Covert Christmas

by Hope White

  The elevator doors opened but she decided she needed to walk instead and took the stairs. She was worried, beyond worried, suspecting that whoever was after Scott in the mountains had managed to kidnap him from the hospital to finish what they’d started.

  Or was she overreacting because she’d developed an unhealthy attachment to the stranger with the striking blue eyes? She got to the ground floor and was about to open the door to the main hallway, when she heard a voice drift up from the basement level. She leaned against the railing, but couldn’t see the source of the voice.

  “I got him released, but he was fighting it. I couldn’t overmedicate him or he wouldn’t be able to walk out on his own.... No one is in delivery at this time of night. It’s fine.”

  Bree stepped back, whipped open the door and took off into the hospital. She spotted an orderly.

  “Delivery entrance?” she asked.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  She didn’t have time for a lengthy discussion so she rushed past him and found a map on the wall. Pausing long enough to figure out the location of the delivery entrance, she ripped her phone out of her pocket and called her cousin Ryan. It went into voice mail. He probably kept the ringer off during his shift. She hung up, fearing by the time he got her voice mail it would be too late.

  Scott would be gone, maybe even dead.

  Her phone vibrated. Ryan was calling her back.

  “They took him out the delivery entrance,” she said, without waiting for him to speak. “I’m headed there now.”

  “No, Bree, don’t—”

  She ended the call and focused on getting to the entrance and...and...what? Once again she was throwing herself into a potentially dangerous situation in order to save Scott. Mom would be upset; Aiden would be furious. What was Bree supposed to do, let the gunman kidnap Scott against his will?

  The mystery voice, which she suspected was Dr. Vann, said Scott was fighting his captor. Good, that meant they might not have left the hospital. She hoped. She prayed.

  She got to the delivery area and flung open the door. A long storage aisle led to a dock where they dropped off supplies for the hospital. She yanked a fire extinguisher off the wall as a weapon, and rushed to the end of the dock.

  Heart racing, she peered across the back lot into the woods bordering the hospital. She saw nothing, heard no one.

  She was too late.

  “Scott!” she cried.

  Two police cars, lights flashing, sped into the lot.

  “Breanna,” her cousin said, coming up behind her. “You should have stayed back.”

  “He’s gone,” she said, looking into Ryan’s brown eyes. “They got him, and they’re going to kill him.”

  He glanced down at her hand, her fingers digging into his arm, then back at her face. “We’ll find him.”

  “Officer McBride!” one of the cops called.

  Bree and Ryan both glanced at him. He held up what looked like a hospital ID bracelet. “Found this at the edge of the woods.”

  “Stay here,” Ryan said.

  He went to help the other two officers search the surrounding woods. She put down the fire extinguisher and paced, fretted and nibbled her fingernail. Not able to stand it any longer, she hopped down to aid in the search.

  “Breanna, I said get back,” Ryan ordered.

  She froze, but didn’t retreat. She needed to be close in case they found Scott. They had to find him or else that meant...

  She struggled to calm her breathing, the sound of silence ringing in her ears as she watched them fan out to search the perimeter.

  “I’ve got blood here,” one of the officers announced. “It leads this way.”

  Without waiting for permission, she took off into the woods.

  “Bree!” her cousin called.

  * * *

  Scott collapsed in a pile of wet brush and gasped for air. The guy had convinced everyone, including Scott, that he was a legitimate deputy responsible for bringing Scott in for questioning.

  Only when they got to the guy’s car did Scott suspect something was off. Way off. The supposed deputy had parked in a dark corner of the back lot as if he didn’t want to be seen. Through somewhat blurred vision, Scott realized he wasn’t getting into a typical cruiser but a rented, high-end luxury vehicle.

  Wrong. There’s no way a county deputy or small-town P.D. would spring for such an expensive car. Scott got into the back and when the “deputy” slid behind the wheel, Scott darted out the other side, racing for the woods.

  The lush evergreens seemed close one minute and miles away the next.

  The fake deputy caught up to him and they struggled, but Scott managed to nail him with an uppercut that brought the guy down. Scott sprinted as fast as his exhausted body could take him, deep into the dark woods where he could hide from his kidnapper. He assumed it was one of the guys from yesterday, one of the guys Bree had told him about, but didn’t know for sure.

  Scott couldn’t remember much about the past few days or months, except for the obvious: he’d gotten himself into a world of trouble.

  As he stumbled through the woods, he barely felt the branches scraping his cheeks and hands as he forged ahead into the mass of trees.

  He staggered to a downed tree trunk, climbed over it and collapsed on the other side, using it for cover. He hated this, hated hiding like a coward, but with his limited brain function he’d be stupid to go on the offensive. Instead, he’d hide out and wait. For what, to be rescued?

  Not likely. He was rescued yesterday by the adorable blonde and her friends but no one was lucky enough to be rescued twice in two days. He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable, trying to think of another strategy to buy himself a little more time.

  Time to finish something important, but what?

  He heard the crunch of footsteps against fallen twigs as his attacker closed in. Scott was going to die. The man had said as much when he’d threatened him in the hospital.

  Scott.

  But it was her voice, the beautiful, gentle voice that awakened him yesterday, calmed him when he thought he’d go mad. In his last minutes on earth he was hallucinating, hearing the gentle voice of Breanna calling out to him.

  “Scott!” Her voice carried across the dense forest.

  He blinked open his eyes. It wasn’t a dream.

  “I’m here,” he croaked, his voice raw and weak.

  “Did you hear that?” a man said.

  Scott shrank lower into the earth. Maybe her voice wasn’t real, after all. Had he imagined it to keep from falling into a pit of despair?

  “Scott, it’s Breanna. Are you out there?”

  Bree was here? But why was she with the man who tried to kidnap him from the hospital?

  “Scott, it’s Officer McBride from yesterday. I’m with your friend, Breanna. We’re here to help. Where are you, buddy?”

  “Breanna,” Scott said with as much force as he could manage. “Over here.”

  He tried sitting up, but his body felt as though someone had pumped lead into his veins. He could hardly move. “Breanna.”

  A light flashed above him, and then pinned him with its powerful beam.

  “Scott.” She came into view, a frown of worry creasing her forehead.

  “You’re here,” he said.

  “I’m here.” She smiled, a smile that made everything right.

  Relief drifted over him like a thick blanket on a cold winter’s night. He studied her green eyes, and a sense of calm washed over him.

  “Are you okay?” she said. “Did he hurt you?”

  “I...I’m tired.”

  “It’s okay. We can talk later.”

  She stroked his hair. He leaned into her touch knowing he was safe as long as she was near
.

  * * *

  Bree spent the next day sticking close to Scott, more like hovering, until he was discharged in the afternoon. She didn’t trust the hospital to keep him safe from his attackers after the incident last night. The men who were after Scott were terribly bold to impersonate a deputy and attempt to kidnap him from the hospital.

  Bree had told Chief Washburn she thought she’d heard Dr. Vann’s voice in the stairwell, but it turned out the doctor was off duty so it couldn’t have been him.

  Rather than ruminate about what had nearly happened, she focused on the positive—Scott was okay. She held his hand and comforted him when he thrashed in his sleep, and hoped that he’d wake up and remember something that could help him defend himself against these men.

  When he finally awoke, he didn’t remember much more than he had when they’d first brought him in. Thankfully someone had recognized him from photos the local police were circulating and identified him as Scott James, a guest at Echo Mountain Resort. Bree heard from Ryan that Chief Washburn was checking with Chicago and Detroit police departments to confirm Scott’s identity.

  Dr. Vann wasn’t convinced Scott should be discharged considering he’d been drugged last night, but Scott wanted out of the hospital and Bree couldn’t blame him.

  Chief Washburn sent Officer Carrington to escort them to the resort, probably at the urging of her uncle Chuck, who still worried that she was developing an unhealthy attachment to Scott.

  The hospital volunteer pushed Scott to the exit door in a wheelchair and he stood, tentatively. Bree gripped his arm for support.

  “Thanks,” he said, gazing down into her eyes.

  It was that look, a look of deep appreciation tinted with fear that kept her close. He shifted into the front seat of the SUV and she shut the door. Fiona started barking in the back, so Bree tapped on the window. “Stop.”

  Fiona sat and stopped barking. What did Bree expect? There was a new person sitting in the front seat and Fiona hadn’t been officially introduced. How dare Bree allow a stranger into her car.

  Into her heart.

  She buried that unwelcome thought and got behind the wheel. “Sorry about the dog. She’s protective.”

  “A good thing,” he said. “You’re lucky to have her.”

  Bree pulled away from the hospital and spotted Officer Carrington in the rear view mirror following close behind.

  “Breanna?”

  “Yes?”

  “I have no idea what’s going to happen next, but I wanted to make sure I said thank you for everything you’ve done.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for you.”

  She knew firsthand that focusing on the darkness only made things worse so she tried to lighten things a little.

  “Right, a good thing I’d been hanging out in a tree, trying to outwit the K9 dogs.”

  “Is that why you were there?”

  “Yep, it was the final test to approve them for duty.”

  “And you were in the tree because hikers climb trees after they’re wounded and immobilized?” The corner of his mouth curled.

  Good, he had a sense of humor. That would get him through the tough road ahead, both the physical recovery and the violence that seemed to be hounding him.

  “A hiker could fall and get stuck in a tree, or a paraglider could miscalculate his landing, or—”

  “I get it, I get it,” he said with a smile.

  Her heart skipped. His genuine smile was the first pleasant interaction they’d had. Everything else up to this point had been tainted with worry or panic on his part, and determined protection on hers.

  “What?” he said, studying her.

  “What, what?”

  “You look, I don’t know, pleased.”

  “You smiled.” She glanced back at the road. “It’s nice to see you smile.”

  A few seconds of silence passed. Breanna couldn’t help but wonder who this man really was and if he had family, or a wife. It didn’t matter. She would offer assistance until his family showed up to care for him.

  “Can I ask you something?” he said.

  “Of course.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Driving you to the resort? That’s where you’re staying. Don’t you remember?”

  “I meant, why are you helping me?”

  “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

  “Why do I sense there’s more to it?”

  Interesting that he could read her so easily when she’d been told by plenty of people that she often came off as aloof and detached. Well, ever since her time under Thomas’s rule, anyway. That’s when she’d learned to hide her true feelings so he wouldn’t be able to use them against her.

  “I’m sorry,” Scott said.

  She snapped her attention to him briefly, then refocused on the road. “Excuse me?”

  “Your expression turned terribly sad. I sense it’s my fault.”

  “It’s not you. I was remembering something.”

  “Bad, huh?”

  “An old boyfriend and how he controlled me.”

  “You’re kidding.” He chuckled.

  “You’re laughing at me?” she said, her tone more hurt than angry.

  “Wait, no, I’m sorry, it’s just, the way you ordered hospital staff around, the demanding tone you took with sheriff’s deputies—”

  “That was one deputy and he’s my cousin.”

  “Trust me, from where I’m sitting, you’re definitely in control.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Good. I would not want to get on your bad side. You know karate.” He winked.

  “You really are remembering things.”

  “I remember stuff since the accident, but not what happened leading up to it.” He glanced out the passenger window. “That would be the most helpful right now.”

  “It’ll come back to you.”

  “I hope it’s not too late.”

  “Too late for what?”

  He glanced at her and frowned. “I’m not sure.”

  She exited the expressway and headed for the resort.

  “After you drop me at the resort, we can’t see each other again,” he announced.

  “Whoa, I’ve heard brain injuries can cause rude behavior, but that was a little over the top.”

  “I’m trying to protect you.”

  “First things first. I’ll help you get settled in your room, then we can argue about breaking up,” she joked.

  “You seem awfully cavalier about this.”

  “I don’t mean to come off that way, but focusing on the negative stuff only stresses us out more.”

  She parked in the back lot and pointed at her two-bedroom cottage in the distance. “That’s my place, if you ever need anything.” She opened her door. “Come on, Fiona and I will get you settled.”

  She got out of the car and shook off the odd, painful sting she’d felt when he said he never wanted to see her again. He was only considering her well-being.

  Officer Carrington pulled his cruiser into the spot next to Bree’s.

  She opened the hatch and let Fiona out of the back of the truck. The dog immediately ran up to Scott to check him out. Although most golden retrievers were happy pups, Fiona tended to be wary of people. Yet she wasn’t wary of Scott. Fiona did her hip wiggle dance, wagging her tail enthusiastically. Scott reached down and stroked her head. Fiona posed in a perfect dog sit and looked up at him.

  “She’s a sweetheart,” he said.

  “She has her moments.” Bree smiled down at her puppy. She still considered the two-year-old dog a pup since she could play for hours and never get tired.
A good trait for a rescue dog.

  Officer Carrington joined them as they headed for the building. “I’d like to go in first,” he said.

  “Whatever you think is best.” Bree motioned him ahead. “He’s in room one twelve, on the right.”

  They went into the building, Fiona trotting between Bree and Scott like a proud pup. Scott seemed to be walking steadily, not like before at the hospital.

  “You’re feeling better?” she asked.

  “Head still hurts, but my vision’s pretty clear and I don’t feel like the floor is shifting on me.”

  “That’s a good sign,” she encouraged.

  They got to his room and she handed the key card to the officer.

  “Please wait out here,” he said.

  “Of course.” She leaned against the wall and sighed.

  Scott studied her. “You have to be beat.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Every time I opened my eyes you were there, so I’m assuming you haven’t gotten much sleep in the past two days.”

  “I can function on very few hours of sleep.”

  “Then why haven’t you finished cleaning up around the tennis court?” Aiden said, walking up to them.

  Fiona started to rush Aiden, but Bree gave her the command to stay.

  “Scott, this is my brother Aiden.”

  “The manager of the resort,” Scott said, shaking Aiden’s hand.

  “One and the same. And being manager, I can decide if a guest has overstayed his welcome.”

  “Aiden,” she said in a scolding tone.

  He ignored her and leveled Scott with a threatening squint of his eyes. “After they find your ID and wallet, I’ll expect you to be checking out.”

  Bree grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Scott. “What’s the matter with you?”

  “It’s dangerous for him to be here.”

  “It was dangerous when those men were after Billie, but you let her stay here.”

  “That’s different. She’s family.”

  “It’s okay,” Scott said. “He’s right. I’ll leave as soon as I can.”

  The door to his room opened and Officer Carrington motioned them inside. “All clear.”