Josiah remembered having s’mores as a child. He once ate so many he got sick, but that didn’t stop him from loving them. “Sounds good to me. Just point me in the right direction.”
“On the right side of the house by the garage.”
Seconds later the doorbell rang.
“Do you want me to get it?” Josiah watched Ella struggle to contain her concern. He tried to imagine what she was going through. To have a child threatened or hurt had to be a parent’s worst nightmare.
“Yes. Robbie and I will be checking to make sure we have enough of everything for the s’mores.”
“I’ll leave Buddy with you two.” Josiah passed the leash to the boy. “You’re in charge of him.”
“Sure thing. I’ll take good care of him. I promise.” Robbie petted the top of Buddy’s head.
The chimes sounded again.
“I’d better get the door.” Josiah walked toward the foyer.
“And we gotta get some wire coat hangers,” Robbie said as he and Ella headed to the kitchen.
Josiah waited until they disappeared before he opened the front door. He walked out on the porch to talk with Thomas.
Thomas frowned. “I was beginning to wonder if something else had happened.”
“Sorry about that. Ella didn’t want Robbie to know you were here. She asked me to talk to you and show you where the guy was.”
“But I need to talk with Robbie.”
“Can you wait until tomorrow? The kid is pretty shook up, and she’s trying to divert his attention from the day’s incidents.” Josiah descended the steps.
Still on the porch, Thomas nodded. “I understand. I’ll take some pictures and check for latent prints on the windowsill. Did Robbie tell you anything about the man?”
“No, he didn’t. He might remember something later.” Josiah rounded the back of the house and stopped near Robbie’s bedroom window. “This is one of those times when I’m glad it’s light out till ten-thirty at night.”
Thomas took photos of the boot prints in the dirt and then dusted for fingerprints on the ledge. “You didn’t touch any of this?”
“No. I think the boot print looks similar in size to the one I followed earlier today in the woods.”
Thomas turned toward Josiah. “Let’s hope one of these prints on the sill is in the system.”
“Will you let me know before you call Ella? If it’s Foster, that means the man discovered where Robbie lives and came after him.”
Thomas’s forehead wrinkled. “You think he targeted Robbie in the woods?”
“Not exactly, but maybe he’s fixated on the boys. After all, they got away from him.”
“I’ll talk with the parents of the two other boys and alert them, especially if one of these prints ends up being Foster’s.”
Josiah started for the right side of the house. “Good. I’m going to stay the night. I’d never get any sleep if I left them unprotected.”
Thomas grinned. “Does Ella know you’re staying?”
Josiah shot him an exasperated look as he bent over and lifted several logs. “Not yet. If I have to, I’ll guard them from outside.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you so invested in a search and rescue case.”
“Ella is a friend, and she’s alone with an eight-year-old. If you were me, you wouldn’t walk away, either.” Josiah started for the front of the house.
“No, I wouldn’t. I’m glad to see your interest. Since you returned home, you haven’t gotten involved in much other than work and volunteering for Northern Frontier. Jesse and I have to practically kidnap you to get you to do anything else.”
“Most of my spare time has gone to training Buddy.”
Thomas stopped at the bottom of the porch. “Your dog is trained better than most. I think you can relax and enjoy yourself from time to time.”
Josiah glanced at his childhood friend. “Look who’s talking. When was the last time you went out on a date?”
“Okay. I know work has demanded more of my time lately, so maybe when things settle down you, Jess and I can go camping before winter sets in.”
“Sounds good. See you.” While Thomas headed for his car, Josiah scanned the neighborhood. Everything appeared peaceful, but as he knew firsthand, that could change in an instant.
He entered Ella’s house with the logs, locked the front door and made his way to the fireplace. Robbie, Buddy and Ella came into the living room as he stacked the wood for a fire.
“Do you want me to start it now?” When Josiah peered over his shoulder at Ella, he caught her staring at Robbie kneeling next to Buddy and stroking him.
Her gaze shifted toward Josiah, and a blush tinted her cheeks. “I was telling Robbie in the kitchen about getting a puppy soon.”
The boy grinned so big, a gap in his upper teeth showed a missing incisor. “Can we go get it tomorrow? I’m ready. See how good I am with Buddy?”
“I’ll have to call the breeder and see what day works for him.” Josiah finished setting the logs on the grate, started the fire and stood up.
“Robbie, I know you’re excited, but I told you it might be a few days. Besides, I’ll be tied up tomorrow at work, then Saturday I’ll be working at the training session. All day.”
“But, Mom, I need a dog.”
“You don’t need a dog. You want one. And I realize that.” She faced Josiah. “So we’ll be available anytime after Saturday.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know what I can arrange.” The sight of Robbie’s shoulder drooping prompted Josiah to add, “I’ll be busy with the training session all day Saturday, too.”
Robbie opened his mouth to say something, but Ella interrupted. “No arguing.”
The boy pouted. “How did you know I was gonna do that?”
She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling. “Let’s just say it’s a mom thing.”
“Did you have all the ingredients for the s’mores?” Josiah asked. “I can fix the hangers if you want.”
“Good. I couldn’t find my pliers.” She gave him the two wire hangers she held. “We have more than enough supplies, except for hangers. It’s getting late, Robbie, so I’ll let you fix a couple of s’mores but that’s all. We have to go to work early tomorrow.”
“Can Buddy—” Robbie glanced at Josiah “—and you stay the night? We’re camping out in here. It’ll be fun.” The boy grinned, but the corners of his mouth quivered as though he was forcing the smile. Trying to be brave.
Josiah could remember he’d done the same thing. Putting on a front for everyone around him when things were wrong. “It’s your mother’s call.” He switched his focus to Ella, whose expression was unreadable.
“Robbie, I think we could use something to drink. Get the milk and three glasses, please.”
The boy trudged toward the hallway, his shoulders slumped, his head down. At the doorway, he swiveled toward his mother. “Please, Mom. I know you can take care of me, but you’re a girl.”
Ella gave her son the look.
Robbie hurried away.
“What do you want me to do?” Josiah said when the boy disappeared.
“I...” Her chest rose and fell with a deep inhalation and exhalation.
He closed the space between them and almost clasped her upper arms, but stopped himself and left his hands at his sides. “I think I should stay. I’m not comfortable leaving you alone after what happened at the park and then here today. There’s safety in numbers.” One corner of his mouth tilted, hoping to coax her into a smile.
“Don’t feel obligated to stay. I don’t want to be...” She swallowed hard.
“What?” This time he did take one of her hands. “If you’re going to say a burden, stop right there.”
She grinned. “I was going to say a
nuisance. Tonight was probably not connected to the park. I know the Millers down the street were robbed last month. Maybe it was someone casing my house.”
“That’s not a good thing, either. Let me put it this way. I wouldn’t sleep at all if you and Robbie were here by yourselves after this scare.” He didn’t want to tell her he was pretty sure it was Foster outside Robbie’s window. The boot print was too similar. “Do me a favor and let me stay. I need some sleep, especially after last night.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
“Yippee!” came from the direction of the kitchen.
Ella’s cheeks flamed. “Quit eavesdropping, Robbie, and bring the drinks.” Then to Josiah, she said, “Sorry about that.”
She gently tugged her hand from his, and Josiah instantly missed the contact. He was thankful Robbie entered the living room when he did.
While Ella organized the s’mores production, Josiah watched her work with Robbie. Ella was a wonderful mother. He and Alex had had good parents who expressed their love all the time. Their deaths had been hard on them, but he’d grown up thinking one day he would have his own family and be a dad like his. Now he didn’t know if he could.
His captors hadn’t taken just three months away from him, but much more. They’d left him with deep emotional scars he wasn’t sure would ever totally heal. Since he’d come home, he’d had only one episode of anxiety when he’d heard a car backfire. Maybe he wasn’t the best person to guard Ella and Robbie, but there wasn’t anyone else right now.
* * *
Early the next morning while Robbie and Josiah slept in the living room, Ella sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. She’d opened the blackout blinds in the alcove and stared outside into the backyard, which afforded her a view of her neighbors’ homes on each side and behind her. If she got a dog, she would need to fence off the area. Maybe she needed to reconsider. She didn’t have a lot of money to spend on something like that.
And yet, having an animal in the house appealed to her. A dog like Buddy would make her feel safer—like an alarm system. After the first two years living here in Anchorage, she should have looked into getting a pet. Robbie had wanted one, but she’d still been worried Keith would find them somehow. And having a pet would make fleeing harder.
Yesterday for a short time, that fear had dominated her as she searched for Robbie. She’d actually been thankful it had been Casey Foster. That meant her ex-husband hadn’t discovered their whereabouts.
Thank You, Lord. I don’t know what I would have done if Keith had been the one in the woods. It was hard enough fleeing him the first time and giving up my friends and family. At least I have You and Robbie.
“You’re an early riser,” Josiah said from the doorway into the kitchen.
He’d finger combed his hair, and his clothes were rumpled from staying in the sleeping bag that he kept in the storage container in his truck. But the sight of him soothed any anxiety she felt thinking about her ex-husband.
“Want some coffee? I have a full pot.” Ella started to rise.
Josiah waved her down. “I can get it. Do you want a refill?”
She looked at her near-empty mug and nodded. After Josiah poured coffee for them both, he returned the pot to the coffeemaker and settled in the chair across from her.
He peered out the window, his hands cradling his mug. “Five in the morning and it looks like eight or nine anywhere else. I’m still getting used to the long days.”
“I thought you were from Alaska.”
He took a sip of his coffee. “But I was away for years serving in the Marines and got used to more normal days and nights.”
“This winter must have been difficult for you, then. I remember that was the harder adjustment for me than the long days.”
“The dark doesn’t bother me as much as it being light most of the time.” Josiah stared at his coffee, and for a long moment silence descended between them.
His thoughtful look made her wonder if he was thinking about something in his past. She’d known he’d served in the Marines in combat situations, but he’d never discussed that time in his life. Then again, she wasn’t a close friend.
“I appreciate your staying over. I don’t think Robbie would have gone to sleep if you hadn’t been here. In fact, I’m not sure I would have, either. Then I’d probably be fired when David found me slumped over the computer keyboard at work later today sound asleep.”
Josiah lifted his head, his gaze connecting with hers. “I don’t think you have to worry. You’ve got David wrapped around your finger.”
For a few seconds his eyes reflected sadness before he masked it. Again she felt a bond with Josiah, and she wasn’t sure why. “I hope so. I’m bringing Robbie to work with me today.” She drank several swallows of her coffee. “David is a great boss. He’s part of the reason I love my job.”
“How did you come to work for Northern Frontier?”
“I was working as a waitress at a café not far from the airport. The man who began and oversaw the search and rescue organization was a frequent customer. He’d come in sometimes, exhausted and frazzled. We started talking, and one thing lead to another. He decided he needed an office manager to run the day-to-day operations of Northern Frontier because of its continual growth.”
“I understand David took over Northern Frontier not long before I started volunteering.”
“Yes. I’ve been with the organization for over three years and it has grown in the number of searches we’re involved in, as well as in reputation.” She loved talking about her work because she felt she was assisting people who needed it.
“My sister had read about Northern Frontier, and when she decided to help, she gave me the idea to volunteer with Buddy, as well.”
“Alex has been great to work with. She can rearrange her job to help whenever we need her. You, too.”
Josiah grinned. “It helps that we own the business we both work for.”
The warmth in his smile enveloped her like an embrace. “Robbie loves Outdoor Alaska. We went to the store right before camp started to get some items he needed. I had a tough time getting him to leave.”
“It’s more than a store. It’s a destination if you’re interested in the outdoors, hiking, camping or sports related to Alaska.”
“Then what’s that mini basketball court doing there?”
“Basketball is alive and well in Alaska. It’s a sport that can be played indoors or outdoors. Also, the small court is a great place for kids to pass their time while parents are shopping.”
“Who came up with the idea?”
“Me. I like basketball, and sometimes it’s a great way to let off steam.”
“Must be working. I’ve never seen you angry. Even in the middle of a crisis, you’re calm.” Contrary to her ex-husband, who flew off the handle at the slightest provocation, to the point she’d been afraid to say or do anything around him.
“Everyone has a breaking point.”
Yes, she of all people knew that. Her limit had been when Keith pushed her down the stairs. Unfortunately, it had been a year after that before she and Robbie could escape him safely.
“Mom. Mom, where are you?” Robbie yelled from the living room.
“I’m in the kitchen.” She rose and started for the hallway when her son and Buddy appeared at the other end. “I was about ready to fix us breakfast. Are you up for some blueberry pancakes?”
Robbie’s furrowed forehead smoothed out. “Yes.” He looked beyond Ella. “Can you and Buddy stay for breakfast? Mom makes the bestest pancakes in the whole state.”
“How can I say no to that? I love pancakes and blueberries.” Josiah moved closer to Ella. “Is that okay with you?”
She shivered from his nearness. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me and Robbie.”
“Yes!” Robbie pumped his fist in the air. He turned and headed toward the living room, saying, “That means you get to stay, Buddy.”
“Can Robbie go with me to walk Buddy? It’ll give me a chance to check out your neighborhood.”
“Sure. That’ll give me time to cook breakfast.”
While her son and Josiah walked the German shepherd, Ella hurried to her bedroom and changed for work, then returned to start the pancakes. Twenty minutes later, the batter ready, more coffee perking and the orange juice prepared, she made her way toward the porch to see how much longer Robbie and Josiah were going to be. Halfway across the foyer the doorbell rang. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was seven in the morning.
A bit early for visitors, Ella thought as she cautiously peered out the peephole and heaved a sigh of relief. Detective Thomas Caldwell. Then she wondered why he was here so early.
When she swung the door open, she glanced around. “Did you see Josiah and Robbie with Buddy?”
“Yeah, they’re heading back here. Josiah got a chance to show me where Buddy lost the scent of the intruder. I thought later I’d check with your neighbors to see if anyone saw a strange car parked there.”
She glimpsed Josiah with Robbie and the German shepherd walking across the yard toward the house. “Come in. Would you like to join us for breakfast?”
“Sounds good, but before your son returns, I wanted to let you know about the fingerprints on Robbie’s windowsill.”
FIVE
Thomas looked over his shoulder at Robbie and Josiah coming up the steps. The detective quickly whispered, “One set of prints isn’t in the system, but the other is Foster’s.”
“So he found out where Robbie lives.” Ella clutched the door frame in the foyer.
Her stomach roiled at the confirmation Foster had been watching her son sleeping last night. A sudden thought blindsided her. She whirled around and raced toward her son’s bedroom. She yanked the blackout blind up, then examined the window lock. She sagged against the ledge, gripping the sill as she tried to relax. She couldn’t. It was locked. But what if it hadn’t been?
To Save Her Child Page 5