Christmas Haven

by Hope White

“He’s doesn’t trust cops.”

  “Because he’s into something illegal?”

  “Enough with the twenty questions. We need to meet him at the ferry.”

  “Go tell your mom what’s going on and I’ll call Ethan.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”

  Three hours later Morgan found street parking near the ferry and Julie flung open her door. Morgan placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “Hang on. We need to be ready in case it’s a setup.”

  “Morgan, I told you—”

  “Jules, I know you believe in this kid, but the reality is even if he isn’t a part of a trap, whoever is after him could have followed him onto the ferry. Can you just trust me?”

  She nodded in agreement, but he could tell she was distracted, worried about the boy’s safety.

  “There’s a coffee shop on the corner,” Morgan started. “I’ll set you up there while I check out the park. You can see everything from the coffee shop. I’ll search for Dane, and when I identify him, you give me the thumbs-up sign. But you stay back. Do not expose yourself. I’ll try and convince him to come back to the car with me.”

  “He won’t trust you, Morgan. You’re a stranger and he’s frightened.”

  “Let me worry about that, okay?”

  He got out of the car and came around to open her door. Motioning her out, he scanned the area for signs of danger. All clear. He led her to the coffee shop.

  “There are plenty of people around. You’ll be safe in here.”

  With a nod, she went into the shop and found a spot at the counter overlooking the park.

  Morgan crossed the street, continuing to survey the surrounding area. This was the perfect opportunity to flush Julie out of her hiding spot. Using the kid as bait made sense, yet all Julie could focus on was helping Dane.

  Morgan admired that about her, her dedication to her job and helping the kids. But Morgan had to teach her to draw the line when it came to sacrificing her safety for another’s.

  He searched the park for both Dane and any sign of danger. It was a sunny, yet chilly December morning, so there weren’t many people wandering around. Probably a good thing, since Morgan didn’t want an audience. If Dane refused to go with him, Morgan might have to use gentle force.

  More commuters were filing down the ferry ramp, yet Dane should have been here by now. Morgan scoped out the park, but didn’t see any teenage boys, so he walked up to the ticket booth and flashed his badge.

  “Did you happen to see a young man, about seventeen, get off the ferry in the last few hours? Maybe he looked nervous or confused?”

  “Actually, yeah, a kid like that wandered around for a while. When a police car cruised past, he took off.”

  “Which direction?”

  “Down, toward the water.”

  “Thanks.”

  Morgan walked through the park and motioned to Julie to stay put. The kid was probably looking for a place to hide from authorities, which only confirmed Morgan’s suspicions that he’d broken the law.

  Morgan flipped his jacket collar up against the chill and headed down to the rocky shore. As he got closer to the water, he glanced beneath the pylons and spotted a young man hugging his knees, his head buried in his arms, sitting on a large boulder.

  “Dane?”

  The kid jumped to his feet. “Who are you?”

  “Julie sent me.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Dane whipped a knife out of his pocket.

  “Hey, kid, relax. I’m Julie’s friend and she sent me to get you.”

  “Why didn’t she come?”

  “She’s here, waiting for you in a coffee shop on the corner. I didn’t want to expose her and put her in danger in case you were followed.”

  “I wasn’t, unless you’re with them.”

  “I’m not. I live in Port Whisper and Julie and I used to be friends in high school.”

  “Prove it, show me your license.”

  Morgan pulled out his wallet to slip out his license.

  “Wait.” The kid backed up. “That’s a badge. You’re a cop! Get away or I’ll cut you, I will.”

  “Then I’d have to arrest you and none of us want that, especially not Julie.”

  “I don’t believe you!” he shouted.

  “Dane?” Julie said from behind Morgan.

  “Jules, I told you to stay back,” Morgan said.

  “Dane, put down the knife. Please? Morgan’s my friend.”

  “He’s a cop. Why’d you bring a cop?”

  “He’s my friend who happens to be a cop. Now put it away so we can take you someplace safe.”

  “He’s gonna arrest me.”

  “No, he’s not, are you, Morgan?”

  He could. He could charge the kid with threatening a police officer, for starters.

  “We just want to help you, Dane. I’m not going to arrest you,” Morgan assured.

  Dane hesitated, as if debating if he should run, or take Julie and Morgan at their word.

  “Come on, drop the knife so we can go home. We’ve got a great place for you to stay, a comfortable bed and awesome home-cooked meals. Please, Dane?” Julie pleaded.

  Dane dropped the knife and took a few steps toward Morgan and Julie.

  And collapsed.

  “Dane!” Julie cried out. She and Morgan rushed to either side of him. Morgan felt for his pulse.

  “It’s racing. We need to get him to a hospital,” Morgan said.

  “What do you think’s wrong?”

  “Could be any number of things.” Morgan stood and made the 9-1-1 call.

  “Come on, Dane, wake up. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe,” Julie encouraged.

  The desperation in her voice tangled Morgan’s gut into a knot as he gave their location to the dispatch operator. Morgan hated to think how disappointed she’d be if Dane was passed out from a drug overdose. She believed so strongly in the boy’s determination to kick drugs and live a productive life.

  “They should be here soon,” Morgan said, kneeling beside Dane. “Jules?”

  She glanced up. “I know, I know, I shouldn’t have come down here.”

  “What I was going to say was, keep a positive attitude. The boy’s young and strong. If you’re right and he’s been off drugs for a while, it could be dehydration, or exhaustion from running.”

  “Why are they after him?” she croaked. “Isn’t it hard enough to battle an addiction on your own without someone chasing you around for…for what?”

  Morgan placed his hand over hers, splayed across Dane’s back. “We’ll figure it out. I promise.”

  “He’s a good boy, Morgan, and he deserves better.”

  “Then have faith that he’ll be okay.”

  Luckily it wasn’t too busy at Memorial Hospital when they brought Dane into the emergency room. Still, it seemed to be taking forever for someone to update Julie and Morgan on Dane’s condition. It had been five hours of waiting and worrying.

  Julie got up and paced the waiting area, a bundle of nervous energy.

  “Jules, relax,” Morgan said.

  “Why is it taking so long?”

  Morgan stood and took her hand. “They’ll talk to us when they know something. They probably don’t want to guess at this point.”

  She realized she instantly felt better from the connection of their hands. Morgan grounded her, calmed her racing heart.

  “I’m too wound up to sit,” she said, pulling away from him.

  Depending on Morgan’s touch was a dangerous habit to embrace. He wouldn’t be around once this case was over and then what would she do?

  The E.R. door burst open and a doctor approached them.

  “How is he?” she asked before the doctor could speak.

  “Dehydrated. We have him on fluids, but it would help to know what else is in his system. Do you know if he’s on any medications or if he’s been taking any drugs?”

  “No, I don’t,” she said. “Did you ask him?”
/>
  “He’s in and out, not very lucid yet. In a few hours he’ll be up to answering some questions.”

  “Questions?”

  “About what he’s on.”

  “You’re assuming he’s on drugs?” Even she couldn’t miss the accusation in her voice.

  “Something caused these symptoms besides dehydration. We’ve sent his bloodwork to the lab to figure it out.”

  “Thanks, Doctor,” Morgan said.

  With a nod, the doctor went back into the E.R.

  “He’s not abusing drugs, Morgan. I know it in my heart.”

  “One thing at a time, sweetheart. He’s in good hands and he’s okay for now. That’s good news.”

  Just then Morgan’s cell rang. “I’m going to take this outside. You stay right here, okay?”

  “Sure.” She flopped down in a vinyl chair and stared at the television. Nothing kept her interest for long, not with the worry still eating away at her. Dane had to be okay. He just had to be.

  She’d stay at his bedside until he was well enough to leave the hospital, and then she’d take him back to Port Whisper, where he’d be safe. Glancing around the waiting area, she realized it could have been much worse. Detective Beck could have called with the news that Dane had been found dead on some random street in Seattle.

  Be grateful that Dane made it across the water, she reminded herself. But would he ultimately be okay?

  She wasn’t sure why, but she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. She hadn’t prayed like this in years, but she suddenly found herself in a place of surrender.

  Please, God, watch over Dane. He’s a good boy who’s tried to kick drugs and live a better life.

  As she pressed her hands together, she found herself letting go of the panic, the worry. She released it to God.

  When she opened her eyes a few minutes later, Morgan was sitting next to her. He didn’t ask what she’d been doing. He didn’t have to.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hi.”

  A silent understanding passed between them.

  “Who was on the phone?” she asked.

  “Ethan. We’ll talk about it later. I’ve got Dane’s room number. Want to head up there?”

  “Yes.”

  As they walked to the elevators Morgan said, “I really admire your dedication and faith in Dane.”

  “Thanks.”

  “There aren’t a lot of people who have seen what you’ve seen or gone through what you have who could still believe in someone so completely. Most people would have grown cynical beyond the ability to have faith.”

  “I have my days, for sure, but there’s something about this kid that touches my heart. I feel like I can help him dig his way out of the hole he’s dropped into. Know what I mean?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  The elevator doors opened and he motioned her inside.

  “Having someone believe in you that much can make all the difference,” he said.

  She wondered if they were talking about Dane, or about Julie and Morgan. When they’d first been teamed up in high-school biology for a project, he had been angry and withdrawn. She’d sensed his anger was a cover for pain, and even at sixteen she’d instinctively reached out to him. And was glad she had. He’d always said her belief in him at a critical time in his life had essentially saved him. His mother had left Morgan and his dad. His dad, who’d had to keep his anger bottled up in his role as police chief, took out his rage on his son, leading Morgan to think his mother’s absence was his fault.

  A heavy load for a teenager.

  Once she’d pushed past his defense barriers, Julie had seen the wonderful qualities of Morgan Wright: his sense of humor, creative streak and determination. Things that had lain dormant until she’d come into his life. He’d said it more than once when they’d dated. They’d both said a lot of things as they planned their future together.

  Then Suzy had died and something changed in Julie’s heart. She hadn’t done enough for her friend and needed to make it right somehow, which is why she’d chosen to counsel lost kids. But who had she been making it up to? Suzy? God?

  “Hey, the doctor said he’s just dehydrated.” Morgan squeezed her hand, thinking she’d been worrying about Dane.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  They stepped off the elevator and headed to Dane’s room. A nurse was getting him settled in.

  “I’m sorry, could you wait outside?” the nurse said.

  “No, I need her in here,” Dane croaked. “Miss Burns, don’t leave! Don’t!”

  The nurse motioned Julie into the room and Morgan hung back by the door, probably wanting to avoid upsetting Dane.

  Julie leaned against the window ledge and watched as the nurse adjusted his IV and checked his blood pressure.

  “A little better,” she said, taking off the blood-pressure cuff. “The best thing you can do is rest.” She glanced at Julie. “Try to keep him calm.”

  “Of course.”

  The nurse left and Julie pulled a chair up to Dane’s bed. “How are you feeling?”

  He shrugged.

  “Dumb question, huh?” Julie joked.

  “I’m scared.”

  She took his hand. “It’s okay. You’re safe here.”

  “I’m never safe.”

  “Are you up to telling us what this is about?”

  “Us?”

  “Morgan’s protecting me, Dane, so he should know everything.”

  “I don’t like cops.”

  “Make an exception. He’s a good man.” She glanced at Morgan in the doorway and he smiled.

  “Okay, I guess,” Dane said.

  Morgan came into the room and stood at the foot of the bed. “Who is after you?”

  “A guy named Henson. He works for some big drug company.”

  “Why is he after you?” Morgan pressed.

  “We were testing out some drugs for him.”

  “We?”

  “Me and Andy, and a few other guys. Henson and two guys in suits came up to us on the street and said they were developing a new drug to help addicts kick their drug habits. I thought, why not? Andy didn’t want to…” Dane laid his head back on the pillow, his eyelids drooping.

  “You should rest,” Julie offered.

  “No, I need to tell you…” He paused. “We tried the drugs, but instead of stopping the addiction, it made us hyper, like crazy. They wanted us to sell the drug to our friends, but Andy said no. That’s when they took him.”

  “Took him where?”

  Dane shrugged.

  “Why do you think they took him?” Morgan asked.

  “Because he threatened to…go to the cops.” Dane struggled to keep his eyes open.

  “Rest, Dane,” Julie said.

  “No, I have to…about Andy…Henson said if I kept dealing the drug he wouldn’t hurt Andy, but if I didn’t…it’s my fault, it was my idea to test the drug. They paid us cash and I figured I wasn’t hurting anyone.” He paused. “I really messed up and now Andy—”

  “Shh,” Julie said, touching his hand. “Don’t go there. You need to rest and get better.”

  “You’ll stay?” he whispered.

  “I’ll be right here,” she assured.

  With a sigh, Dane closed his eyes and was out.

  Julie held on to his hand and glanced at Morgan. “They’re using these boys as guinea pigs. We’ve got to stop them, Morgan.”

  “I’ll call Ethan. He might want to involve the DEA.”

  “I’d hate to think how many other boys are being targeted. We have to find Andy.”

  “Jules, can you step into the hallway with me for just a second?” Morgan asked.

  “I told him I’d stay.”

  “Please.”

  The tone of his voice, the sudden seriousness of his blue-green eyes, sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Morgan, what is it?”

  He extended his hand and she took it. Morgan led her just outside Dane’s hospital room do
or. “I talked to Ethan earlier,” Morgan said, gently squeezing her hand. “I’m sorry. They found Andy’s body this afternoon.”

  “His body—you mean…?”

  “He’s dead.”

  FOURTEEN

  Her golden eyes stared back at him with a mixture of disbelief and anger. Morgan positioned himself to grab her if her legs gave out.

  “But we didn’t identify the body,” she said.

  “Your work associate, William, did. They’re calling it an accidental drug overdose.”

  Morgan studied her perplexed expression, wishing to God that he could offer appropriate comfort. More than anything, Morgan wanted to ease her pain.

  “Dane is going to be devastated. He blames himself,” she said.

  “Don’t tell him quite yet. Let’s wait until he’s feeling better.”

  “I need to convince him not to carry this burden. It’s not his fault Andy was killed. Henson and his men are responsible.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Dane thought he was doing the right thing by testing out a new drug and it backfired. We all make mistakes.” She glanced into the open doorway. “I need to teach him self-forgiveness. But I’m worried, Morgan. This could be the stressor that sends him into a nosedive.”

  “Then you show him compassion and we surround him with people who care and want to help.”

  She fingered her silver locket and closed her eyes. The locket Andy gave her. “He was a good kid, just lost.”

  “We all get lost at one point or another,” Morgan said.

  “Even when we think we know where we’re going.”

  “How are you feeling about Andy’s death?”

  “I’m sad, but honestly not surprised. I guess deep down I’d prepared myself for the possibility. He made some bad choices in the past. It was like he was addicted to the adrenaline rush of taking risks and avoiding the consequences. Still, I really thought I could help him.”

  “I’m sure you did. He gave you the locket because you were a special person in his life. Hold on to that.” She nodded.

  “Miss Burns!” Dane called from the room.

  “Go,” Morgan said. “I’ll be close.”

  With a nod she went into the boy’s room and settled beside his bed, calming him with a touch of her hand. Morgan was confident she’d find a way to give him peace, show him that it wasn’t his fault that his friend was killed. If only Julie could do the same for herself.