d had a good night’s sleep. No wonder he couldn’t think straight.
Saturday, December 25
8:00 a.m.
“AUNTIE MOM, get up. Santa came, and he left toys.”
Susan opened her eyes and rolled over. Timmy was standing in the door, his eyes wide and shining. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes. I peeked in the living room. I saw a choo-choo train.”
Susan threw her legs over the side of the bed and grabbed her robe. “Well, then we better wake Rebecca and go see what else Santa left. First, I need a hug, though. A big Christmas hug.”
Timmy ran over and threw his pudgy arms around her neck. “Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.”
Susan held him tight. “Merry Christmas, Timmy.”
They went and woke Rebecca, and the three of them marched into the living room together. The morning was nearly perfect, filled with laughter and hugs and brightly wrapped packages. Susan had so much to be thankful for that she was loath to acknowledge the gentle ache of disappointment that lodged in her heart. Jack still hadn’t called.
She made excuses in her mind. Jack was a cop first. Any number of emergencies might have come up. He’d warned her that when he was on a case, he forgot everything else.
The excuses were reasonable, but none of them eased her mind or lightened her heart. It would only have taken a minute to call and say Merry Christmas. Everything Jack did, he did with a purpose. He hadn’t called because he had chosen not to.
Finally, it was Rebecca who put words to her fears. “Do you think Detective Santa forget about us?”
“I don’t think so, sweetie. I imagine Mr. Jack’s just very busy. Do you like the doll you got from Santa Claus?”
“She’s very pretty.”
Rebecca did a poor job of hiding her disappointment. Susan pulled her onto her lap. “Sometimes Santa can’t bring everything you want, Rebecca, but if you tell me what it is, maybe I can buy it for your birthday. It’s not long until March.”
“No. You can’t buy it.”
“Why don’t we go out in the kitchen and cook breakfast?” she said. “It’s Christmas. We can have anything you guys want.”
“Not yet,” Timmy said, riding his trike around in a circle. “I’m waiting for Detective Santa. He’s bringing my puppy.”
“I don’t think so, Timmy, but I told you we can go shopping for one next week.”
“He’ll bring it,” Timmy said, “when he gets through working.”
Susan felt a new stab of pain to her heart. Detective Santa. Yesterday’s hero. He had promised them magic, and they had all believed. Now they were all suffering the pangs of disappointment and plunging back into reality.
No matter, they were all alive and well. Jack had given them that, and she would never forget his determination and bravery over the last few days. He was what he was, a cop who loved the excitement of living on the edge. He was bigger than life, a thrill a minute, and for a while he had carried her along on his roller coaster.
If she never saw him again, she’d still be glad she took the ride. But she would miss him for a long, long time. Susan got up, determined to brighten her mood for the children’s sake. It was Christmas.
“Let’s take that tricycle out to the courtyard, Timmy, and you can show me how fast you can go. Rebecca, why don’t you come too? Put your new doll in the carriage and take her for a walk in the sunshine.”
“THIS TURKEY LOOKS wonderful,” Lucy exclaimed, “golden brown and perfect. When and where did you learn to cook like this?”
“This morning and from a cookbook, so don’t brag too soon. You may have to eat your words along with a cardboard-tasting bird.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve already taste-tested the sweet potato casserole and the cornbread dressing. They’re divine.” She smacked her lips. “Should I pour milk for the kids?”
“Please. I’ll get the iced tea as soon as I finish with this salad, and could you check the rolls? They smell like they’re burning.”
Lucy opened the oven, and more of the wonderful scents of Christmas cooking poured out into the room. “They’re not burning, but they’re ready. I’ll put the butter on the dini
ng-room table. This will be so festive.”
They had just said grace when the front doorbell rang. Rebecca jumped up and ran toward it as if she’d been shot from a cannon.
“It’s Detective Santa,” Timmy yelled, climbing out of his booster seat.
It wasn’t. It was Officer Hammonds, who was still bruised, but back on duty. Susan invited her in and asked her to stay for dinner.
“I couldn’t do that,” she protested. “I just came by to bring a little something for Rebecca and Timmy. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
“Okay, are you ready, Rebecca and Timmy? You are about to become honorary police officers.” She leaned over and pinned a miniature badge on each of them, replicas of the ones she and Jack carried.
“Now we’re just like Mr. Jack,” Rebecca whispered in total awe.
“Is he here?” Hammonds asked. “I don’t want to keep you from your dinner, but I’d like to tell him Merry Christmas.”
“I haven’t seen him today,” Susan answered, determined not to let her disappointment show. The look in Hammonds’ eyes told her she’d failed.
“He’s not here now, but he’s coming,” Rebecca said. “I know he is He wouldn’t forget about us on Christmas.” Her lip quivered ever so slightly, and Susan wrapped an arm around her.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us for dinner?” Susan asked. “We have plenty.”
“No, I’m off duty at three. We’ll have our family dinner then. I just wanted to see the kids again and wish you all a merry Christmas. Yesterday, I thought…
“I know.” Susan hugged her warmly, fighting back the tears that burned in the corners of her eyes. “We are very lucky. We owe a lot to you and the entire police department.”
“Especially to Jack,” Hammonds said. “He gives every case two hundred percent, but I’ve never seen him get that personally involved before. He’s a special guy, Susan, and he needs you.”
“He’ll have to decide that.”
They finished their goodbyes and went back to the table. Lucy raved about the food, but Susan and Rebecca only picked at theirs. Detective Santa might have gone on to his newest case, gone on with his life, but he’d left three people behind who would miss him for a long, long time