Christmas Protection Detail

by Terri Reed

  Secret Mountain Hideout

  Buried Mountain Secrets

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Alaskan Christmas Target by Sharon Dunn.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed this latest book set in the fictional town of Bristle Township, Colorado, as much as I enjoyed writing it. Pairing Nick and Kaitlyn together came naturally. They had such great chemistry together in the two previous books, Buried Mountain Secrets and Secret Mountain Hideout, that I had to tell their love story. Nick used humor and flirting as a way to keep an emotional barrier against the world, while Kaitlyn hid her heart behind stubbornness and her job. They both had to come to a point where they were willing to let down their guards and open their hearts to the possibility of love. Throwing in an adorable baby girl seemed like just the catalyst for Nick and Kaitlyn to expose their pasts, heal their wounds and forge a future together. They had many lessons to learn along the way, but in the end, they were able to break down the walls and begin a new journey together as a family.

  Stay safe and healthy,

  Terri

  WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM

  Courage. Danger. Faith.

  Find strength and determination in stories of faith and love in the face of danger.

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  Alaskan Christmas Target

  by Sharon Dunn

  ONE

  Natasha Hale watched through the window of the roadside diner where she worked as Gary Tharp pulled into the lot, parked crookedly and slammed on the brakes.

  Feeling a rising panic, Natasha placed a breakfast order in front of an older couple. Gary was the violent ex-husband of Judy whose mother, Betsy, owned the diner. He had caused trouble before. Mostly over the custody agreement of his and Judy’s son Ezra. Gary pushed open the car door, got out and leaned against the vehicle to steady himself. It was clear he’d been drinking. The snow swirling softly around him stood in sharp contrast to the intensity of his anger evident even from a distance. His expression was like hardened granite, eyebrows drawn together. He swayed as he walked.

  It was just Natasha and Betsy working this morning. The only patrons were the older couple who had told her they were tourists. Just like every other weekday morning, eight-year-old Ezra occupied a table in the diner. Betsy took care of Ezra every night so her daughter, a nurse, could work the graveyard shift at the hospital. In the hours when she needed to open up the diner and before Judy got off shift, Ezra sat at a booth eating his breakfast and reading or coloring.

  Natasha tensed as she glanced at Ezra and then out the window again. Because of Gary’s volatility brought on by addiction issues, the boy’s father had been granted only supervised visits since the divorce. It looked like he was on the warpath.

  Ezra’s mom was Natasha’s friend. She needed to keep the boy safe. In the months that she had worked at the diner, she had grown fond of Ezra. He was a quiet boy who seemed to think deeply about most things. She felt a connection to Ezra for a different reason. She had a nephew who was only a little older than Ezra whom she would probably never see again. For the last year, Natasha had been cut off from family because she’d been put into the witness protection program.

  Natasha hurried over to Ezra, who had just taken a bite of his toast. “Why don’t we go in the back and you can help Grandma?” She glanced out the window. Gary was only feet away from the door.

  “I’m not done eating.” Ezra set his toast down on the plate.

  “Just for now.” Natasha tried to keep her voice level even though her heart was racing. She clutched Ezra’s elbow, gently trying to lift him up.

  Too late. The bell above the door jingled.

  Gary’s words pelted Natasha’s back like a hard rain as she tried to usher the boy into a back room. “What are you doing with my son, Natasha?”

  Once given her new identity, Natasha had kept her first name, as did most people in the program.

  Natasha spun around just as Ezra said, “Daddy,” in a voice that was faint and filled with anguish.

  Natasha squared her shoulders, hoping her voice didn’t give away the level of fear she was trying to hide. “I’m sorry, Gary, but I think you need to leave.”

  The Christmas music spilling out of a radio in the kitchen went silent. Ezra’s grandmother came around the counter, wiping her hands on her apron. “You heard what Natasha said, Gary. You need to go, or I’ll call the police.”

  Gary pounded his chest. “He’s my boy, too.” His eyes were glassy, and he was leaning to one side.

  Ezra slipped his hand in Natasha’s, making a noise that was almost a whimper.

  “That’s it, Gary. I’m calling the police.” Betsy stalked back toward the kitchen.

  Gary reached inside his jacket and pulled out a handgun. “You stop right there, old lady. Nobody is going anywhere.”

  Betsy turned around slowly. The older couple gasped in unison and then sat paralyzed, their eyes filled with fear.

  What felt a like a lifetime ago, Natasha had been a police officer in Boston. She’d dealt with people like Gary all the time, their anger fueled and intensified by whatever substance they’d taken.

  Gary waved the gun. “Ezra, come here.”

  “Gary, put the gun down.” Natasha held her palm out toward the enraged man. “You don’t have to do this. It won’t end well.”

  “This is none of your business.” He lifted the gun and pointed it at Natasha’s chest.

  Her heart beat even faster. She took in a shallow, sharp breath. “Please, Gary.”

  Ezra let go of Natasha’s hand and ran to his father. “Don’t hurt Natasha. I’ll go with you. I promise.”

  “No, Ezra.” Natasha reached out to the boy as Gary’s finger slipped on the trigger. She froze in place, staring at the man who could kill her.

  Gary’s attention suddenly turned toward Ezra’s grandmother. He repositioned his aim and pulled the trigger, shooting the cell phone out Betsy’s hand. Pieces of the phone slid across the linoleum. All the color drained from Betsy’s face. Her hands were shaking.

  The shot rang in Natasha’s ears. She couldn’t get a deep breath.

  From the booth where they were sitting, the older couple scooted to the far side of the room, clutching each other.

  “Daddy, please, I’ll go with you.” Ezra tugged on his father’s coat.

  “Gary, you’re in no condition to drive. Put the gun down,” Natasha said. She had to prevent him from leaving with the child.

  Gary straightened his back and raised his chin. His eyes cleared for just a moment. “You’re right. I’m in no condition to drive. You’re coming with us.” He once again pointed the gun at Natasha.

  It wasn’t the scenario she’d hoped for, but she might be able to protect Ezra. Maybe she could overpower Gary before they got into the car. She rushed over to Ezra and wrapped her arm around his back, squeezing his shoulders. “Don’t touch him.” Gary aimed the gun at the older couple and then at Betsy as he walked backward. “No calling the police or Natasha gets it. She’s my insurance.”

  They walked through the parking lot to his car. Any hope of escape ended when Gary stopped at the driver’s door and put the gun to her temple. “Get in behind the wheel.” He then spoke to Ezra without looking at him. “Get in the backseat, son. Do as I say.”

  Natasha sat behind the wheel. Her whole body trembled. Gary kept the gun trained on her through the windshield as he hurried over to the passenger’s side of the car. He yanked open the front door, still pointing the gun at her as he settled into his seat. He pulled the keys out of his front shirt pocket and tossed them at her.

  “Now drive.”

  Her hands shook as she stuck the key in the ignition and twisted it. The car roared to life. She caught a quick look at Ezra in the backseat. It wasn’t fear she saw in his eyes, but confusion.
He was a helpless pawn in an ugly game. The boy wanted his father’s love and approval.

  She shifted into Reverse and turned the car around so it faced the highway. No cars went by. Little Bear, Alaska, the town where she lived, had a population of a couple thousand and, even then, it was spread out. The diner was a mile from what passed for downtown.

  “Where are we going?” Natasha asked.

  “You don’t need to know. Take a right on to the highway. I’ll tell you when to turn off.”

  As she pulled out onto the highway, she caught a glimpse of the diner. Flashing Christmas lights that framed the windows, but no people, were visible. Despite Gary’s threat, she knew Ezra’s grandmother would call the police to save her grandson. Natasha had left her cell phone in the break room. Betsy would know to look for it there since the older woman’s phone had been destroyed.

  Help would come for them. Still, she feared that Gary would carry out his threat and shoot her if law enforcement showed up.

  Natasha took in a prayer-filled breath.

  Maybe she would die here today, but she vowed to do everything in her power to see that Ezra was returned to the people who loved him.

  * * *

  Alaska state trooper Landon Defries let out a heavy breath as he passed the Christmas tree farm buzzing with activity. This would be his second Christmas without Maggie. He used to think that there was something sad about people who didn’t want to celebrate holidays. But now, after the loss of his wife, he understood that sometimes facing a holiday alone only intensified the pain.

  His radio glitched.

  “Defries here. What’s up, Angie?”

  “We got a custodial kidnapping. Gary Tharp has taken Ezra and a hostage—that waitress that works down at the Kodiak Diner. Last seen turning off the highway onto River Road.”

  Landon’s stomach twisted.

  “I’m on it.” He pressed the gas. Gary’s old rattletrap of a car would be easy enough to spot.

  “Suspect is armed and dangerous. Betsy says she’s pretty sure he’d been drinking or something worse.”

  “I’m gonna need backup.”

  “On it,” said the dispatcher.

  Landon sped down the highway. He was only minutes away from the turnoff to River Road. He clicked his blinker. He wasn’t sure what Gary had in mind by taking River Road. There were, Landon knew, at least three or four spur roads that ran off it. One would take Gary even higher into the mountains, another down to a harbor where bush planes and boats were docked. The other roads led to private residences.

  He clenched his jaw and stared straight ahead. Gary had already managed to endanger his son and that quiet woman who worked at the diner. If Gary sought shelter in one of the homes, even more people would be in danger. The last thing Landon wanted was some sort of standoff.

  He checked his sideview mirror. No sign of reinforcements.

  Up ahead, he caught a glimpse of the back end of Gary’s car right before it disappeared down a steep incline.

  He clicked on his radio. “Angie, where’s my backup?”

  “Deb and Russ are on their way. Both of them were at least ten miles out on other calls. They will get there as fast as they can. It’s the best I can do, Landon.”

  Actually, it was surprising that the other two officers assigned to this area had been that close. Because so much of Alaska was remote, rural troopers covered a huge amount of territory. There were no sheriffs in Alaska. Troopers were the key law enforcement.

  Landon whizzed by snow-covered evergreens. “Thanks, Angie. I’ll do what I can.”

  Landon sped up even more. He passed the first turnoff, which he knew led to a house only occupied part of the year. His unobstructed view of the road to the residence told him Gary hadn’t taken that turn.

  Landon remembered that, though he’d lost his license, Gary had training as a bush pilot. The harbor was the most likely place for him to go if he was planning some sort of escape.

  He surged ahead.

  Gary’s car came into view and it looked like the waitress was behind the wheel, with Gary right next to her. Ezra’s head barely came above the rim of the back window.

  Landon’s heart squeezed tight.

  God, don’t let anything bad happen to that kid or that woman.

  Copyright © 2020 by Sharon Dunn

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  ISBN-13: 9781488061530

  Christmas Protection Detail

  Copyright © 2020 by Terri Reed

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.

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