Yuletide Defender

by Sandra Robbins

  Matt smiled. “I thought they were wonderful. There’s a lot of love in that family.”

  David leaned forward. “And Cara. What did you think of her?”

  Matt tilted his head and frowned. “I thought she was great. I’ve never seen anyone so excited over a Christmas tree. She showed me every ornament she’s ever made. You know their mother keeps all of them.”

  “I know.” David hesitated for a moment. “I’m the closest thing to a father Rachel has, and I don’t want to see her get hurt. So I guess I’ll just come right out and ask what I really want to know. What’s going on between you and Rachel?”

  The question stunned him. How could he respond when he didn’t understand his own feelings, much less Rachel’s? He stood and rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s complicated.”

  David rose and faced him. “Explain that to me.”

  Matt’s first instinct was to get out of there as quickly as he could, but David’s question hammered in his thoughts. The helpless feeling that overcame him each time he thought about Rachel overtook him. He needed guidance and David might be the person to give it.

  Matt took a deep breath. “All you know about me is the information I’ve shared when I first came here to volunteer. Maybe if you know what my past is like, you’ll understand why I’m so confused.”

  For the next few minutes Matt poured out his anger at his parents who were never around, the money that ruled their lives, the women who’d wanted his money instead of him and his distrust of Rachel’s motives in their friendship.

  When he finished, he glanced at David’s face. His features appeared chiseled in stone with the look he directed at Matt. “You think Rachel wants your money?”

  “I don’t know. She talks all the time about how she has to get money for Cara. I don’t want someone else who sees me as a meal ticket.”

  David studied him for a moment before he leaned forward. “Matt, it sounds like you think having money is an evil thing. The Bible says, though, that it’s the love of money that is the root of evil.” He hesitated a moment. “Let me ask you this. What do you do with the money you inherited from your grandfather?”

  “It’s invested. I don’t want a penny of it. I live off what I make as a policeman.”

  David chuckled. “So what happens to all that wealth?”

  “I have a business manager who takes care of everything. Whatever I make in a year is reinvested in other businesses.”

  David nodded. “So you’re accumulating a lot of wealth that’s just sitting out there and making more of the money you hate.”

  Matt’s stomach roiled. “Yeah, I guess so. I’ve never thought of it that way.”

  David stood up and came around his desk. Sitting on the edge, he leaned toward Matt. “There are a lot of needs in the world. All you have to do is look around at the kids you work with here at the Center or the families of the people you arrest. People are hurting. Many don’t know how they’re going to pay their rent or where their next meal is coming from. Most of the kids who come to the Center live without medical insurance because their parents can’t afford it. And here you are feeling sorry for yourself because you’re sitting on a pile of money that just keeps getting bigger.”

  Matt’s face grew warm. “That’s not fair, David.”

  “Oh, it’s not? I think you’re living with a double standard. You don’t want the money, but you don’t want to give up the lifestyle it brings. If you truly hated it, you wouldn’t live in a pricey condo or drive a sports car.”

  Matt’s chest pounded at the truth in David’s words. He was a Christian. It was up to him to live his life like the example Jesus gave, not to judge others. His lips trembled. “You make me sound like a hypocrite. As a Christian, I’m supposed to be different than that.”

  A wry smile curled David’s lips. “Being a Christian doesn’t make us perfect, Matt. We all struggle with problems in our lives. When we do, we rely on God and the Christians he’s placed in our lives to help us. I think you’ve never had anyone to guide you. Have you ever asked God to help you work out your feelings about your money?”

  The question startled Matt. “Well, no. I didn’t think that was important enough to bother Him.”

  David stared at him. “Nothing is too small for Him. Think how God has blessed you. When God gives us a gift, He doesn’t expect us to keep it hidden. We’re supposed to put it to work in the world. You could sure do a lot of His work if you wanted.”

  Matt nodded. “You’re right about me, but what about Rachel? How do I find out how she feels?”

  David smiled. “Rachel’s past has impacted her, too. Even when she was a child, she saved half her allowance for the future. I know her heart. She sees Cara as her responsibility although Emily never intended that. As for the money part, you’ll have to pray and ask God to make you understand. Look to Him for the answers you’ll find in your heart.”

  Matt sighed and reached for David’s hand. “Thank you. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

  David shook his hand and turned back to his desk. “Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”

  On his way out of the building, Matt walked past the Christmas tree in the lobby. He’d helped some of the kids he worked with decorate it, but he’d never given a thought to whether or not they might have one at home.

  He didn’t have a tree but he knew who did. How he’d like to be a part of the Christmas celebration at the Long house where homemade ornaments decorated the tree. He’d probably spend it alone as he had so often in the past.

  When he climbed behind the steering wheel, the need to hear his mother’s voice overwhelmed him. Punching her number into his cell phone, he waited for her to answer. After a few rings, it went to voice mail and he ended the call.

  Laying his head on the rim of the steering wheel, he prayed. “God, be with her wherever she is and let her know I do love her.” The words peace on earth flashed in his head, and he smiled at the happiness he’d felt watching Cara and Rachel hang their childhood ornaments on the tree. Suddenly he felt a renewed sense of hope. His mother might be like a beautiful apparition that drifted into his life from time to time, but Rachel was real. And what he felt for her was real. He didn’t know if she shared his feelings but he looked forward to finding out.

  THIRTEEN

  The security lights scattered around the deserted park cast a glow across the snow-covered landscape. Rachel shoved her gloved hands in her coat pockets and scooted closer to Matt. Having him beside her on the bench calmed her. At least she wasn’t meeting her unknown caller alone as she had done in the past.

  The clock in the tower across the lake chimed the midnight hour and Matt stirred. “He should be here anytime. Are you okay?”

  Rachel started to speak, but her teeth chattered. “I—I—I’m f-fine.”

  He turned toward her. “Scared?”

  She shook her head. “No, just cold.”

  He raised his arm as if to put it around her shoulders but then let it drop back in his lap. Disappointment pricked Rachel’s heart.

  “Maybe we’ll be back in the car before long.” He clasped his hands in his lap and gazed at the sky. “The moon is bright tonight.”

  She was about to answer when a sound from behind the bench startled her. Strong fingers clamped down on her shoulder. She pulled her hand from her pocket and grasped Matt’s arm.

  “Hello.”

  “I’m here.”

  Rachel’s body tensed. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. She was about to meet the mysterious voice in person. “I’m glad. Now I need you to come around to the front of the bench so we can see you.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel could see long, brown fingers on Matt’s shoulder. “You ain’t gonna arrest me, are you?”

  “No. We want to help you. We’ve found a safe place for you.”

  Rachel held her breath and waited. A few seconds ticked by before there was movement. Then a figure emerged from the shadows to stand
in front of them. He wore a heavy jacket and its hood covered his head. He reached up and pushed the hood away.

  Rachel gasped in surprise. A young man, not the older hardened criminal she’d expected, stood before them. “Why, you’re just a teenager.”

  He drew himself to his full height and gritted his teeth. “I may be young but I done lived a lot in my seventeen years.”

  Rachel rose and stared into his face. “What’s your name?”

  He glanced over his shoulder as if checking to make sure they were alone. “Edward Haines. But everybody calls me Little Eddie.”

  Matt stood. “How long have you been with the Vipers?”

  Little Eddie glanced from Matt to Rachel. “Since I was twelve.”

  Rachel gasped. “Twelve years old? How did your mother feel about that?”

  “Like I told you the first time we met, she ain’t happy with me. That’s why I came to you. Gang life ain’t for me no more.”

  Matt took a step toward Little Eddie. “I’m happy about that. We’re going to take you to the Lake City Youth Center and hide you there until the director can get you out of the city. But I need you to tell me how I can get in touch with your gang members.”

  Little Eddie’s eyes grew wide. “Why you want to talk to them?”

  “Because I’ve got to stop this vigilante. I don’t want anybody else to be killed. Maybe if I talk to the two gangs, I can make them understand they’re not fighting each other. It’s someone else.”

  Little Eddie laughed. “Me trust the popo? I don’t see that happ’nin’.”

  Rachel stepped forward until she was almost nose to nose with the teenager. “Now listen to me. You came to me with this story and it turned out to be the truth. The only thing we can do now is try to stop this crazy killer. You can trust Matt. He wants to do what is right. So tell him where he can meet with the Vipers.”

  Eddie stared at her for a few moments before he glanced at Matt. “I guess if she say you okay, that’s good enough for me.” He took a deep breath. “You know the One Day Dry Cleaners over on Union Street?”

  Matt nodded. “Yes.”

  “Go in there and tell the guy behind the counter you need to meet with Shorty.”

  Matt glanced at Rachel and back to Little Eddie. “Should I tell him I’m a police officer or will that scare him off?”

  Little Eddie smiled, revealing several missing teeth. “I ’spect you better be honest. Ain’t no Viper scared of a cop but we don’t like liars. So tell the guy in the cleaners who you are and what you want. It gonna be up to him whether or not you get a meeting.”

  “I will.”

  Rachel relaxed and glanced around the deserted park. “Now let’s get out of here and take you to the Youth Center.”

  As the three of them walked toward Matt’s car in the parking lot, Rachel sneaked a sideways glance at Little Eddie from time to time. If she’d passed him on the street, she would have thought him to be a normal high school student without a worry in the world. Hidden inside him, though, were secrets of gang life and crime.

  She could only hope that the chance to escape his existence would work out. Hiding him at the Center and getting him away from his former friends didn’t guarantee success. It would be a struggle for the young man, but there would be help along the way. He’d brought her the biggest story of her career and she owed him. Rachel hoped what they offered him would be enough to make a difference in his life. He had a long journey toward rehabilitation ahead of him, perhaps years. She hoped he would have the strength to get through it.

  Rachel sat at her desk the next morning and sipped a cup of coffee. The events of the night before replayed in her mind and she wondered how Little Eddie felt this morning. He’d been a little hesitant about Matt and her leaving him, but David had assured them he would take good care of their charge. She still couldn’t get over the fact that her source had turned out to be a rather small teenager, not the husky man she’d imagined.

  “Morning, Miss Long.

  Rachel glanced up to see Toby standing in the doorway. He held a broom and she could see his maintenance cart in the hallway. She pushed to her feet. “Hi, Toby. Good to see you. Do you need to clean my office?”

  He shook his head. “I checked it before you came in. I think the night crew did a good job. Just thought I’d see if you need your trash can emptied.”

  Rachel glanced at the basket beside her desk. “It’s okay.”

  Toby backed out of the room. “See you later.”

  The ringing of her cell phone interrupted her response to Toby. She pulled the phone from her purse and smiled at Matt’s name on the caller ID. “Good morning, Matt.”

  “Hi, Rachel.” His voice set her pulse to racing and she smiled. “I wanted to check in with you and see how you made it after last night.”

  “I’m fine. I can’t wait for our meeting with the Vipers. When are we going?”

  “Now wait a minute.” The exasperation in his voice wiped the smile from her face. “This time you aren’t going. This is police work and I’m not taking you.”

  She sprang to her feet and pounded her fist on the desk. “Now you listen to me, Matt Franklin. This is my story. You wouldn’t even have met Little Eddie if it hadn’t been for me. I was the one who made him tell you where you could meet the head of the Vipers. I know where the One Day Dry Cleaners on Union is, and I can go there without you, too. Do you want me to beat you to the visit?”

  A sigh rippled in her ear. “No, I don’t. But I think this is too dangerous for you.”

  She shook her head as she paced back and forth across her office. “It’s not, and I intend to be there with or without you. Now which is it going to be?”

  “All right. I guess I can’t fight you on this one. You sure are a stubborn woman.”

  She smiled. “So you’ve said before. Now tell me when you’ll pick me up for the meeting.”

  “I thought I’d go after lunch. How about if I come by your office about one-thirty?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll be ready.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  Rachel ended the call and walked back to her desk. She tossed her cell phone on her desk and it jarred the cup of coffee she’d set there earlier. Startled, she reached for the cup but only succeeded in knocking it over. She grabbed her cell phone before it could get wet, but the coffee puddle spread across the desk and dripped to the floor.

  Pulling a handful of tissues from a box at the edge of her desk, she mopped at the mess on her desk. The tissues soon disintegrated in the large pool of coffee. She would have to get something from Toby to clean this mess.

  Rachel rushed from her office and hurried to Toby’s maintenance room at the end of the hall. She knocked at the closed door but no one answered. A glance up and down the hall didn’t reveal Toby or his cart.

  Rachel pushed the door open and peeked inside. “Toby, are you here?”

  Silence greeted her as she stepped inside the cluttered room. Brooms and mops hung on pegs around the wall and gallon containers of cleaning materials sat stacked atop each other. Rachel wriggled between several boxes of paper towels and reached for a mop on a peg beside Toby’s desk.

  She grabbed the mop and pulled it toward her. As she started to back away, she glanced down and her breath caught in her throat. Unable to move, she stared at an open catalog on Toby’s desk. She glanced over her shoulder before she inched forward until she could determine if she was really seeing what she thought.

  Rachel reached out and picked up the magazine. Her eyes grew larger as she thumbed through the pages that advertised the latest in guns and ammunition. She turned back to the page with the turned-down corner she had first seen. Several high-powered rifles displayed turned her blood cold. But it was the one with a big circle around it that shocked her the most. Next to the picture someone had written the words “buy this one.”

  Why was Toby buying a rifle like this? One with a scope for long-distance shooting. She dropped the
magazine on the desk and covered her mouth with her hand. The sniper would want a gun like this.

  With the mop in hand she hurried to the door and into the hall. She looked around but no one appeared to notice her leaving the room. As she hurried back to her office, her mind whirled. What had she found? Was Toby the sniper? Was he the one who had told her he was going to kill her?

  She rushed into her office and closed the door. Leaning against the wood panel, she tried to collect her thoughts. The sniper had called her on her cell phone. With a sinking heart she realized her cell phone number was available to any of the newspaper staff. That wouldn’t have been hard for Toby to discover. But could the gentle man she’d known for the past year be a killer?

  She glanced around her office and her skin tingled at something Toby had said earlier about checking out her office. How had he done that? The door had been locked when she arrived at work. The answer hit her and she groaned. Toby had a key to all the offices.

  He stepped into the cold morning air and headed for his car in the parking lot. Nobody would miss him from work for a few minutes while he checked his phone for any calls Rachel Long had made or received. If anyone noticed him, he would say he was looking for something he thought he left in the car.

  He climbed in behind the steering wheel and slid down in the seat so that his head was barely visible to anyone outside. His eyes lit with excitement at the messages from Rachel’s phone.

  He listened to one after another that had recorded on his phone this morning. He waited patiently as he heard her conversations with her mother, her best friend Mindy and the receptionist at her favorite hair salon. With one more to go, he didn’t expect much, but he jerked to attention at the call from Matt Franklin.

  He listened with growing concern as they discussed her source that was now hiding at the Lake City Youth Center. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at the memory of the Viper who got away that night in front of the pizza parlor. At least now he knew his name and where he was hiding. Little Eddie was one more name to add to his list.