A Hamilton Christmas (HIS Series Book 9)

by Sheila Kell

  “I’m itching to help,” AJ said. “Lee and I are about to begin a game of quarters to keep from being bored.”

  All his sons had a snarky comment to add to the mix every now and then, except when they were in the trenches. He’d heard them joke up until their op got serious.

  “Brad’s exiting the room. He’s got the kids and a shit-eating grin on his face,” Devon informed the group.

  “Who said something about the kids cracking the case?” Mischief wove into Brad’s words.

  “That’d be me,” Trent said slowly in an I-can’t-believe-it voice.

  “You never were good at poker,” AJ joked with Trent.

  “I believe you’ve always cheated,” Trent shot back.

  “Amen to that,” Kate added.

  Getting back to business, AJ said, “Dev, the photos might not help catch the killer since the kids aren’t 100 percent they caught the last guy going in or leaving. But, with the time stamp, we have our evidence to rule out Lee.”

  “So now,” Devon added, “we need to find out why Aaron pointed the finger at Lee.”

  “Oh, I’m not talking about the photos.” Brad’s teasing voice told him he planned to one-up the others. “How would you like a video of the murder weapon in its hiding place?”

  There was silence for a moment that sounded out of place with his kids. “You have the murder weapon?” Blake asked what he assumed everyone thought.

  “I don’t have it, but I know where it is. Aaron’s definitely your guy. Reagan took a video of what we’ve been looking for in his room.”

  “What the fuck?” Jesse’s temper began to take hold. “Who searched that room earlier?”

  Brad spoke before someone came forward. “Don’t blame our team. None of us would’ve found this unless we’d torn that room apart. And I mean totally apart.”

  Blake turned to Jesse. “I thought no one would’ve had time to return to their rooms between the murder and the kids finding St. John.”

  “It’s possible because we don’t have the exact time St. John was killed. But, it would have had to have been quick.”

  “It would’ve given him time to change his sweater if necessary,” Matt added.

  Jesse rubbed his chin and asked, “Dev, do you have some wide tape in the office?”

  After a few beats, Devon said, “I’ve got something that’ll work.”

  Work for what? Had Blake missed something?

  “Brad, once you drop the kids with Dev, hurry your ass back and secure Aaron’s room, then get back to the kids.” Jesse turned to Blake. “What can we do to hold Aaron for the night?” Jesse checked that Aaron was still in the dining area. “The locks in the offices aren’t good enough.”

  Jesse didn’t wait for Blake’s response before he continued. “First thing is we need to separate him from the group very carefully in case he figures out we’ve made him and he decides to harm someone else.”

  “What’re you thinking?” Blake hadn’t been able to pinpoint the thoughts running through Jesse’s mind.

  “I think,” Devon started, “he probably has excellent computer skills, and since he’s pointing the finger at Lee, he must know Lee somehow, even though our cousin doesn’t remember him. The security office is a great place to separate him while you think of where to hold him. It probably has the best locks anyway.”

  “How do you expect we get him to the security office? Offer a tour?” Matt asked. It always surprised Blake when Matt interrupted or made a joke. He’d always been the quiet, reserved one. How he ever excelled as a SEAL escaped Blake. Matt had the strength and all the mental skills required, but his quiet nature….

  “Just because it’s getting late,” Devon started, “no one needs to be a bonehead. Matt, you’re starting to sound like your twin again. I thought we sorted it out when you were teenagers that you are the good one.” Over Devon’s comm, the girls giggled, and Brad’s snarky response was muffled. “What we do is tell the group that we’re having some technical issues and would appreciate any help someone could provide. If he’s the one who has tampered with the system, he’ll readily volunteer so he can make sure we don’t undo his work.”

  From his observation position, Trent questioned, “Will you be able to lock everything down so he can’t watch us or do anything he shouldn’t with the system?”

  “Already done. It’ll only respond to me.”

  If Blake hadn’t thought it enough, his sons were brilliant. Before anyone could respond, Blake ordered, “Aaron doesn’t go up until the kids are back here. I want them in the downstairs hallway with AJ and Rylee.”

  “On our way,” Brad assured.

  “Jesse, you lead Aaron to Devon. After that, the rest of you quietly take the others into the hallway and protect it inside and out. You’ve worked together enough that you can figure out who and where.”

  Not even questioning Blake giving the orders, the group went into action and he silently blessed Emily and Megan for their patience with Mrs. Sterling as she refused to move. When Matt and Jake walked up and asked if there was a problem, she moved faster than he’d thought possible.

  “AJ,” Blake said to get his attention, “since Lee can’t recall meeting Aaron, I want him to look once again at the list of companies he worked with and see if Aaron’s name pops into his head now. I’m thinking since this guy is obviously tech-savvy, considering what was done to the computers, maybe he lost his job from one those failures by being the creator of the program, or the manager of it. I could be off base, but it’s another way to look at it.” If that failed, they had to consider he could be an assassin for hire. Now that Lee has money, the fallback list of suspects would move front and center.

  “We’re on it,” AJ responded.

  Although he had the tasks he felt needed to be done, in the works, Blake’s stomach couldn’t settle. There was something he felt he’d missed. The storm must’ve impacted Aaron’s exit strategy. He’d think on that later. To the group, he ordered, “Make sure my employees are in there also. Kate, your assessment?”

  “We’ve got two exits on opposite sides which is good and easy to protect with seven weapons protecting the room. The only problem is if we need to exit out of here fast, it won’t be the best situation for us all. It’s cramped in here, and there’s a lot of children to move.”

  He’d thought the security office on the second floor hadn’t made sense since there was a perfectly good space with the offices. This scenario made him realize the importance of keeping the security office away from the one place they could secure everyone. Except for the security officer. He’d speak with Devon and Jesse about how to protect the employees.

  For now, he assessed the situation where the guests were together. Seven weapons. Kate, Brad, Matt, AJ, Jake, Trent, Rylee. Would it enough to protect everyone if that murderer managed to get the upper hand over Jesse and Devon and turned on the guests?

  When a light touch on his shoulder appeared, Blake slowly relaxed, appreciating the touch from his wife. “Relax. You’ve done everything you can.”

  Turning to Elizabeth, Blake pulled her into his embrace and held tightly. With his head bent down to her shoulder, he inhaled the scent he loved on her. He never could remember the name, but his personal shopper kept it on his list.

  “Why aren’t you in the hallway?” Blake couldn’t handle it if something happened to her any more than his kids.

  Elizabeth’s soft voice sent trickles of pleasure through him. “I’m waiting for you.”

  Molding her to him, he probably affected her ability to breathe. “No. Go in so I don’t worry. I’m waiting for my sons.”

  Listening to his comm, Blake’s blood ran cold. Releasing Elizabeth, he urged her in the direction of the hallway. “Get in there, now.” He’d never used that authoritative voice with his wife before, but she hadn’t asked questions and did as he directed.

  Jesse and Devon failed. Aaron must’ve smelled a trap. How he managed to get his two sons locked in the room a
stounded him. They weren’t stupid, so he couldn’t wait to hear the retelling of this.

  “Aaron’s loose inside the lodge,” Jesse all but screamed. “Two.”

  There his son went again with something Blake didn’t understand. They were already on lockdown. And two what? As he turned to the hallway, doors slammed and locks clicked into place. AJ and Matt stood guard outside the door near him. The doors locking must’ve meant the two. Again, his boys moved like a well-oiled team.

  In the next breath, his two eldest sons echoed they were on their way in pursuit of Aaron. He’d forgotten how fast Devon could pick a lock, but why would he need to do that if there was a lock from the inside? In addition to making it safe for the employee, he’d be adding overhauling the room to his list. The good news is they were headed this way, and so was Aaron. He moved behind the sturdy desk, planning to duck if shots were fired.

  Ready to protect his sons, he fought to remain in position and allow Devon and Jesse to handle it. He was proud of AJ and Matt for not rushing out to fight; instead, they held strong to protect the family and guests. It probably pained them they couldn’t participate, but keeping innocents safe came first, even if Aaron got away. He shuddered at that thought.

  Aaron screeched to a halt and turned his weapon on Devon and Jesse, who’d come in hot, and fired. That shot rang loudly, and he wanted to call out to make sure his sons were okay. Jesse and Devon took cover behind columns.

  Blake watched helplessly as Aaron sidestepped to the exit, keeping his eye on Jesse and Devon. His sons trained their weapons on Aaron but hadn’t returned fire.

  “Aaron,” Jesse stated firmly, “don’t fire again. We’ve had enough shots ring loudly through the windows. The loud noise could start an avalanche.”

  That’s why they’d stopped at one shot. Blake hadn’t even considered it, and he should’ve since they were sitting near the base of a mountain.

  “We want to take you to jail, not kill you. It’s best if you give yourself up now before the law arrives.”

  Jesse’s calming voice was a good stress reducer. Blake assumed it was why he hadn’t fired. His son was a damn accurate shooter, so this could be over.

  “Lee thinks he knows who he is,” AJ offered via comms. “Milton Wiley.”

  “That’s a shitty name,” Trent said without even a laugh in his voice.

  Blake shook his head at his son and the fact there were no filters with his grown kids.

  “Milton,” Jesse started, and the surprise on the man’s face told him the name hit the mark.

  “How do you know my name?” The anger had notched up again, and Blake waited for Jesse or Devon to calm it.

  “Milton,” Devon said, turning the man’s attention to him, “why are you doing this?”

  “Shit.” Kate’s urgent voice snagged everyone’s attention. “My headcount is two short. Brandon and Reagan aren’t here.”

  KNOWING JESSE AND Devon wouldn’t answer, Blake spoke lowly, so he didn’t attract Milton’s attention. “What do you mean? How could they have gotten out of there?”

  “They’d been in with Lee when we escorted the others in here, and we assumed they were still there when we buttoned up. The office door had been closed so long, we opened it, and Amber was in there with Lee, saying she was the decoy.”

  “Does Lee know—”

  “Lee thinks Brandon’s going to get his laptop,” she interrupted to say.

  “Damn,” Blake said. “We forgot to check on it for him. He said it was his life.”

  Kate agreed. “I believe it. It has a new security program Lee’s been developing. What’s on that laptop could be worth millions.”

  Glancing back, Aaron did have a laptop bag across his body. By locking his boys in the security room, he’d have had enough time to grab it. Why hadn’t they seen it in Aaron, no Milton’s room? He couldn’t worry about where the man hid it. “Boys, did you hear?

  Barely perceptible nods would’ve been missed if he hadn’t been focused on them.

  “I want you two to get that laptop from him,” Blake ordered. “I’m going to head off the kids. Cover me if he sees me.”

  “No, Dad. I’ll go,” AJ said.

  He wasn’t sure about him leaving the door, but AJ was armed.

  Jesse made the decision by a barely perceptible nod after AJ’s offer.

  Before AJ moved ten steps, Reagan and Brandon called out and reached Devon’s side before they realized what was happening.

  Fighting the ball of fear making his system turn over on itself, Blake tried to ignore that his grandkids were moving into danger.

  Brandon and Reagan had stopped in the open, but neither seemed fazed by the weapons.

  Brandon pointed. “You stole my dad’s laptop.” He turned back to Devon. “Shoot him and take it back. It’s got years of my dad’s work on it.”

  Milton snarled. “Are you that asshole’s brat?”

  Before Brandon could respond, Reagan, like her dad interrupted. “Your real name is Milton.”

  Milton swung his gaze back to Jesse. “You told her that quick?”

  Reagan looked at her dad. “You knew?”

  Jesse didn’t shift his gaze from Milton. “It’s not important.”

  “Reagan and Brandon,” Jesse said softly but firmly, “I want you to slowly slide behind Devon.”

  Jesse held two fingers against his thigh, and AJ and Matt reacted instantly. They drew their weapons and moved forward.

  Over comms, Blake explained, “We want him captured, but if you can’t, let him go. We know who he is and I’m sure Lee and Dev can find him.”

  Milton had his hand on the doorknob to a side door. “I’ve won this time.”

  Jamming her hands on her hip, Reagan seemed rather annoyed with Milton. “No, you haven’t. We know your hiding places now. Your murder weapon and your real identity.”

  Milton’s eyes narrowed. “It was you who found it all, wasn’t it?”

  “Of course, I’m a soon-to-be HIS agent.”

  He swung the weapon to Reagan. “This is what you get for snooping into my business.” He fired at her, and things moved so fast Blake could barely process it all, yet he watched things unfolded in slow motion.

  Surprising him, Brandon jumped in front of Reagan and began pushing her to the floor. Partially there, Devon covered both of them and jerked a second before they hit the floor with a thunk. His heart almost stopped as he watched it all unfold. Reagan, Brandon, and Devon were in a pile, and a shot had been fired. His entire body shook at the panic that seized him. Any of them could’ve been… dying… and his feet were frozen in place because he couldn’t lose any of them.

  Blake’s mind wanted Milton to pay, but he’d follow the law. He had to check Devon and the kids but knew he had to wait until it was safe even though everything inside him screamed to rush to Devon and the kids so he could touch them and make sure they were unharmed. He jerked his head back to Jesse, who was probably going crazy with Reagan behind him and saw him lift something from underneath his sweater. With Milton’s attention drawn to Devon’s pile, Jesse closed the distance between him and Milton, surprising their shooter by throwing a punch to his jaw with one hand and slicing the laptop bag with his other.

  Milton never lost his balance and raced out the exit.

  “AJ, door. No one chase him,” Jesse ordered.

  Confused, Blake asked, “Why not? We don’t want him to get away?

  “I don’t either, but I don’t want someone getting lost in that snow, which could happen.”

  Looking out the window, Blake didn’t see the problem. Before he could ask, Jesse said, “In case of avalanche big or small. I have a gut feeling those few shots will trigger something. If not, he’d be idiot enough to keep shooting out there. Best to be safe.”

  Matt had already raced to the group on the floor to assess injuries.

  When Blake saw blood, tears burned the edges of his eyelids. He’d seen his sons in action, but never one who’d been shot. De
von’s selfless act to save Reagan and Brandon from being shot made him want to grab them all up and squeeze them in a huge hug.

  “Trent” was all Jesse said.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off his injured son as a flurry of activity and shouting occurred behind him. He needed to know what was happening.

  “Don’t move, Dev. Where does it hurt?” Matt asked.

  “It’s not bad,” Devon gritted through his teeth. While it was easy to figure out it wasn’t life-threatening, the family still wanted to know all.

  “Where?” Matt repeated, moving his hands over Devon’s hip toward his buttock. There was too much blood.

  Someone tossed Matt gloves and a cloth. He quickly donned the gloves and applied pressure to slow the bleeding.

  “My ass,” Devon mumbled in a raspy voice, barely low enough to be heard.

  “Did you say your ass?” Jake asked, his eyes wide.

  “Yes,” Devon hissed. “My right ass cheek. Don’t start.”

  “Start? We’ve already begun plotting out a long string of taunts for years to come,” Brad responded, humor in his voice.

  Relief shot through Blake. He wasn’t happy about his son being shot, but being able to joke about it meant it shouldn’t be too bad. He hadn’t thought of Dr. Manner. They had to get him.

  As if understanding his thoughts, Jesse turned to him. “Trent’s with him. His wife is having contractions, but he’s certain it’s false labor. Kelly offered to sit with her for a few minutes. He’ll be here shortly.”

  He wanted his son to come first and wasn’t there something in a doctor’s oath about triaging and taking the worst case? Maybe not exactly like that, but he hadn’t wanted anything else to rip apart the trip he’d planned. “Are you sure it’s false labor?”

  Jesse nodded. “Jacob does.”

  Brad brought levity into the situation. “Now we see why you stay behind the computer, Dev. You can’t even take a shot like a man.”

  “Fuck you all,” Devon gritted out through what had to be significant pain.

  After the bout of laughter from most everyone on comms settled his frayed nerves.