The Christmas Rescue

by Laura Scott

  “What?” Ellen looked aghast. “On purpose? Why?”

  Kayla paled, but instantly spun around to head wordlessly back to the jeep. Rafe hurried alongside, wanting to make sure they were safely tucked inside the jeep before he headed into the house.

  Should he call his commanding officer? For a moment his fingers hesitated on the phone. No, first he’d go inside, see if anyone had been there.

  Might still be there.

  Rafe leaned into the driver’s door and started the jeep’s engine, setting the thermostat on full blast because he could hear Kayla’s teeth chattering. He wasn’t sure her shivering was from the cold, more likely from hearing his theory about how the fire might not have been an accident. Then he reached over and pulled his weapon out of the glove compartment. He heard Kayla’s harshly indrawn breath.

  He locked his gaze on hers, reading the fear and apprehension clouding her gaze. He wanted to reassure her, but what could he say? The whole situation reeked of a setup.

  Had he imagined the faint whiff of gasoline? No way. For all he knew, the firefighters had already deemed the fire as arson, too. They’d no doubt be back to talk to Kayla if that was the case.

  “Everything is going to be fine,” he murmured. “Roll up the windows and lock the jeep. If anything happens, drive out of here and head straight to the coast guard home port substation. Understand?”

  “Yes,” she whispered faintly. “I understand. But I’m not leaving without you, Rafe. Why don’t we just go now?”

  He hesitated, seeing the wisdom in her question. But other than his gut instinct and the faint odor of gasoline, what did he have? Nothing. Not yet. “We will. Just give me a couple of minutes to look around inside, okay?”

  She frowned but then nodded. “Okay.”

  Stepping away from the vehicle, he waited until Kayla had rolled up the windows and he’d heard the door locks click in. Satisfied, he headed for the house.

  At the front door, he paused and listened. The absent light on the security system seemed to mock him from the white panel beside the door. He hadn’t thought twice about following Kayla and Brianna to the hospital, leaving the firefighters here and the property basically unsecured. Had that been part of the plan?

  Had Gregory Landrum, or whatever his name was, used this as a ruse to get rid of them?

  Reaching out, he twisted the door knob and opened the door. The interior of the house was quiet. Too quiet.

  Clyde wasn’t barking at all.

  Had Greg Landrum hurt the dog?

  Rafe slipped inside the house, methodically making his way through the great room, around to the kitchen. When he opened the door leading to Kayla’s private suite of rooms, a loud screech of a rusty door hinge made his heart jump.

  Clyde began to bark from the depths of the basement.

  He let out his breath in relief. At least the dog was okay. Figuring the dog might help roust an intruder, he went over and opened the basement door, allowing Clyde to come up. The dog greeted him like a long-lost friend, although they’d only been gone a few hours.

  Clyde didn’t leave Rafe’s side as he walked farther down the hall, prepared for anything. He’d never been in Kayla’s private space and he felt like an intruder as he opened one bedroom door after another. Brianna’s room, Ellen’s room and the bathroom seemed basically untouched from what he could tell.

  He came upon Kayla’s bedroom last. But unlike the other two rooms, this room wasn’t neat and tidy. Her personal items were tossed everywhere and her mattress was slit wide open.

  The place had been ransacked. Badly.

  Obviously Landrum had already been here. And it was very possible, he’d found exactly what he’d been looking for.

  NINE

  Rafe stared at the mess for a long minute, knowing how this latest turn of events would upset Kayla. Then he spun on his heel and continued searching through the rest of the house.

  Whoever had been there was gone. But just the fact that their intruder had gotten this close bothered him. Had Landrum followed them yesterday? Or was he even right now holed up someplace nearby, watching them? It was hard to imagine the guy Kayla had described as camping out in the cold woods, but anything was possible.

  And worse, how had Landrum sneaked into the house to set the fire in the Christmas tree while they were up in the attic? He thought back and realized that Kayla hadn’t set the security system as they were waiting for Ellen and Brianna to return. He should have insisted, since that brief window of time must have been enough for Landrum to sneak in to start the fire.

  It was his fault that Brianna had almost stopped breathing.

  He closed his eyes on a wave of despair. Thankfully, God was watching over them or this entire situation could have ended much worse.

  No more mistakes, he vowed. No more distractions. Rafe would keep his concentration centered on this case and would absolutely follow his gut instincts from now on.

  Nothing else had been disturbed other than Kayla’s bedroom. Did that mean Landrum had found what he was searching for? Or would he be back to finish the job?

  Rafe didn’t like either theory.

  And regardless, he needed to get Kayla and Brianna out of there as soon as possible.

  He headed back out to the car where Kayla, Ellen and Brianna waited, with Clyde at his heels. Kayla rolled down the window when he approached, gazing up at him expectantly. His chest squeezed with the thought of her being in danger.

  “We’re going to go inside just long enough to pack a bag,” he told her brusquely. “Then we’re leaving.”

  “Leaving? What happened?” Kayla asked, her gaze full of trepidation.

  “Your bedroom has been tossed,” he said grimly. At her blank look, he clarified, “It’s been searched. Someone has been here while we were gone. I’m sorry, Kayla, but your room is a total mess.”

  “Brianna’s, too?” she asked.

  “No, the other two rooms weren’t touched,” Rafe said flatly, trying to hide his anger at the situation. At his failure. “Just yours.”

  For a long moment she stared at him. “So he found what he was looking for?” she guessed.

  “I don’t know.” He met her gaze squarely. “But whether he did or not doesn’t matter. We’re not staying long enough to find out.”

  Kayla tried to assimilate what Rafe had just told her as she unpeeled her fingers from their tight grip on the steering wheel. She’d been prepared to drive off, as Rafe had ordered her to, even though leaving him behind went against every cell in her being. It seemed like he’d been inside for hours, rather than for the seventeen minutes that had ticked off on the clock dashboard. She’d been so afraid that something had happened to him.

  To that end, knowing the only damage was to her bedroom was a relief. Things could be replaced.

  Rafe couldn’t.

  “I want to see for myself,” she said, glancing over at Brianna, who was sleeping beside her, as she hit the button to unlock the doors.

  Rafe pulled the driver’s door open. “Fine. But we’re only going inside long enough to pack some things. I’ll carry Brianna.”

  She didn’t argue when he swept her daughter into his arms as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. Her knees were still rubbery after everything she’d been through. The fire, the desperate ambulance ride to the hospital and now this. She swallowed her fear and walked inside with Ellen beside her. Her mother-in-law didn’t say a word when Kayla headed straight for her bedroom.

  In the doorway, she paused, sucking in a harsh breath. Searched wasn’t the word she would have used. Destroyed was the term that came to mind. Her room had been utterly and completely destroyed. Every drawer had been upended, her closet torn apart and her mattress slit open from top to bottom. She momentarily closed her eyes, knowing she should be grateful the damage wasn’t worse.

  “Rafe’s right, Kay,” Ellen whispered from behind her. “We need to leave. Right away.”

  She knew her mother-in-law was rig
ht, but at the same time, she couldn’t help thinking that they should search the other two rooms while they still had time. What if Gregory Landrum hadn’t found what he was looking for? There was still a possibility they could find it first.

  She turned and went back to where Rafe had gently placed a still sleeping Brianna on the sofa in the living room. The walls in the corner where the tree had been standing were scorched black from the heat of the fire. But the damage was pretty much confined to the farthest corner of the room, and if not for the stench of smoke that still lingered in the air and the blackened walls, there wasn’t much evidence of the fire that had caused Brianna’s asthma attack.

  “I can’t believe she’s still asleep,” Kayla murmured, kneeling down beside the sofa, and brushing a strand of Brianna’s hair from her daughter’s pale cheek. “She must be exhausted.”

  Rafe’s gaze was troubled. “Should we be worried about a relapse?”

  “It’s a possibility,” she admitted, glancing up at him. “Rafe, I know we can’t stay here tonight, but Brianna was just released from the hospital. Couldn’t we let her rest a little before we leave? That way we’d have time to search the other two rooms first. Just in case there is something that the intruder managed to miss.”

  Rafe clenched his jaw and shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, but my gut is telling me we need to get out of here, now, before anything else happens. Isn’t it bad enough that I let my guard down and let Landrum sneak in while we were upstairs in the attic? I know Brianna’s exhausted but she can sleep in the car.”

  She heard the underlying steel in his tone and realized further arguing would be futile. Especially since he was shouldering the responsibility for her mistake. “Actually, Rafe, I’m the one who didn’t set the security system when we came in because I was expecting Ellen and Brianna to return at any moment. So stop beating yourself up over this when the fault clearly rests with me.”

  “No, Kayla, it’s not your fault at all. I’m the one who should have reminded you to set the alarm. But enough placing blame. What happened before doesn’t matter. Right now, we need to plan our escape. I need you and Ellen to pack a bag, and then pull some stuff together for Brianna. I’ll make our reservations at the motel, then take care of my things and pack some food.”

  Kayla gave in. “All right,” she agreed, glancing over at Ellen who hovered in the doorway. “Is that all right with you?” she asked, belatedly realizing they’d been discussing the next steps without including her mother-in-law.

  Ellen flushed and dropped her gaze, guiltily. “Actually, Kayla, my sister Irene called while we were in the emergency department with Brianna. She’s being released from the hospital earlier than originally planned. If you don’t mind, I’d like to catch the first available flight to Phoenix, Arizona, instead.”

  Kayla swallowed her urge to protest. She’d known this day was coming, that Ellen would leave to go stay with her sister, she just hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

  As if sensing her hesitancy, Ellen glanced at her with a pleading gaze. “I’m sorry, Kayla, but Irene needs me.”

  “I know,” Kayla murmured, trying to force a smile. She’d been counting on Ellen being a buffer between her and Rafe. A selfish thought considering how she’d known Ellen’s plans all along were to only stay a few days, until her sister’s release from the hospital. “It’s fine. Of course you need to go to your sister. I’m sure Rafe won’t mind dropping you off at the airport.”

  “No, I don’t mind,” Rafe agreed.

  “Kayla, maybe you and Brianna should come to Phoenix with me,” Ellen said anxiously. “No one would think to look for you there. You and Brianna would be safe for sure.”

  “Irene lives in a small apartment in a retirement community, remember?” Kayla pointed out, glancing over at Rafe who was watching the discussion with a frown. Did he want her to go? “No children allowed. And even if the rules could be broken, there wouldn’t be enough room for us.”

  “There’s a hotel nearby,” Ellen protested.

  But Kayla was already shaking her head. “I can’t afford a hotel, Ellen. Or plane tickets for that matter. And honestly, I don’t want to leave. This place,” she swept a hand around, encompassing the bed-and-breakfast, “This is all I have left of Jeremy. I need to stay close by.”

  Rafe knew he was being selfish as an overwhelming relief washed over him when Kayla declined her mother-in-law’s offer to go to Phoenix. She and Brianna might be safe in Arizona, but then again, maybe not. If she became the target, it wouldn’t be difficult for Landrum or any of his underlings to figure out where she’d gone.

  And he couldn’t deny, he wanted Kayla and Brianna close by so he could keep an eye on them.

  “Okay it’s settled,” Rafe said, breaking the sudden silence. “We’ll drive Ellen to the airport before I take you and Brianna someplace safe.”

  “Don’t forget Clyde,” Brianna said with a yawn from the sofa. “We have to take Clyde with us.”

  Rafe glanced at Brianna, noting that she looked much better after her short nap. “And Clyde,” he amended with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m tired.” Brianna yawned again but then pried her eyes open. “Are we going on a trip?”

  “Yes, we’re going on a little trip. How about if we go into your room to pack your things?” Kayla asked, glancing up at Rafe. He understood she didn’t want Brianna to know about the mess in her room. “I’ll help, all right?”

  “Okay,” Brianna agreed, scrambling down from the sofa.

  “Why don’t you let me help Brianna while you get some of your things together first?” Ellen said, stepping forward.

  Kayla hesitated, but then nodded, her expression grateful. He could hear the women speaking in low tones as they walked toward the kitchen, heading to Kayla’s private rooms. He wanted to offer his help, but sensed Kayla would be uncomfortable if he were to go through her personal items.

  He took the stairs two at a time, heading to his room and quickly pulling his stuff together. He called the Willow Grove motel to reserve two rooms. When those arrangements were finished, he made sure to grab his laptop computer, knowing he had more searching to do. When his phone rang, he glanced at the display, realizing his errant partner was finally checking in.

  “Evan? Where are you?” he asked, trying not to sound accusing. Truthfully, he hadn’t even thought about his partner since leaving home port substation.

  “I’m tailing Yancy. He’s moored for now, but he’s loading up on fuel as if he’s preparing for a long trip. And I’m pretty sure he has a passenger on board. I’m going to stay with him, I think he might be our guy.” Evan’s voice echoed with excited anticipation.

  Rafe took a deep breath. “Okay, Evan, but don’t get too close. Or better yet, call for some backup, just in case. If he discovers you behind him, he could take you out without warning.”

  “Rafe, trust me. I know what I’m doing,” Evan said confidently.

  Rafe wished he could be so sure. “Call for backup,” he repeated. “And one more thing, did you talk to Charlie Turkow?”

  “No, I didn’t talk to Charlie. Look Rafe, I have to go. I’ll check in with you later.” Evan disconnected the line before Rafe could say another word.

  He stared at his phone for a moment. Should he warn Luke? Evan wouldn’t be happy, but Rafe couldn’t be certain that his partner would really listen to his advice. Batting down the wave of guilt, he made the call. His commanding officer didn’t answer, so he left a terse message, informing Luke of the latest break-in at Kayla’s and then mentioning Evan’s location and his need for backup. Afterward, he felt better.

  At least he’d done his best to protect his partner. Now if he could manage to keep Kayla and Brianna safe, he’d be content.

  Hauling his duffel bag downstairs, he set it near the front door and then nearly tripped over the dog as he went into the kitchen to rummage for food. They’d need enough for at least a day or two to be on the safe side. He added
Clyde’s food and water bowls to the pile of things they needed to take.

  Searching through Kayla’s cupboards, though, revealed that she didn’t have a lot of staples. He took a few items, the bread so it wouldn’t go stale, peanut butter and jelly for Brianna, along with a few other items from the fridge that might go bad if left behind, but that was all. He knew Kayla’s financial situation was serious, so he’d stop at a grocery store to pick up the rest of the items they might need. At least there was a half bag of dog food left so he put that over by the doorway as well.

  Kayla came out of her bedroom with a small suitcase. “At least he didn’t destroy my clothes,” she said.

  “I’ll replace your mattress, Kayla,” he reassured her. “And the repairs from the fire. Once this is over, I’ll take care of everything.”

  “It’s okay, Rafe. I have homeowner’s insurance.”

  He frowned. “I insist.”

  She rolled her eyes and took her suitcase over to set it next to his duffel bag. “Just a few more minutes and we should be ready to go.”

  “No problem,” he murmured. She went back to Brianna’s room, to get her daughter’s things. He could tell how much she hated having to leave her home. For a moment, a prickle of doubt niggled into his resolve. Were they better off staying here, locked inside the house with the security system on?

  No, the fire was proof of how far this guy would go to get them out of here. What’s to say he won’t get more desperate? His first instinct was the right one. They’d get out now, while they could.

  “Mommy, I want to take my album!” Brianna’s voice rose with a rare fit of temper. Rafe took a few steps down the hall, willing to lend a hand if needed.

  “Brianna, it’s not like we’re going away for weeks,” Kayla said in exasperation.

  “I don’t care.” The door burst open and Brianna came flying through, barreling headfirst into Rafe.

  “Whoa, slow down,” he said, reaching for her.