Deadly Christmas Duty Read online

  “You should be safe here,” he stated, getting out of the car and glancing around. “No one will be able to approach the house without us knowing, and you’d have to know where this place is in order to find it.”

  She had to agree. The house was surrounded by woods, and she was certain it would have been a beautiful place to vacation if she wasn’t fighting for her life.

  She unbuckled Ramey and let Ranger run loose. Ramey went chasing after him. She ushered them both into the house and looked around at her new surroundings. The high ceilings, feature fireplace and modern kitchen made this the perfect place for a romantic getaway, but who would ever think to look for her here?

  “How did you find this place?” she asked Noah.

  “Peterson’s sister is a Realtor. It’s being rented out by the company she works for.”

  She still wasn’t sure about Chief Peterson. “How do you know we can trust him after what happened with Wayne?”

  Noah glanced her way. “I think he’s been shaken up by all this, but he’s proven he’s trustworthy. He sees Wayne for what he is now. Besides, I’m not sure we have much choice in the matter. He’s the only one on our side.”

  “At least there’s plenty of room for Ramey and Ranger to run around.” She pointed toward a door. “We’ll take this bedroom.”

  “Take whichever one you want. I’ll be on the couch so I can keep my ears open. But once we’re settled, we should talk.”

  “About what?”

  “I know you’re convinced this is your husband who’s after you, but we should also look into other suspects. I want to go back through the day of the bombing.”

  “Okay.” She joined him at the table and pulled out a chair. “What about it?”

  “You were working on a Saturday. Who else knew you were going to be doing that?”

  She tried to think back. “Dawn, obviously. I’d cleared it with my boss, Jay McAllister. Susan Campbell. Honestly, anyone could have suspected. I’ve been doing it practically since Nikki vanished. Everyone knows I’ve been trying to pin her disappearance on Wayne. It’s common knowledge. Even my friend Robin had to convince me to have lunch with her that day.”

  “What do you mean she had to convince you?”

  “She’d been on me for a while to get together. Said I was putting too much on my shoulders. That I needed to let this go.” A tear slipped from her eye as she thought about Robin’s glib attitude over Nikki’s disappearance. She’d told Melinda to give up searching for the truth about her disappearance. Although after a few months, that had seemed to be the opinion of most around town. Nikki’s case had vanished from their minds.

  “Who knew you were going to lunch with Robin?”

  “I don’t know. Not many people. She’d been calling me all week trying to pin it down, but I’d resisted, claiming I wanted to stay at the office and work. Finally, Friday night, I agreed to meet with her at lunch, but only for a short time. I didn’t really want to go, but I realized she was right. I’d been devoting all my time to finding Nikki and not spending any time with my other friends.”

  “So then how did the bomber know when you’d be gone from the office so he could plant the bomb? If we’re assuming it wasn’t Dawn who told him, maybe it was Robin?”

  She choked over the shock of that statement. “Robin Danbar? She goes to my church. Why would she be involved with someone like that?”

  “I don’t know. That’s what we’re trying to figure out. You said she was adamant about you going to lunch with her all week.”

  “Yes. No.” She didn’t like the way he was accusing her friends of wrongdoing. “She wanted us to meet Saturday afternoon. Even when she called me at the beginning of the week, she wanted to meet on Saturday at noon at Main Street Café. She said it was the only time she could get away, and we should think of it as stealing an hour or so from our hectic lives.”

  “Did you already know Ramey was going with the Campbells and you wouldn’t have him? Or was that spur of the moment?”

  “They’d been planning on going to an outing at the zoo for several weeks now. I knew Ramey wouldn’t be home so I thought I’d be able to get a lot of work done.” She glanced up at him, a terrible feeling rumbling through her. “Do you think someone knew Ramey would be gone?”

  “I’m thinking whoever is doing this seems to know a lot about you, Melinda. Where you go and when. It all points to someone close to you.”

  She laughed. “It’s a small town. Everyone knows everything.”

  He remembered that being true. Everyone knew. No one said a word. “Where is this restaurant you went to?”

  “Around the corner from my office.”

  “Do you have to have reservations to eat there?”

  “No, of course not. Especially not on a Saturday afternoon. Why?”

  “I was just wondering if there was a way to determine how long she had been planning this get-together.”

  “Robin has been my friend for years. She and her husband, Trey, go to my church. She has a bakery downtown where she sells cakes and cookies and pastries. Trust me, she’s no criminal.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think you understand how much danger you’re in, Melinda. Someone has tried to kill you more than once. He’ll try again, and his actions seem to indicate that he knows all about your comings and goings. He specifically targeted your office at a time when no one but you would be there. He doesn’t want to take down the district attorney’s office. He wants to take down you. Which means we need to delve into your life with a fine-tooth comb until we discover the reason someone wants you dead, and how he’s gotten so much information about you.”

  His words had been harsh, but he was right. Someone was targeting her, and until they knew differently, everyone was a suspect.

  “Now, tell me about Robin. You said she owns a bakery downtown? What does her husband do?”

  “He’s the bank manager at First National. He’s been there for years. Apparently, he started out as a teller and worked his way up the ladder through the years. Robin talks about it all the time. She’s very proud of him. He also helps her out at the bakery whenever he can.”

  “Who else is close to you?”

  She thought about the people she saw daily. It wasn’t a big list. “Aside from Dawn, Susan Campbell is the closest person in our life. She watches Ramey for me whenever I need the help. She’s always been there for us.”

  “Tell me about her. Is she married?”

  “She was. Her husband died from cancer two years ago.”

  “What does she do?”

  “She has a son named Jason, who is two years younger than Ramey. He hasn’t started school yet, so she stays home with him. She lives off her husband’s pension and social security checks. She’s always quick to offer to help with Ramey whenever I need it. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without her some days.”

  “Who else?”

  She struggled to come up with any more names. She was a private person, and she and Ramey stayed pretty much to themselves, especially since Nikki had vanished.

  But Noah wasn’t letting her off the hook. “Who else? Do you have a gardener? Someone you speak to at the grocery store? Coworkers? Come on, Melinda, there has to be someone who sticks out to you.”

  “No, there’s isn’t. Not that I’ve noticed.” Fear welled up inside her. There was an entire town of suspects, people she’d trusted for years and called her neighbors, but she had to admit she didn’t really know any of them. She’d kept herself too guarded, afraid of being hurt again. “I’m sorry, Noah. I just don’t know.”

  His face softened, and he knelt beside her and held her hand. “I’m sorry. I was pushing too hard.”

  “I find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that someone in this town wants me dead. It’s Sean. I’m certain of it.”

  “You sai
d the sketch looked different. Don’t you think it could have been someone else?”

  “It’s been seven years. He looked older, harder, but the facial features were the same. It was him, Noah, or else someone who looks like him.”

  “I asked Chief Peterson to pull the file on his death. As soon as he gets it, we’ll look it over and see if there’s any possibility it could be him. In the meantime, we should keep looking, because even if it turns out to be Sean, he knows an awful lot about your life. Where and when you work, where you go to church. Either he’s following you around, disguised as someone else, or someone is telling him everything about you. Either way, we need to find out.”

  She put her face in her hands and tried to push back the tears that threatened to explode. She’d chosen this town as a safe haven for her and Ramey, and now all that was ruined. She wanted to scream and yell at the world. When would the terribleness stop? When would she ever be free from her past?

  “Mommy, are you crying?” Ramey’s voice surprised her. She’d thought he was playing in the bedroom with Ranger. She quickly dried her eyes, but before she could answer, Noah stood and went to him.

  “No, buddy. Your mom is just sad because there are no Christmas decorations in this house. What do you say we string some lights and make this place a little more festive?”

  Ramey clapped his hands and jumped up and down. “Yes!”

  Melinda couldn’t help but smile at their interaction. “How do you know there are any Christmas lights in this house?” she asked Noah.

  He looked at her and shrugged. “I guess I don’t. We’ll just have to buy some. And maybe we’ll stop by that bakery your friend owns and get some cupcakes while we’re out.”

  Ramey jumped up and down, hollering and hooting. He loved cupcakes, although she doubted sugar was what he needed while cooped up inside. He was already energetic enough. But Noah’s suggestion about stopping by the bakery wasn’t lost on her. He wasn’t only after cupcakes. He wanted to question Robin and Trey.

  “Is it safe?” Melinda asked, and Noah looked at her, his green eyes intense with determination.

  “We won’t find the answers we need if we stay here. I think we’ll be safe. We’ll be on the street surrounded by people. And we’ll take several different routes to make certain no one knows where we came from or follows us back here.”

  She got up and helped Ramey pull on his coat and gloves. If Noah felt the need to question her friends, then she wasn’t going to get in his way. She wasn’t staying behind, either. No one may know about this safe house, but someone had managed to find them once before, and she wasn’t going to chance being alone if it happened again.

  No matter where they went, she was safer with Noah by her side.

  SIX

  A twenty-foot Christmas tree sat in the middle of downtown, decorated and illuminated against a clear night sky. Ramey’s eyes sparkled as they walked down Main Street and he eyed all the Christmas spectacle. Garland hung from the buildings, and net lighting covered the street. Daytonville had a busy downtown, with cafés and shops and even a dollar store where Noah purchased several strands of lights for the house. Maybe they couldn’t go all out with the decorations, but Melinda was glad Ramey would have something to remind him it was Christmas.

  For a moment she forgot the danger they were in and basked in the glow of the downtown spirit. Music was playing through speakers along the street, and people were in and out of shops and visiting. It struck her as something right out of a magazine, and she was just another patron strolling along Main Street with her son and beau. She knew it was silly, but as she and Noah walked hand in hand, she could almost imagine a future with the handsome SEAL. But even on a night like this, when everything seemed right with the world, she wasn’t ready to fully commit her heart to anyone, even Noah.

  He led her toward the bakery and held the door for her, a reminder that they weren’t really a happy little family as she’d imagined. They were there on a mission to interrogate her friends. A part of her hoped Robin and Trey wouldn’t even be here. That they’d handed off the bakery’s duties to one of their employees for the night, but then Noah would only insist on returning at another time. It was better to get this over with as soon and as easily as possible.

  “Melinda!” Robin spotted her and called to her the moment they stepped inside. She hurried from behind the counter and pulled Melinda into a hug. “How are you?” she asked, her voice full of distress. “I heard about Dawn. I’m just sick about all that’s happened to you. You must be devastated.”

  “It hasn’t been easy. Thankfully, I’ve had Noah to look out for me.” She turned to him and made the introductions. “This is Noah Cason. He’s Nikki’s brother. He came to town to look into her disappearance, but it seems he’s gotten caught up in all this with us.”

  Robin held out her hand, and Noah shook it. “It’s nice to meet you, Noah. I’m very sorry about your sister.”

  “Thank you. Is there someplace we can talk privately? And is your husband here?”

  She glanced at Melinda questioningly, then nodded. “Sure, let’s go to the back. Trey is there now working on the books.” She turned to one of her employees. “Beth, would you let Ramey pick out a cupcake then take him to the break room?”

  “Sure,” Beth stated. She took Ramey’s hand and he went with her willingly, his mind already preoccupied with the lure of a cupcake.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll be able to see him in the break room from the office,” Robin told her. “I know how you fret.”

  They followed Robin through the kitchen toward the back of the building. “The office is too small for us all to fit. Wait here while I get Trey.”

  She was gone only moments, then returned with her husband following behind her. He stepped out and greeted Noah, then hugged Melinda. It had been a while since she’d seen him, and Melinda noticed he looked thinner than he had been the last time.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, surprised by their sudden request for a meeting.

  Noah took charge, and Melinda let him. She didn’t want her friends to think she didn’t trust them, but she recognized that Noah needed to follow his gut and flesh out any leads he could find. She wasn’t totally against it, either. He was right when he’d said Sean seemed to know a lot about her life. Too much, in fact. How had he gotten so close to her without her realizing it? She shuddered at the thought of him being out there watching her.

  “You’re aware of the attacks against Melinda. We’re following up on the events leading up to the first attack, the bombing at her office. She told me she was having lunch with you, Robin, that afternoon.”

  “Yes, that’s right. We had lunch at Main Street Café. If only I could have convinced you to stay longer, Melinda, then you wouldn’t have been in any danger. But thankfully, Noah was there to pull you out.”

  “I’ve been thanking him quite a bit lately,” Melinda admitted.

  “Melinda said you seemed adamant about her meeting you at noon. Why was that?”

  She glanced his way, then at Melinda, confusion pooling in her eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Only that you kept repeating Saturday at noon. Why did it have to be then?”

  She glanced at her husband, finally appearing to understand that she was being questioned about her motives. “I had Beth watching the store that day. She’s a good worker, but we tend to get busy later in the day. Noon was the only time I could meet. Does that answer your question?”

  She saw her friend’s annoyance and rushed to explain. “He’s only being thorough. Someone is still after me. Until we find out who, we have to question everyone and everything.”

  Trey placed his hands on Robin’s shoulders. “It’s fine,” he said. “They’re only asking questions, honey.”

  “Well, it doesn’t feel like only asking questions. It feels like I’m being accused of some
thing. Everyone is just so busy these days. I wanted to catch up with Melinda. That’s all.”

  “I’m sorry,” Melinda told her. “I’m glad we got together.”

  “Where were you on Saturday, Trey?” Noah asked.

  He stiffened at the question. “I was purchasing supplies for the bakery. I work during the week, and it’s the only day I can do the shopping. Some of the ingredients come in large bags that Robin can’t lift.”

  That made sense to Melinda. In fact, everything they’d said seemed to add up. But Noah wasn’t finished.

  He took out his phone and pulled up the sketch of the attacker. “Do either of you know this man?”

  Trey took the phone and studied the picture, then shook his head. “No, I don’t know him.”

  He handed the phone to Robin, who glanced at it then twisted at the chain around her neck. “I’ve never seen that man before.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Trey pushed the phone back to him. “We don’t know him. Are we done? Because Robin and I have a business to run.”

  Melinda grimaced at his brisk tone. It seemed he’d changed his mind about the questioning. She hated alienating her friends, but they had to understand her predicament. Thankfully, Noah was done asking questions.

  He nodded then reached for Trey’s hand. “Thanks for understanding. I was only trying to do what’s best for Melinda.”

  Melinda retrieved Ramey, who had finished his cupcake and started on a cookie. They headed for the front of the store to leave, but she turned to Robin one last time before stepping outside. “I did enjoy our lunch together. We should do it again soon, okay?”

  “Absolutely,” Robin said, but Melinda noticed her enthusiasm didn’t match her words as she quickly retreated into the kitchen. That upset her. Robin had been one of the first women to befriend her when she arrived in town.

  Melinda bent down to help Ramey with his coat, and as she did, something shattered the window and buzzed past her, slamming into the plastic menu above the counter.