Christmas Haven

by Hope White

  “Tough. Her life has been threatened and you’re my number-one suspect. You were stalking her on the ferry, and now you’re in Port Whisper. Why?”

  “I’d have to get permission from my—”

  “Okay, lockup’s down the hall.” Morgan stood and pulled out his cuffs.

  “Hang on, hang on.”

  Morgan waited.

  “My client is a parent looking for her son. Julie Burns was his caseworker. The boy won’t come back home and my job is to find him and bring him back.”

  “Why follow Julie onto the ferry?”

  “I saw her take files with her from work. I was set up across the street with a telescopic lens. I figured if I could get the files, I could find out which flophouse the kid was living in.”

  “Why didn’t you make an appointment with her at work and ask?”

  “The kid’s mother tried that. Julie wouldn’t tell her anything.”

  “Wouldn’t or didn’t know?”

  “You don’t know the Windemeres. They get what they want. And they’ve got money to buy anything they want. Thea Windemere was convinced that Julie Burns knew more than she was sharing. It was my job to track her down and have a little chat.”

  “You mean threaten her?”

  Rick shrugged. “I’m not into abusing women.”

  “Uh-huh. Why did it take you five days to get here?”

  “I was distracted.”

  “You mean you couldn’t successfully tail us.”

  “Windemere isn’t my only client.”

  The guy didn’t want to admit Morgan had done a good job of losing him once he got off the ferry. Rick had probably headed south toward Silverdale, instead of north.

  “Are you going to let me talk to her?” the P.I. asked.

  “Perhaps, if you check out. In the meantime, we’ve got a nice cell for you.”

  “Come on, man, a cell?”

  “Yep.”

  “What’s the deal with this girl?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She must be into something pretty bad for you to assume I was sent to hurt her.”

  “The sooner we get you in the cell, the sooner I can do my background check, Rick.”

  “Okay, okay.” He stood and Morgan led him to the town’s one and only cell.

  After locking Rick up, Morgan got to work. He started with a call to Ethan.

  “Detective Beck.”

  “E, it’s Morgan.”

  “It’s been quiet on our end. No sightings of the Simms kid.”

  “We had a little excitement here. Someone came looking for Julie. I’ve locked him up while I check him out. He’s a P.I. who claims to be working for a concerned parent of a street kid.”

  “That’s a twist.”

  “Can you do some checking on your end? His name is Rick McDonald.”

  Morgan gave Ethan Rick’s birth date and driver’s license number to help determine if the guy was legit.

  “I’ll get back to you,” Ethan said.

  “Thanks.” Morgan hung up just as Scott walked into the office.

  “You’d better call Julie and let her know you’re okay,” Scott said.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “She was freaking out that the guy might attack you or something.”

  “She worries too much.”

  “About you, yeah.” Scott winked at Morgan.

  “Not you, too.” Morgan turned to his computer.

  “Can’t help it. The whole town’s rooting for you.”

  “The whole town should stay out of it.” He didn’t want idle gossip to interfere with their focus.

  “Speaking of which, what time is the Community Cares meeting?”

  “Seven. You coming?”

  “Yeah, after my shift’s over.”

  “Good, I could use the backup. I want to make sure they know their boundaries. I don’t want to put civilians in danger.”

  “You afraid Scooner is going to dust off his shotgun and go trolling for bad guys?” Scott smiled.

  “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

  Morgan’s phone rang and he picked up. “Chief Wright.”

  “Thank God you’re okay,” Julie said.

  “As I was just saying to Scott, you worry too much.”

  “I’m conditioned to worry, remember? What’s the deal with the ferry guy?”

  “Claims to be a P.I. hired to ask you questions about one of your clients. You know a kid named Windemere?”

  “Kurt, sure.”

  “His mom hired the P.I. to track you down. She’s worried about her son.”

  “Worried? She disowned him when he was sixteen.”

  “That’s his story. Sounds like she’s got another.”

  “Do you need me to come down and talk to the investigator?”

  “Not right now. I’m waiting to see if he checks out.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Relax.”

  “Very funny.”

  “What, I thought you’d be exhausted after spending an afternoon washing dishes.”

  “I’m hyper.”

  “There’s an Exercycle in the basement.”

  “Gee, thanks. Mom’s expecting you for dinner at five-thirty.”

  “See you then.”

  Before they headed to the Community Cares meeting, Morgan took Julie by the police station to meet with Rick McDonald. He checked out, was a former Oregon cop with an exemplary record. Morgan just wished the guy would have stopped by the P.D. to officially inquire about Julie, which would have avoided a lot of drama.

  Julie shared information about Kurt Windemere, his latest whereabouts, his job prospects and educational plans, yet Morgan sensed she was holding back.

  She was protective of her kids, and rightfully so. Their biggest challenge was having an honest advocate in their corner to fight for them.

  Morgan asked Rick not to reveal Julie’s location, and if he couldn’t make that promise, Morgan would find something to charge him with. Rick agreed and left town, but not before getting Julie’s cell number in case he had more questions.

  She seemed quiet as they drove to Evergreen Church on the outskirts of town for the meeting.

  “Something bothering you?” he asked.

  “Just thinking about Kurt. He’s a good kid with really nutty parents. I mean, the mom sends a P.I. to find him, yet she kicked him out in the first place. I wonder if there’s money involved.”

  “Money? How?”

  “Perhaps Kurt is coming into a trust fund or something.”

  “My, aren’t you cynical?”

  “Can’t help it. The woman does a complete one-eighty? Kicks him out, then wants him back? Makes no sense. That kind of volatile behavior contributes to the boys’ life choices. They learn they can’t trust anyone or anything.”

  “They trust you.”

  “Yeah, well, I work hard to earn that trust. And now…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Now?”

  “I’ve abandoned them.”

  “No, you just didn’t abandon yourself.”

  She eyed him.

  “Look,” he started. “If you’d stayed back in Seattle for the kids, you would have put yourself in danger. That’s self-abandonment in my book.”

  “I guess.”

  Morgan pulled into the church lot and scanned the property. He opened Julie’s door and offered his hand. “Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  They approached the church and Morgan’s father’s neighbor Anderson Green greeted them at the door.

  “Anderson, do you remember Julie Burns?”

  “Of course. Good to see you again, Julie.” They shook hands.

  “Thanks,” Julie said.

  “Come on in. The meeting will start in about ten minutes.”

  The mayor came up behind them, and Morgan motioned Julie down a hallway to the community room where a dozen people circled a long conference table. Edith had gotten a ride earlier with Caroline so they could set up re
freshments. Anna, Wendy, Adeline Franks and Scooner Locke sat on one side of the table. They all welcomed Julie with greetings and warm smiles. Morgan noticed an odd look on her face. A look he’d never seen before.

  “Grab some coffee and cookies,” Wendy suggested.

  “Thanks.” Julie wandered to the refreshment table and Morgan followed, sticking close. He didn’t like being far away. He found it difficult to leave her at the restaurant or even at Dad’s house.

  That’s why he planned to ask the mayor for a temporary leave, just until Julie’s situation was resolved. Scott was more than able to take over for a week or two, and the town’s other officers could cover Scott’s shifts if he got bogged down in administrative duties. Besides, Morgan would be around. It’s not as if he was going anywhere.

  Although the thought had bounced around in his brain: What if Julie did agree to give their relationship another try? Could Morgan leave Port Whisper to be with her?

  “Lana here yet?” Julie asked her mom.

  “Not yet.” Edith handed Julie an overloaded plate of cookies.

  Julie smiled at Morgan. “You’d better help me with these.”

  “How generous of you.” He led her to the table and they sat down. As he reached out to grab a cookie, their fingers touched.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Go ahead.”

  “No, you go. I shouldn’t be eating any of this.”

  Morgan grabbed a chocolate-chip-bacon cookie and took a bite. He must have moaned because Julie nudged him.

  “That good, huh?”

  Sitting here eating cookies next to this beautiful woman? It was amazing.

  “Yep” was all he could say.

  Sketch appeared out of nowhere and sat next to Morgan. “Okay if I sit here?”

  “Sure,” Morgan said. “Where’d you come from?”

  “Gran brought me along to help unload.” Sketch scanned the room.

  “Looking for someone?” Morgan said.

  “Just doing a head count,” Sketch answered.

  “She’s with Lana,” Julie said.

  Sketch whipped his attention to her. “Who?”

  “Ashley. Or were you looking for someone else?”

  “I wasn’t looking for anyone.” Sketch opened his laptop and pressed the power button. A screen saver of dancing monkeys popped up.

  “Nice,” Morgan said.

  Sketch shrugged. Julie was right: the kid needed someone, an older-brother type, to help him navigate his way through the next few years. Morgan had warmed to the idea, realizing that although he’d have to put up with major attitude, the kid had a good heart. He wasn’t motivated by malicious intent when he put the virus on the mechanic’s computer. He did it because he felt his grandmother had been taken advantage of.

  Now, if Morgan could just redirect Sketch’s energy toward something productive.

  “Have you got a map program on that computer of yours?” Morgan said.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “I thought you could create a map of town and pinpoint active neighborhood-watch groups. That would give us an idea of what parts of town are most vulnerable.”

  “Right on.” Sketch got to work.

  Julie touched Morgan’s arm. “Good idea.” She winked, and he understood she meant both a good idea for practical purposes, and for involving Sketch.

  Morgan had noticed a few disapproving glances when Sketch walked in and sat next to him. People believed what they’d been told, unless you changed their minds. In this case, they believed Sketch was a troublemaker, probably because he didn’t attend school, and he’d breached the mechanic’s computer. There were a few other minor incidents Morgan had heard about: the Riscke boy got hurt in a tangle with Sketch, and Sketch had been out skateboarding after curfew, frightening Mrs. Critter into calling 9-1-1.

  Hopefully after Sketch’s participation in this project, people would change their minds about him.

  “I’m calling the Community Cares meeting to order at seven-twelve,” Anderson announced from the head of the table. Mayor Davis had positioned himself next to Anderson in an authoritative move.

  “We have one major item on our agenda this evening and that’s strengthening our neighborhood-watch efforts to protect one of our own—Julie Burns.”

  The group glanced at Julie, and Morgan could sense her trepidation.

  “As most of you know, she’s been living in Seattle for the past ten years, working with street kids for Teen Life. Chief, do you want to explain what’s going on?”

  “Sure. Basically, someone has been threatening Julie and she came back to Port Whisper for support and protection. We’re actively trying to discern who is after her and what the motivation is.”

  “How dangerous is this?” Adeline asked.

  “We’re not sure,” Morgan said. “Whoever it is seems to want Julie for some mysterious reason, but I doubt anyone else is in danger.”

  “But you can’t guarantee that, can you?” Mayor Davis interjected.

  “No, sir.”

  “Which begs the question, why did she come back here if she knew she’d bring trouble with her?” the mayor pressed.

  “I didn’t think my stalker would follow me, or I never would have returned,” Julie defended.

  “Why didn’t you go to the police?” Mayor Davis pushed.

  “I did. They couldn’t do anything about a crime that hadn’t been committed yet.”

  “Where would you go if you were a young woman in Seattle being stalked?” Wendy challenged the mayor.

  “I wouldn’t involve innocent people in my drama.”

  “Last time I checked, Port Whisper was about community,” Scooner said. “Our group is called Community Cares, remember?”

  The group broke out into conversation.

  “Okay, everyone take a breath,” Anderson directed. “Instead of focusing on the problem, let’s focus on the solution. We need to contact our neighborhood-watch captains and fill them in. Spread the word about what’s going on. Julie, are you comfortable with that?”

  “What are you going to tell them?”

  “That a stalker’s after you and it’s our job to protect you.”

  “Okay, sure.”

  Sketch raised his hand.

  “Yes, young man?” Anderson said.

  Sketch flipped his laptop around so everyone could see the screen. “I’ve mapped out the town and highlighted neighborhood-watch areas. We could strengthen involvement between Fourth and Jensen up to Wellington, and on the south end from Cherry and Main, west to Edlund Avenue.” Sketch glanced up. The group was staring at him. “That’s my suggestion, anyway.”

  He turned his laptop around and fidgeted in his chair.

  “Thank you, Sketch,” Anderson said. “Great work. Who is closest to those areas?”

  Wendy and Adeline raised their hands.

  “Would you ladies like to talk to your groups about expanding, perhaps offering an incentive for neighborhoods to join the watch team?”

  “Sure.” Adeline leaned toward Wendy. “We’ll talk after the meeting.”

  “Chief, what specifically should we be looking for?” Anderson asked.

  “Anyone you don’t recognize, or if you see questionable behavior. Do not approach them, but keep watch and call 9-1-1. By all means, trust your fear sense. That prickling sensation on the back of your neck? It happens for a reason.”

  The door to the community room burst open and Ashley ran inside. She was visibly shaken, flushed and out of breath.

  Sketch rushed to her and put her arm around her shoulder.

  “Ashley, what’s wrong?” Morgan stood.

  “I didn’t… She said…”

  “Ashley, take a deep breath,” Morgan coached. “What happened?”

  “I was supposed to meet her at the office and…and I got there and the door was unlocked so I went in and the place was trashed, and…and Lana’s gone!”

  TWELVE

  Morgan quickly took charge to prevent the group f
rom spiraling out of control.

  “Everyone focus on your responsibilities—notifying your neighborhood-watch members, helping Wendy and Adeline reach out to the weaker districts. Sketch, you can help with that. Scooner?”

  Scooner stood. “Yes, Chief.”

  “I’m counting on you to speak personally with our local business owners. It’s important that they pay extra attention to strangers in the area, especially tourists who ask a lot of questions, but don’t seem all that interested in buying anything in the store.

  “Caroline, take Edith back to my dad’s place.” Morgan cast a glance at the group. “Stay calm and don’t overreact. I will email you all with an update when I find Lana. Ashley? I need to speak to you outside.”

  With a resigned nod, Ashley and Sketch walked toward the front door. Julie followed, but Morgan put out his hand. “I really need you to keep things cool in here. Julie, you’re a counselor. Put those skills to work.”

  “But it’s my sister,” she whispered.

  “Pretend it’s someone else’s sister, just for now. These folks are going to take their lead from us. The more upset we are, the less they’ll be able to think rationally. Sketch, give me five minutes alone with Ashley, then she’s all yours, okay?”

  Sketch nodded. “Five and I’m coming out.”

  Morgan led Ashley outside and called Scott, alerting him to the development. Scott said he’d meet Morgan at the scene, Lana’s snack shop.

  Morgan turned his full attention back to Ashley. “Okay, tell me exactly what Lana said about meeting her.”

  “She said to meet at six, that we’d have dinner and come over here. But I was at Jenni’s and lost track of time and…and…”

  “Calm down, take a deep breath. Did she have an evening tour? The boat could have broken down.”

  “She had a holiday tour at four, but she was supposed to be back by five-thirty.”

  “Did you notice if the boat was gone?”

  “No, I was so freaked I ran straight here.”

  “Why didn’t you call 9-1-1?”

  “I knew you’d be here and… Sketch.”

  “Okay, close your eyes and tell me what the office looked like when you went inside.”

  She nodded and closed her eyes. “I knocked a few times, but when she didn’t answer I tried the door. I figured she’d left it open for me. The lights were on. Paperwork was all over the place and her chair was tipped over.”