Christmas Conspiracy

by Susan Sleeman

  Skyler picked up Thad’s weapon and shoved it into her jacket pocket.

  “Take charge of him,” Jake commanded.

  Skyler nodded and stood above Thad, her gun trained on him. Her face was still pale, and Jake saw a bit of a tremor in her hands, but she put authority into her tone. “Don’t make a move.”

  Jake heard another crack from the ice rend the air.

  “Jake.” Panic filled Rachael’s voice. “The water is getting higher.”

  “I know, honey. Hold on. Don’t either of you move.” He jumped up, pulled the rope from inside his jacket and unfurled it as he ran for the shoreline. He tied a long loop near the end as he locked eyes with William. “Rachael’s life depends on you not moving.”

  William nodded, but Jake had no confidence that if the ice became more unstable, the man wouldn’t panic and bolt.

  Jake met Rachael’s gaze, and his heart constricted at the terror he found there.

  “Okay, honey,” he said as he tried to battle down his own fear of the water easing up on her feet. “I’m going to throw a rope out to you, and once it reaches you, grab hold of it. Then I’ll pull you to safety. Okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He tossed the rope. It went wide and landed too far to the side.

  “I’ll try again.” He pulled it back, and when he felt the cold wetness of the rope, panic threatened to take him down. He tossed the rope again, but the end fell five feet short of reaching Rachael.

  He couldn’t step any closer to try again, or his weight would instantly break the ice. She’d have to lie down and reach out, which was a dangerous proposition, as any move on her part could split the ice wide open.

  Sirens spiraled closer in the background, but this couldn’t wait. She could sink before they arrived.

  “Okay, honey, I hate to ask this, but I need you to carefully lie down and reach out for the rope.” He met her gaze firmly. “Can you do that for me?”

  She nodded.

  “Don’t worry, and stay strong. Once you have the rope, I’ll pull you to safety.” He spoke confidently, but he wasn’t sure if her hands had enough feeling left in them to hold on to the rope.

  She slowly lowered herself to the ice. A heartrending crack pierced the air.

  She glanced at him, panic fully taking hold in her eyes.

  “Reach out, honey!” he shouted. “You can do it.”

  She raised her arms and clutched the rope. He wanted to jerk her toward him but forced himself to slowly drag her across the snow-covered ice.

  “My hands. They’re too cold. I can’t hold on.” She suddenly let go, just as he’d suspected would happen.

  “Can you slide your arm though the loop and hoist it over your shoulder?”

  She snaked forward on her belly and got the rope over her shoulder.

  “Okay, honey, clamp down on your arm, and I’ll bring you to safety.”

  “Hurry, please.”

  He took the ice-cold rope, pulling it hand over hand until he’d brought her close enough to shore that he could go in after her if needed.

  “Okay, William, back away slowly.”

  He took a few steps. The ice gave way and split.

  “Jump, now!” he commanded William, and at the same time Jake leapt ahead for Rachael.

  The ice cracked open. His feet sank into chilling water. The shock took his breath, but Rachael was now sinking into the cold grave and his own comfort was unimportant.

  He shot forward and swept her up into his arms. She smiled up at him and collapsed like deadweight. Keeping a careful watch on his footing, Jake backed out of the water. He hit solid ground.

  Thank you, God, for protecting her. Thank you.

  Jake dropped to the snow and settled Rachael on his lap so he could get to his emergency blanket. He wrapped it around them both and struggled to his feet again. They felt like blocks of ice as he moved away from the lake.

  “On the ground next to Thad,” Jake said to William, who complied without any argument.

  Jake reached Skyler and gave her a wry smile. “I wondered if you were ever going to get out of that bathroom.”

  “Me, too,” she said, and he could tell she wasn’t too happy about the sickness. He had no idea how she felt about having a baby.

  After these last few days, he now knew he’d be overjoyed if he had a wife and a child on the way. He shifted to look at Rachael. She appeared stunned and in shock. He needed to tend to her soon. He jerked his radio from his pocket and ordered the responding officers to come take possession of Thad and William.

  “You said you were shot,” he reminded her.

  “My arm. Just a scratch.”

  “Is it still bleeding?”

  She shook her head. “It’s fine.”

  “Show it to me.” Skyler kept her weapon trained on William and Thad as Rachael pushed her arm free of the blanket.

  “She’s right. The bleeding’s stopped,” Skyler said. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  Skyler shook her head. “No one’s ever been hurt on my watch.”

  “Relax, Skyler,” Jake said. “You heard Rachael. It’s minor.” At least he figured if he kept telling himself that, he wouldn’t feel the same guilt Skyler was experiencing.

  “Exactly,” Rachael said, and this time her voice held a bit of enthusiasm.

  A trio of officers came barreling through the snow, and they took control of William and Thad.

  “Be careful. I’ve been shot,” Thad whined.

  “Probably deserved it, then,” one of the officers said, and got Thad to his feet. “We’ve got an EMT outside who’ll be glad to put a smiley face bandage on your boo-boo.” He jerked him toward the road, and one of the other deputies took William.

  Jake marched behind them and peered at Rachael. “How are you doing, honey?”

  “Honestly,” she said, her voice trembling, “I feel numb.”

  “That’s to be expected. I know you’re cold, but is anything else injured besides your arm?”

  She shook her head.

  By the time they reached the road, the FRS had arrived, and Jake took Rachael straight to the truck, where Darcie stood waiting in the back. He settled Rachael on the long bench and put the blanket over her.

  “Get the heat cranked up,” Darcie commanded Jake.

  He didn’t want to step away from Rachael, but he complied, then returned to watch Darcie tend to Rachael.

  Darcie studied Rachael’s arm. “The bullet just grazed you. Let me grab a bandage and take care of it.”

  When Darcie got up, Jake moved closer to Rachael. It took everything he was made of not to sweep her into his arms and hold her close, but he didn’t know how she would react, as people in shock from such a traumatic incident reacted in different ways. Some wanted comfort and the touch of another human. Some wanted isolation and to be left alone. He had no idea what she wanted or needed, and he would take a moment to figure it out before doing or saying the wrong thing and adding to her trauma.

  She didn’t respond positively or negatively so he moved even closer. She peered at him as if seeing him but not recognizing him.

  He laid his hand on the bench, palm up, an open invitation.

  She glanced at it but kept her hands under the blanket.

  Okay, then. She didn’t want him to comfort her, and he’d respect her wishes, even if he was aching to hold her.

  * * *

  Rachael couldn’t really comprehend what had just happened other than that she was alive and her nightmare had ended. Thanks to Jake and Detective Hunter, who’d asked Rachael to call her Skyler. Two heroes risking their own lives to save hers.

  “I recommend a trip to the ER to have this checked out.�
� Darcie knelt at Rachael’s feet and finished wrapping the bandage around her arm.

  “Later.” Rachael fixed her gaze on Jake, who was talking with a PPB detective just outside the door.

  “Have you told him how you feel?” Darcie asked.

  Rachael whipped her head around to stare at Darcie.

  “Don’t look so surprised.” Darcie chuckled. “You may not think we can see what’s going on between you two, but the whole team can see it.”

  “I...”

  “Yeah,” Darcie said. “You’re not sure of what you’re feeling. I get that. Happened to me with Noah, too. And right now you’ve got the added shock of what just transpired, and you must have a ton of emotions flooding through your body.”

  “Exactly,” Rachael replied, though honestly, at the moment, other than gratitude to Skyler and Jake, she felt empty inside.

  Why the emptiness, she had no idea. Maybe it was because the danger had passed and a Christmas wreath hanging from a wall hook reminded her that she had another holiday alone to look forward to. Many evenings alone in her future, too.

  She sighed, but then firmed her shoulders.

  She’d been alone on Christmas Eve before. Had been alone every night in the last few years, when she hadn’t been babysitting. And she would continue to be alone until she figured out what she wanted her future to hold.

  * * *

  Jake pulled his truck up to the emergency room entrance. He didn’t know how he was going to handle another silent drive with Rachael, but he suspected she’d be no more eager to talk now than when he’d brought her in. She’d refused to ride in an ambulance, so Jake had offered to drive her to the ER, assuming they could talk on the way. But she’d curled up in the corner of the truck and stared out the window. He’d asked if she wanted to talk about the incident.

  She shook her head and said, “Will someone be giving Pam and Kelly a ride home today?”

  “Brady’s taking care of it.”

  “Good,” she’d said, and had returned to staring out the window.

  Darcie had told him Rachael wasn’t experiencing a clinical case of shock. Otherwise he would have been concerned that that was the reason she’d retreated. Or maybe he wanted it to be the reason, as it hurt to think she just didn’t want to talk to him.

  Jake shifted into Park and climbed out as the hospital doors slid open, and a young man wheeled Rachael out. She stepped from the chair before Jake could get around the truck. He opened the door, and she gave him a tight smile of thanks. They drove in complete silence, but at least this time Rachael wasn’t slumped next to the door.

  At her house, he walked her up the sidewalk and waited while she unlocked the door. “Would you like me to come in and help clean up the mess from our forensics staff?”

  She shook her head. “All I want to do is make a cup of tea and then get a good night’s sleep for once.”

  She was shutting him out. Totally and completely. The ache in his chest felt like the moment the bullets had slammed into his vest. “You’ll call me if you need anything?”

  She nodded and stepped inside. “Thank you, Jake, for everything you’ve done for me. And especially what you’ve done for Pam and Kelly. We are all in your debt.”

  “You’re welcome. I...” His voice trailed off. He didn’t want to let her go, but he knew he had to respect her desire for privacy. “Sleep well, honey.”

  He turned and walked away, leaving his heart at the door with her.

  EPILOGUE

  Three days had passed since Rachael had seen Jake, and it was now Christmas Eve. Snow fell heavily outside, blanketing the world in a new beginning. Restless, Rachael prowled her house to relieve her nervousness. She’d invited Pam and Kelly to spend the night with her, but Pam had contacted her parents, and it turned out they wanted to see her but were hurt that she’d shut them out of her life.

  She’d since then reconciled with them, and they were spending the holidays together. Of course, her father hadn’t had a thing to do with trying to kidnap the baby, but had lied about being home because he was meeting with his lawyer to figure out a way to get visitation rights with Kelly. Now that the family had reunited with Pam, they had no need to pursue those plans. What a blessing their reunion was. It made Rachael smile even now, when she couldn’t relax. She was just so unsettled and craved company.

  Gloria wasn’t available either as she’d gone to stay with her parents, where she’d have their support in getting her recent drinking problem under control. She vowed to return and take over CAR to make sure it survived the scandal, and Rachael looked forward to working with her friend again. Both William and Thad had been charged with various counts of kidnapping and attempted murder and were in jail awaiting trial.

  It seemed like things had been settled for most everyone except her. Maybe that was the reason for her unease tonight. She felt driven to do something, but she didn’t know what. She had to find a way to keep busy.

  The center. There were still things she could do to prepare for her visit from the licensing rep on New Year’s Eve day. Yes, that was it. Cleaning would keep her busy.

  She grabbed her jacket and stepped out the door. Still uneasy after her life had so recently been threatened, she took a quick look around.

  “Relax,” she whispered, and changed her focus to the positive. She forced herself to keep remembering that though she’d lost her family, she was still alive, and God had plans for her.

  She stepped through the snow, which made the outdoors a winter wonderland. Her thoughts traveled to the firehouse, and she knew how perfect it would look tonight with the fresh snow and Skyler’s lights twinkling off the glistening whiteness.

  She’d tried not to think of Jake the past few days and wonder what he was doing for the holiday, but her mind kept going to him. She assumed the entire team was gathered together in the family room with stockings filled, the fireplace lit and colored lights glowing on the big tree. The room would be overflowing with laughter and love. Maybe Skyler had even told everyone she was pregnant, and they were celebrating with her and Logan.

  Tears came to Rachael’s eyes, and she swiped them away to concentrate on driving. She wasn’t about to blind herself and run off snow-covered roads to be stranded in a ditch on Christmas Eve. If she did, she’d have to take people away from their loved ones to help her out, and she would hate to do that.

  She crept along slowly and turned into the center parking lot, a perfect blanket of white when it should have been covered with little footsteps coming and going for the day.

  She sighed and got out. The outside light shone on the shrubs in their white coverings, painting a lovely picture and cheering her up a bit. She slipped inside. In her office, she plugged in a miniature Christmas tree that her staff had given her last year and hoped her attitude would improve.

  Instead, the tiny twinkling lights simply reminded her that her staff and the center families were all likely gathered with their own families. The thought made her feel so alone.

  She dropped onto her chair and glanced around. She’d once thought of the center as her sanctuary. A place to recover from her loss. But tonight? Her commitment to the center families hadn’t changed, but at the end of the day, the children went home with their parents, leaving her behind.

  Jake’s face the night of the fund-raiser came to mind. She’d told him to let the past go. To live life again. She hadn’t taken her own advice, the very reason she sat here by herself, unhappy and brooding. She was so tired of living this way. She’d nearly come to the end of her life at Gloria’s house, and now it was clear that she had reached the end of what she could do for herself.

  She dropped to her knees, folded her hands and rested her head on them, her thoughts on how something had to give so she could move on.

  “Father,” she said. “I want to change.
Please...please help me.”

  * * *

  Rachael’s car sat in the center parking lot, and Jake’s heart soared. He’d first stopped at her house, but when he didn’t find her at home, he’d hoped she’d be here. He didn’t have an idea of what he would say to her, but just like he needed to breathe, he had to talk to her.

  He hadn’t seen her in three days, and he could focus on nothing else. Not even work. He finally admitted to himself that he needed her in his life. What that meant, he wasn’t sure, but he wanted to start by inviting her to spend Christmas Eve with the team.

  On the keypad, he punched the security code she’d previously given him, and the lock gave a satisfying click. Inside, he paused to take off his jacket and heard Rachael’s voice drifting out of her office.

  Did she have company? If so, he wouldn’t intrude.

  He peeked around the corner to discover she wasn’t talking to someone; she was praying. She asked for help to let go of her guilt over the loss of her husband and child.

  Jake’s heart creased with her pain. He’d given his guilt to God, and for the past few days he’d actually stopped worrying about life. He knew he would still struggle at times, but he was thrilled she was trying to do the same thing. It was time for both of them to stop investing their entire lives in other people, and have lives of their own, too.

  He waited until she finished her prayer, then said, “Knock, knock.”

  He startled her, and she jumped.

  “Sorry to scare you.” He dropped down next to her and took her hands. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Me, too.” She looked away shyly.

  He gently turned her face to look at him. “I love you, Rachael.”

  She gaped at him.

  “I think we can let go of our pasts and make a wonderful life together,” he rushed on before she shut him down. “What do you think?”