The girl stood. Looked into the background. Shook her head—and immediately abandoned her part as Mary to press in among the younger children.
After that, pandemonium reigned. Joseph was yelling at her to come back. Shepherds milled around, unsure whether or not to follow Mary, and the Magi broke ranks, with Sophie and Ryder’s old dog, Titus, in the lead.
Sophie shouted to Zoe. “Circle to the left. I’ll take the right with my dog. Everybody else freeze.”
Without question, teachers rounded up the children and kept them in a tight group around the staging.
Passing through, Sean was yanking the head coverings off any child who even slightly resembled his son. Zoe could tell he hadn’t found Patrick because he kept going until he had removed them all.
She joined him, facing the parking lot. Beyond lay a stand of ponderosa pines surrounded by rocks and dust and uninhabited desert. Was it possible the little boy had gotten that far? If so, he was liable to be stunned by the cold the winter night brought, not to mention the possibility of a slight snowfall. Thankfully, all the children had been costumed over their jackets and sweaters, but that didn’t mean Patrick would stay warm all night.
Sean’s blue eyes sparked with anger. And fear. “Where is he?”
“He’s probably just playing hide-and-seek the way he did when he hid in the closet. We’ll find him.” She believed they would. They must. The only real worry was how long it might take.
Sophie came up with Titus and began stripping the old yellow Lab of his costume. “I’ve called the station and requested more dogs and handlers. Until they get here, I’m going to start Titus. He’s not the tracker he used to be, but there was none as good when he was younger.”
She looked at Zoe and Sean. “Do either of you have anything of the boy’s? A scarf, hat, glove? Anything?”
Sean reached into his jacket pocket. “He took his gloves off when they put his costume on him.”
“Perfect.” Snatching the small, padded mittens, Sophie presented them to the old dog, let him sniff for a few seconds, then said, “Find.”
Knowing what to expect gave Zoe comfort. Unfortunately, that did not transfer to Sean. He started to follow Titus.
Zoe grabbed a handful of his jacket. “No. Let them work. If you interfere, you’ll confuse the dog.”
Anger flashed from his eyes. His body was so obviously tense, so primed for action, she was surprised her efforts even slowed him down.
She’d looped the ends of both leashes over her wrist to free her hands and used both on his arm to hold him back. “Stop. Think. That dog is trained and you’re not. Let him work.” As his focus shifted to her she added, “Please?”
“I’ll give you to the count of ten, then I’m going. Understand? Patrick could barely walk a week ago. There’s no way he got far on his own.”
“I know. I agree, up to a point. But he’s been doing so well since Maisy started encouraging him, I think you may underestimate his abilities.”
A shout came from the dimness. Dogs barked. Zoe’s heart jumped along with her body. Releasing her hold on Sean, she started to run toward the sound, and in the process lost hold of Angel.
Freya paced Zoe while Sean and the border collie raced ahead. It was easy to keep Angel in sight due to the bright white parts of her coat. Zoe could have cheered and wept at the same time when she saw the dog stop and circle.
They’d found Patrick. It had to be him. It just had to be. Please, God, let him be all right.
Sean was on his knees by the time she got to him. His arms were wrapped around his son, his face buried on the child’s shoulder. Angel kept circling, and Titus was barking, proudly announcing news of his success.
A sobbing Maisy tugged on Zoe’s jacket. “It’s—it’s all my fault. I told him I’d help him go get another crook for the boy who gave him his. Only I meant later. Will my daddy be mad at me?”
“I’ll explain for you,” Zoe assured her. She looked at Sean and noticed how tense he appeared. “Relax. We found him. No harm done.”
“That’s what you think.” Gesturing at several uniformed officers and their K-9 partners who were disappearing into the shadows of the trees, he said, “Patrick didn’t walk all the way out here by himself. He says a strange man promised to help him find a long stick and carried him this far.”
“What man?”
“Exactly. I strongly doubt it was a member of the church. That leaves only one other option.”
“Impossible,” Zoe insisted. “If kidnappers had taken him, they’d still have him. They wouldn’t have let him go.”
“That was my first thought—until he told me somebody else told the man to put him down and wait for me.”
“Wait for you? Did he say why?” There was no real reason to ask that question, but Zoe had to hear for herself.
Sean’s eyebrows arched. “Why do you think? They’d probably still be waiting here to ambush me if the police response hadn’t been so overwhelming and fast. And if there hadn’t been dogs in the lead.”
He stared into the woods where the officers and other working K-9s had disappeared in pursuit. Patrick was hugging his daddy and acting as insecure as he had when Zoe had first met him. Poor kid. He gets a little independence back, starts to enjoy it and his whole world falls apart.
Finally, Zoe held out her hand to the boy. “Come with me, Patrick. We need to go back to rehearsal.”
“No way.” Sean cupped the boy’s tousled head. “He’s through standing around outside where I can’t hold on to him.”
“Whoever bothered him is long gone with half the DVPD on their heels. There’s no place safer than the church right now.”
“I said, no.”
There was enough ire in Sean’s voice to have made a grown man quail, so Zoe wasn’t surprised that the little boy began to sniffle and cry.
She stood as tall as her slim frame would allow and tried to appear formidable. “I understand your concern, but stop and think about it. If everything you say is true, then it’s you who needs to stay out of sight, not your little boy.” Signaling with a nod toward the church she added, “Move, before I have you handcuffed and put in protective custody for your own good.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Facing him with every ounce of courage she possessed, Zoe managed to sound convincing when she said, “I will do anything I need to in order to keep you safe, Murphy. Even make you mad at me, if that’s what it takes.”
* * *
A shout from the woods and intense barking brought Sean up short in the church parking lot. He looked to Zoe. “Hear that?”
“Yes. It sounds as though they caught him.”
“I almost hate to get my hopes up.”
Ellen Foxcroft joined them, waving a radio and grinning. “Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“They got the guy. And he’s the one who left the palm print on the stolen truck!”
They’re sure?” Sean asked.
“Positive ID.”
Mirroring the other K-9 officer’s grin, Zoe glanced at Sean. “See? I told you this police force was good.”
“What about the second man?” Sean asked. “Did they spot him, too?”
Ellen sobered. “Not yet. We’re close. As soon as the suspect in custody talks, we’ll pick him up, too.”
“Was this guy driving a black SUV?”
“Yes. They’re dusting it for fingerprints now. Should have AFIS results on any partners he may have had before the end of the night.”
Zoe whispered, “Thank You, Jesus.”
Sean swallowed hard. He was almost ready to agree.
TEN
Sean went back to training Angel with Ellen and Sophie the following week, trusting his son to the day care. Now that the
y were aware of Patrick’s improved mobility, everybody would be taking more precautions. He actually felt sorry for ten-year-old Maisy West. She’d taken a personal interest in helping Patrick and therefore blamed herself for his mistakes.
After careful consideration, Sean had come to the conclusion that Maisy’s tender mothering had helped the boy a lot more than anything and anybody else had, including himself. He and Dalton, her father, were in similar circumstances. Both children lacked a parent. Perhaps Maisy needed Patrick as much as he needed her.
And what do I need? Sean asked himself. A lovely image appeared in his mind. It was Zoe, of course. Who else would it be? He could picture her fitting into many areas of his life, including becoming Patrick’s mother. She’d be good at it. If he weren’t so imperfect, he might even seriously consider asking her to marry him.
For Patrick’s sake? Sure. Partly. But there was another reason, one that kept needling him, awake or asleep. He didn’t want to be separated from his dear friend ever again. Because? Because, like it or not, he was in love with her.
Patrick made it through the second dress rehearsal without a glitch. To the boy’s credit, he didn’t seem at all nervous when Wednesday night arrived. Happily, someone had come up with a fifth shepherd’s crook, so each little actor was similarly equipped.
Angel went everywhere with Sean, as per instructions, and had settled into her job with amazing ease. No matter how relaxed and calm she seemed to be, her ears were always perked, her eyes keeping watch. For Sean, it was like being surrounded by a cadre of alert bodyguards. Nobody was going to sneak up on him—or his son—with Angel on duty.
The change in his outlook had occurred quickly, and although he knew anything could still upset his peace, he felt 100 percent better. So good, in fact, that he didn’t stop himself when he got the urge to hold Zoe’s hand while they watched the pageant performance.
As her fingers slipped between his, a sense of rightness flowed over and through him. Not only had she failed to object, she was returning the affectionate gesture.
Her shoulder bumped his. “Look. Here they come.”
“I see. All five of them, thankfully.”
“Exactly. Thanks to the good Lord, all is well and getting better. Right?”
Sean shrugged a little. “Okay. I’ll give you that. And thanks to the Desert Valley police, one of my assailants is off the streets. Any word on the other guy?”
“Not yet. He may have hit the road when his buddy was picked up. He’s not exactly able-bodied with one arm in a cast.”
“Unless he’s ambidextrous, it’s his gun hand, too.”
“True. Is that why you seem so much better?”
“That, and the dog,” Sean said. “Having Angel with me makes a lot more difference than I’d thought it would. All she really has to do is be there and keep watch. Now that she’s used to me and Patrick, she’s taking her job very seriously.”
“As she should.” Zoe leaned on him, shoulder to shoulder, and squeezed his hand. “Aren’t the kids cute? Look at that angel in the back. She keeps yawning and knocking her tinsel halo crooked.”
“Here comes the hero dog, or should I say camel. I can’t imagine why they’d retire a great dog like Titus.”
“Arthritis and stamina, mostly,” Zoe said. “Chief Hayes took him home to be a pet for Lily. His new dog, Phoenix, knocked over their Christmas tree but Titus is a good boy.”
“That reminds me. We never shopped for the decorations I promised you.”
“One project at a time,” Zoe whispered. “The most important thing is getting you and your dog squared away and making sure that last suspect is captured. Then we’ll shop or hike or whatever you want. I still have a couple of weeks left on my lease. We may as well enjoy the desert while we can.” She shivered. “Even if it does get cold after dark.”
The Magi with their canine camels filed in, led by Titus and Sophie and followed by another yellow Lab who didn’t act nearly as complacent about having extra gear strapped to his back. Zoe giggled. “That’s Tristan McKeller’s dog, Jesse. He’s a lot younger than Titus.”
“Aren’t there supposed to be three wise men?”
“There are. Maybe the third camel had to go on duty and miss this performance.”
“I’ll sure be glad when all this stuff is over.” Sean gave her fingers a gentle press. “I know it’s good for Patrick but...”
“I do understand. The thing is, you can’t expect him to make progress if you continue to baby him. We’ve seen great results in the few weeks you’ve been here.”
He made a face. “Yeah. I don’t like admitting it, but you’re right.”
“Of course I am. Humble, too.”
Muted chuckles apparently made Angel look up at Sean. He didn’t react to her movements until she stood and bristled. Could she be jealous of his feelings for Zoe?
“The dog,” Zoe said. “Look at your dog.”
“I see her. What do you think is wrong?”
“I don’t know.” She gathered Freya on a tight leash and scanned the crowd. “You stay here and keep an eye on Patrick. I’m going to circle around to the back of the set and investigate.”
“He’s fine,” Sean said.
Only when he looked again, he didn’t see his son. Four crooks stood tall in the rear of the tableau. The fifth was gone.
* * *
Zoe was already on her way when she heard Sean shout, “Patrick!” Nobody had to explain. Panic was so evident in the man’s voice she knew the child was out of sight. The question was, where had he gone this time? Had the second thug taken him despite all their precautions? That seemed impossible. Patrick had been warned about strangers, so he wouldn’t have willingly submitted. Something else must be going on. But what?
Circling wide, Zoe thought she glimpsed several dark figures fading into the trees at the edge of the parking lot. Freya zeroed in on the distant forms and did her best to drag her handler closer.
Out of the corner of her eye, Zoe saw a flash of white. Angel was on her way, too. One dog might be mistaken, but both were probably right. The struggling at the edge of the lot involved their missing little friend. He hadn’t wandered away. He’d been kidnapped again!
Every nerve in her body fired, driving her forward at a run. She hadn’t heard any shots. But if she didn’t get to Patrick before his father did, Sean could fall into the same deadly trap he’d avoided the last time. Surely he must realize that, yet he was still running toward danger.
He was gaining, on her right, trying to keep pace with the barking, straining border collie.
Zoe pulled her gun and shouted, “Stay back.”
Sean ignored her. All he seemed to care about was Patrick. Reaching him was his only goal.
At that point, Zoe broke a rule, praying she wasn’t making a terrible mistake, and let go of Freya’s leash. The Belgian Tervuren took off as if she were rocket propelled, paws barely touching the ground, fur flying, teeth bared.
Zoe was close enough to see a gun barrel rising. The muzzle-flash came fractions of a second later. Her heart had already been hammering. When she saw someone fire at her beloved K-9 partner, she thought it might pound right out of her chest.
Freya never faltered. She hit the shooter hard, carrying him back and down, then standing on his chest and growling into his face, mere inches away. He tried to bring his pistol to bear on her again.
Gasping, Zoe pushed the last few feet. The gun was rising. Aiming at Freya. She wasn’t going escape injury this time!
In a flurry of fur and shouting, a booted foot kicked the man’s arm hard enough that she heard the cast crack. He screamed. Angel joined Freya by crunching down on the already broken arm and shaking it the way she would a rat.
That fit. The rat was human, and he was down and disarmed. That left only whoeve
r was restraining Patrick.
Zoe trained her gun on the prostrate shooter and ordered, “Freeze,” while Sean picked up the man’s gun and pointed it at the other adult.
A crowd from the pageant had followed and was beginning to gather close by. Someone shone a beam of light on Patrick and his captor. It was a woman. She wasn’t elderly, nor was she as young as Zoe. Her clothing was pristine. Her hair perfectly coiffed. Her nails manicured. She would have presented a comforting picture if not for the look in her eyes. It radiated pure evil.
* * *
“Alice! What are you doing here?” Sean shouted.
“I came for my grandson.”
“You can’t have him.”
“Oh, really?” she snorted derisively. “It looks like I already do.”
“You know what I mean.” Sean lowered the gun rather than take the chance he’d accidentally harm Patrick.
“I know more than that,” Alice screeched. “Now all your friends will know it, too. You don’t care for this boy. You just want control of his fortune.”
“What fortune?”
“Ha! You can’t fool me. You know all about the trust. Sandra left everything to her son. She told you. I know she did. She said so before she died.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Sandra was so confused after she got hooked on drugs she told wild stories all the time. I quit paying attention long ago.”
“Liar!” Alice’s grip on the boy tightened. She brandished a knife and pressed it against the side of his small neck.
Sean put down the assailant’s gun and held up both hands, palms out, to demonstrate submission. “I’m not armed. You don’t need that knife.”
She gestured at the man on the ground. “Give him back his gun and back off.”
When Sean’s glance met Zoe’s he knew that wasn’t going to happen. It was a standoff. He looked around. “Get these kids out of here so they don’t have to watch. You, too, Maisy. Patrick will be all right. Go back to the pageant.”
The girl was sobbing to Alice. “Please let him go.”
Rookie K-9 Unit Christmas Page 9
