by Debra Webb
“They wanted to be together,” Wells explained.
“Miss Von!”
Von lost count of the times she was hugged. The girls’ sweats had been exchanged for little hospital gowns printed with cartoon characters and animals. Not nearly so ugly as the one Von wore.
The best part was that they were all fine.
Just fine.
“Their parents should be arriving from the airport any minute now,” Wells told her when the girls had wandered back to the coloring books and crayons provided by the staff.
“Wow.” Von was surprised. “That’s fast.”
“This Victoria Colby-Camp person is something,” Wells said with admiration. “She, apparently, got on the phone with some of the rich folks she knows in Chicago. Three private planes were scrambled within the hour to bring the parents of all twelve children here.” He shrugged. “It is Christmas Eve, you know.”
“It is,” Von said, tears welling in her eyes despite her best efforts to hold them back.
Before she could tell the girls she would be back in a bit, the door opened and people crowded in.
Not just people, she realized, the parents. The last to enter was Wanda Larkin, wheelchair-bound but here nonetheless. Jolie Ruhl, Simon’s wife, pushed the wheelchair. She flashed a smile at Von.
Von and Wells stepped back and watched the incredible reunion. It was the most remarkable thing Von had ever witnessed.
It was truly a Christmas miracle.
This, Von admitted, was what Christmas was really about.
She turned to leave the room, giving the families the privacy they deserved, and Trinity waited in the doorway for her. He wasn’t wearing an ugly gown like she was. He had on those rugged jeans and cowboy boots, along with the white shirt she’d bought him.
She rushed into his arms. He hugged her tight.
“Come on, let’s find your clothes.” He ushered her into the corridor. “We have a debriefing.”
“Already?” Von was surprised. “Here?”
He nodded. “It can’t wait.”
4:40 a.m.
THE HOSPITAL HAD PROVIDED a conference room used by the doctors. Jim Colby, Simon Ruhl, and Ian Michaels were all present. Victoria and the special agent in charge of the Chicago field office had been tied in via a teleconferencing system. Agents Latham and Wells, Madison County Police Chief Chet Crabtree and three other detectives were also included.
“Four men are dead,” Latham began. “All a part of the trafficking organization responsible for the abduction of the girls we are pleased to say are all unharmed.”
Applause swelled around the room.
“Three of this organization have been taken into custody and are currently being interrogated. Only one has broken his silence and we are most thankful for that since four more children were recovered.”
More applause. As exhausted as Von felt, she wanted to jump up and down and cheer. They had won. The children were safe.
Trinity couldn’t help himself, he reached for Von’s hand under the table. She didn’t resist. In fact, she smiled up at him. His heart did some crazy fluttering.
“But,” Latham said somberly, “we have some hard work ahead of us. This is only the tip of the iceberg. We believe this organization is one of the largest human trafficking networks in this country. They must be stopped.” He looked around the room. “It will take all our combined forces to make that happen. This morning SAIC, Special Agent in Charge, Bream of Chicago and I were authorized to create a special task force including detectives from numerous jurisdictions between Chicago and New Orleans.” Like a fire and brimstone preacher, Latham flattened his palms on the table and eyed each person seated for an intense moment. “We will stop this evil.”
Von raised her hand, the one Trinity wasn’t holding.
Latham pointed to her. “Miss Cassidy.” He gestured to the room at large. “I believe everyone here is aware that Miss Cassidy and her colleague, Mr. Barrett, were pivotal in this significant break.”
The applause was deafening this time. Trinity gave a nod of acknowledgement.
“You have something to share, Miss Cassidy,” Latham said when the applause had diminished.
“While I was being held in the Chicago location,” Von began, “and then again here in Huntsville, I saw a young woman I’m certain I recognized.”
Utter silence fell over the assembled group.
“Blonde, maybe twenty-three or -four.” Von shook her head. “I’m convinced she was an abduction victim about six years back. It was highly publicized. All over the news for months. She was on a high school graduation trip. Her name was Tina…or Terri.” Von shook her head in frustration. “Something like that.”
“Tessa Woods,” one of the detectives said. “From Purvis, Mississippi.”
“That’s her.” Von nodded, sat up straighter. “I’m nearly certain it was her.”
Latham turned to his deputy. “Wells, get us a photo of Miss Woods.”
The debrief continued from there with an underlying anticipation that throbbed with hope. When the photo of Tessa Woods was sent to Agent Wells’s phone, Von confirmed that the woman she had seen working with these bastards was indeed Tessa Woods or, at least, a woman who looked exactly like her.
When the meeting concluded, Trinity and Von followed Jim and the other Colby folks into the corridor.
“We’re finished here,” Jim said. “The agency jet is prepared for takeoff. Jolie, Wanda and Lily Larkin, will be flying back to Chicago with us. The other parents and children have transportation at their disposal to do the same. What about you two? Are you ready to return or do you need a few days to decompress?”
“Excuse me,” Simon interrupted with a wave of his cell phone before stepping away.
Trinity turned to Von. “You need a vacation?”
She exhaled. “Definitely.”
Simon approached the huddle. “Pardon me again,” he said, looking first at Trinity and then Von, “Victoria would like to speak to the two of you privately.”
He passed the phone to Trinity. “You can use the conference room since it’s clear now.” He smiled. “Put the phone on speaker.”
Trinity and Von exchanged a look of confusion.
“Don’t worry,” Jim said knowingly, “we’ll wait.”
Inside the conference room, Trinity pressed the speaker button on the phone and placed it on the conference table. “Yes, Victoria. Von and I are both here.”
“I think the two of you need some time off,” Victoria said, cutting straight to the chase. “I’ve taken the liberty, with Mildred’s help, of reserving a lovely mountain retreat for the two of you in Gatlinburg. It’s only a few hours’ drive from Huntsville. They tell me the snow is lovely just now.”
Judging by the look on Von’s face she didn’t know what to say any more than Trinity did. “That’s not necessary, Victoria. We…” We what? He wanted to do this more than words could convey…but did Von? He looked to her and shrugged.
“We…know we have final reports to turn in,” Von said. “And…” She turned her palms up with the same I dunno look.
“Let’s not pretend we don’t all know the facts,” Victoria said pointedly. “Here at the Colby Agency, we know our people. We support our people. You two have a second chance here. Take it.”
Trinity smiled. “I do believe that’s a direct order.”
“It most definitely is,” Victoria confirmed.
“Well then,” Von said hesitantly, “I guess we’ll be taking a vacation.”
“There’s a rental waiting in the parking lot,” Victoria informed them. “Mildred will forward your reservation information to Simon’s phone—which you’ll be using until you return to Chicago.”
Von and Trinity recited, “Yes, ma’am,” in unison.
Trinity closed the phone, ending the call. He looked Von up and down. “I think our first order of business is a shopping spree.”
Von shook her head. “I hate last-minute shopper
s.”
Trinity pulled her into his arms. “Or maybe we won’t need any clothes.”
“I like the way you think, Barrett.”
They finalized their negotiations with a kiss.
It was almost Christmas…anything was possible.
Chapter Twenty-One
Chicago, Christmas Day
Victoria watched as her granddaughter opened more presents. She imagined that Lily Larkin was having a similarly happy Christmas. The Colby Agency had showered the Larkin apartment with gifts for both mother and daughter.
The day was perfect. Victoria looked around her son’s living room. They were all together. Safe and happy.
As if reading her mind, Lucas pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “I have a special Christmas present for you, darling.”
She looked up at him, breathless. He still did that to her, even after all these years. “And what’s that?” As if he hadn’t already given her the world.
“Day before yesterday I officially retired.”
Victoria felt her eyes widen. “What?” That was impossible. Lucas Camp retired?
He nodded. “From now on, I’m working with you at the Colby Agency.” He grinned. “You’ll be my only boss.”
Then he placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.
Clapping and whistling from across the room interrupted their sweet celebration.
“Now there’s something worth celebrating,” Jim said.
“Hear, hear,” Tasha added, baby Luke in her arms.
Victoria blinked back the emotion in her eyes. “This truly is a magical Christmas.”
“Jim has news as well,” Tasha announced with a nudge of her handsome husband.
“Do tell,” Lucas encouraged.
“I’m meeting with a buyer for the brownstone next week,” Jim said. “He’s interested in purchasing the building and the name, the Equalizers. According to his attorney, he intends to start a similar shop of his own.”
“That’s great news,” Victoria said, very pleased. “You and Tasha can start looking for that country home you’ve been talking about.”
Tasha grinned. “I’ve already gotten in touch with a Realtor.”
Jim and Tasha had been considering purchasing a large country estate. The sale of the brownstone would go a long way in making that purchase. Victoria had offered to buy a property for them, but her son would have no part in it. He was doing this on his own.
That was the Colby in him. Undying determination and fearless independence.
Christmas miracles, Victoria decided. The past few days had been filled with that magic.
Another year was behind them and the Colby legacy continued to thrive.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7510-6
COLBY BRASS
Copyright © 2010 by Debra Webb
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Table of Contents
CAST OF CHARACTERS
