Her Christmas Protector

by Geri Krotow

  He took a lock of her hair and played with it. Her bathroom night-light allowed him to see glimmers of red in the silky strands.

  “Cases will always be there, Zora. They never go away. Once we get this bad guy, another will show up. I wish it weren’t true, but we’ve both seen enough to know how it works.”

  “Yes. I’m not used to being in the midst of one, that’s all. In the navy we had ops that were intense, especially in the war zone. But my job was support. I made sure my aircrews or whoever I was working for had the information they needed to do their job and not let the bad guy stop them. Here, I’m in the middle of it. I know I can handle it—I am...we are—but I’ll feel a lot better when it’s over.”

  “I know.”

  “You think it’ll be tomorrow, don’t you? That he’ll try to kill me during the Christmas Eve service?”

  “He’ll try to kill Reverend Colleen Hammermill.”

  Her fingers touched his jawline and he nipped at them.

  “That’s me, Bryce. I’ll get through it. We’ll get through it.”

  He didn’t want to think about the cold reality facing them tomorrow. Forcing the killer’s hand at the church or near it was part of the plan. A plan he’d executed in previous ops without a second thought.

  Before he’d made love to the one woman he’d never forgotten.

  Chapter 19

  At work early on the afternoon of Christmas Eve Bryce’s touch still lingered on Zora’s skin, under the dreaded Kevlar vest and wool suit. She made a silent vow to burn the duds once this was over.

  “Chaplain Hammermill?”

  Rebecca stood at the entry to the minister’s office. Lines of exhaustion splayed from the corners of her eyes and she looked ten pounds lighter than when Zora had spoken to her and Jess a few days ago.

  “Come on in, Rebecca. It’s Colleen, please. How are you doing? Are you ready for Christmas?”

  “Jess is missing.”

  “What do you mean ‘missing’?”

  “She was supposed to catch a ride here with me and wait the extra hour before the service while I practice with the bell choir. She was at a sleepover with some girls from school last night, and the older sister of one of her friends dropped her at the entrance to our trailer park earlier this morning. When I got home from the grocery store to pick her up, she wasn’t there. No note, either. It’s not like her.”

  “Could she be with other friends?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “No. I called her father and he swears she’s not with him, either. He’s worried, too.”

  “What about neighbors?” She didn’t want to reveal just how much she knew about Rebecca’s trailer park. Alarm zinged over her skin and she managed to acknowledge that part of her would always have a core fear of the True Believers. But they were no longer running the show. SVPD and the Trail Hikers were. And she was a trained Trail Hiker, not an innocent young girl.

  “Yes, but she’s not there. I went back to check. This isn’t like her.”

  “Does she have a friend in the trailer park she could be with?”

  “No. I’m worried, Colleen. There are some new men who moved into our park and they seem nice enough, but they’re pushy. I don’t know them at all, and Jess told me that one of them has made it a point to say hello to her each day when she gets off the bus.”

  “Have a seat. Let me see if my fiancé can help.”

  She hit the speed-dial number for Bryce and was relieved when he picked up immediately.

  “It’s me.”

  “I know.” His tone went from sexy to serious as he must have sensed her tension. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have Jess’s mother here, Rebecca, and she’s concerned because Jess didn’t show up at home after school. She’s not at home now and she was supposed to be there to get a ride from her mother. Jess is on the technical crew for the pageant.”

  “As the youth minister understudy, I actually worked with her yesterday. She’s not the type to just disappear, especially seeing how excited she was to be working on the pageant.”

  “I agree.”

  “Did Rebecca say anything about the new neighbors? The True Believers losers?”

  “Yes, but I have no idea if that’s what’s going on.”

  “I’m on it.” Bryce disconnected.

  She put the phone down and looked at Rebecca. “I can’t tell you not to worry, because you’re a mother and you love Jess. We all do. But if anyone can find her, Bryce will.”

  “Thank God you’re engaged to a detective! I don’t know if the police would have listened to just me, calling them. Don’t they usually make you wait twenty-four hours to file a missing-persons report?”

  “Not with juveniles. It doesn’t matter. Bryce will get back to us. We have to rely on our faith until then.” Zora realized she meant it. Faith that all of this would work out okay.

  * * *

  “I need you to come with me, just in case we run into any trouble.” Bryce addressed Rio as they confirmed the addresses of the two new tenants at the trailer park where Rebecca and Jess lived.

  “They’re not just tenants. Leonard Wise owns the place. They’re his buds. I was able to trace them back to the original group that was put in prison in New York.” Rio pulled up the property-title document receipt on his screen. He let out a low whistle. “The sale was closed only a month ago by his attorney.”

  “And the new trailer occupants are former cult members.”

  “You got it.”

  Rio’s dark gaze never wavered from his computer screen as he clicked from one file to the next, absorbing all he could.

  Bryce had street experience, but when it came to pulling information and intel together, Rio was SVPD’s best.

  Rio finally leaned back and looked at Bryce. “We ready to go now?”

  “Yes. I’m telling you, Rio, the only thing that’s kept me from storming over there sooner is that if they do have Jess, I don’t think they want to hurt her.”

  Rio grabbed his cover and weapon. He was in his officer’s uniform, Bryce in a shirt and tie, his usual detective “uniform.”

  “Not hurt her? Maybe not, but they want to brainwash her, man. Let’s get the girl out of there.”

  Bryce had already called in the report to Claudia but for now he was acting as an SVPD detective, not so much a Trail Hiker. He let Rio drive one of the station’s marked vehicles as they buckled up and headed south toward the outskirts of town.

  Taking the main pike they passed the high school, it hit Bryce how much his life had changed since the night two weeks ago when he and Zora had met again, after so many years. After a lifetime, really.

  Last night had been a game changer. Zora might be a woman of the world who could handle the “friends with benefits” idea but Bryce was done with that kind of relationship. He wanted what he’d only find with Zora.

  First, they had a few things to take care of.

  “You’re quiet, Detective.”

  “A lot’s been going on. I don’t need to tell you that.”

  The starkness of Rio’s expression highlighted what they were up against. “It’s always busy this time of year. Between the DUIs, shoplifting and domestic violence it’s nonstop. You know it. But this Female Preacher Killer’s got us all uptight. We’ll all sleep better when he’s caught.”

  “We will.” Bryce couldn’t keep from reliving last night and longing for more time with Zora.

  “I’m not going to let him kill one more person,” Bryce vowed, knowing Rio understood his conviction.

  “None of us are. We’re a good team at SVPD but even we can’t stop all the crazies. You’re still pretty certain you’ll lure him into Silver Valley Community Church?”

  “Yeah. You saw the flowers. He’s after the woman he thinks is the new minister.”

  “Sure looks like it. I saw her—Zora—in the conference room with you and the boss, and that other lady who shows up from time to time. Her name’s Claudia. Anything I need to know about?
” Rio asked the right question in the right way. Casually, as if he hadn’t noticed too much.

  “Nope. Nada.”

  Rio laughed. “Right. Okay, I get it. If and when I need to know more, you’ll tell me.”

  Bryce didn’t respond. He’d been in Rio’s place only a week earlier, before he’d been signed by the Trail Hikers. Come to think of it, Rio would make an excellent Trail Hiker himself. Hell, all of SVPD would. They were that good and Bryce trusted each of the other officers, including Superintendent Colt Todd, implicitly.

  Maybe they’d all quit SVPD and become Trail Hikers.

  No way.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Did I laugh out loud?”

  “No, but you got a stupid grin on your face.” Rio teased him he way they used to tease each other when they were partners.

  “I miss doing patrols with you, man.”

  “Sure you do. Right up until you get to be the big sexy detective with a certain redhead.”

  “What I do in my personal life is my business.”

  Rio snorted. “I knew it.”

  * * *

  They swung into the trailer park and Bryce took note of the entrance sign, which had been cleaned up from its usual dingy state. Christmas lights framed it, blinking through the early dusk.

  “We’ll both go up to the door, and I’ll do the talking. Keep your eyes peeled for the girl. She’s twelve, about five feet tall, long dark hair. Skinny kid.”

  “Will do.”

  The door opened after the second knock. A man who could easily be mistaken for any elderly gent peered at Bryce and his badge, then took in Rio’s uniform and badge.

  Bryce recognized him immediately as one of the released felons from the cult.

  “What can I do you for, gentlemen?” Bryce saw the intelligence in his eyes. The cunning.

  “We’re looking for a young girl, about so high.” Bryce held his hand to his chest. “We’re wondering if you’ve seen her.”

  The man took a step back but didn’t invite them in.

  “Nope.”

  “You haven’t noticed any children out here, maybe walking home from school?”

  “No, officers, I pretty much keep to myself.” Sure he did. Just like he did as Leonard Wise’s number two in the True Believers.

  “Her mother’s really concerned. It’s not like the girl to go off with friends and such.”

  “In my experience, kids that age know what they want and do things maybe their parents wouldn’t like.” The man’s eyes were on Bryce, challenging him.

  “Not this girl. Anyone else in the area you think we should talk to? Any of your neighbors outside a lot? Do you have a neighborhood busybody we should speak to?”

  “I’m new here, as I’m sure you know, Detective.” The gloves were off. “I have to report my location weekly. Do you honestly think I’d get out of jail and risk going back in?”

  “I have no idea, sir. But I will tell you that if I get even a whiff that you’ve had any contact with any underage children in the area, you’ll be back behind bars so quickly your head will spin.”

  The ex-con stared at him, and Bryce watched as the consequences of not cooperating registered on his face. “Sometimes kids just like to play video games and such. I heard that there’s a neighbor over in number 33 has a brand-new video game. The one all the kids want for Christmas.”

  Bryce’s anger surged. The bastard knew how to work around the system.

  “We’ll check that out. Meanwhile, you see anything strange, you call SVPD immediately.”

  “Will do.”

  The man closed the door and Bryce glanced at Rio. No words were needed. Two minutes later they knocked on trailer number 33. The door opened wide, a short woman smiling at them.

  “Good afternoon, officers. Is something wrong?”

  “You tell us. Do you know the whereabouts of a young twelve-year-old girl named Jess?”

  “Gosh, I see a lot of kids get on and off the school bus here. I don’t know their names, though.”

  Bryce heard the blare of a television in another room. “Mind if we come in?”

  “Actually, I do. I haven’t cleaned up, you see.” Behind the drab woman, the trailer looked as if it had been scrubbed bare. The woman knew the law, too, and knew they didn’t have a search warrant or they would’ve shown it.

  “We don’t mind a little mess. What’s that noise? You watching a Christmas cartoon?”

  “I don’t watch television. I don’t believe in it.”

  Quick footsteps sounded through the thin walls and the blare of the television became clear as a door opened. Gunshots and explosions sounded from the room, but not from weapons.

  From a video game.

  Jess appeared at the edge of the tiny hallway.

  “Mr. Campbell!” She looked shaken, but none the worse for wear.

  “Hi, Jess.” Keeping it casual was important. “Did you know your mom’s been looking for you?”

  Jess shot a quick glance behind her as if fearful of something or someone.

  “I didn’t know. I just came here and got sucked into the new game.” She spoke in a fear-induced monotone. They weren’t Jess’s words—someone had told her to say them.

  “Do you want to come back with us now, Jess?”

  She nodded quickly. “I need my backpack. It’s in the bedroom.”

  When she said bedroom, Bryce clenched his jaw so tightly, his teeth hurt. If the bastard had touched her...

  “Let’s get it, shall we?” He drew his weapon slowly, walking toward the shaking Jess.

  As he walked into the trailer he ignored the woman’s ridiculous protestations.

  “Jess, go outside. Wait for us in the squad car. I’ll get your backpack.”

  Jess didn’t have to be told twice as she bolted past him toward the front door.

  He looked at the woman. “You need to sit down in that chair right there, please. Who’s in that room?”

  She complied, but not without one last effort. “Bill Brown’s in there. He told me not to bother him.”

  The blaring television was silenced.

  “Mr. Brown, SVPD. Please come out with your hands up.” Bryce waited with the bedroom door in his sight.

  The door clicked open and Bill Brown walked into the hallway, a lopsided grin on his face. “What’s all the fuss about?”

  “You’re going to tell us what it’s all about down at the station. You can either come willingly or I’m sure I can figure out a reason to arrest you.”

  “I doubt it. The girl wanted to play the video game. I didn’t bring her here under any force, and I didn’t touch her. You’ve got nothing.”

  “Your choice. You and your girlfriend can come willingly or risk going back inside.” At the reference to prison, the man’s shoulders dropped.

  “Fine. I’ll come in. But you’ve got nothing.”

  Bryce was willing to take the chance.

  * * *

  The backup unit they’d had on standby came in and drove Bill Brown and his girlfriend to the station while Bryce and Rio took Jess with them.

  “We’ll be lucky if we can get you back in time to do the pageant, Jess. We have to take a statement at the station from you.”

  Tears slipped down her cheeks and she nodded.

  “You’re safe now, it’s okay.”

  “I didn’t want to stay there. I didn’t even want to go in, but they said they had puppies and that I could play with them, maybe convince my mother to take one. But when I went in, there weren’t any puppies and then he showed me the video console.”

  “We’ll talk about it in the station. Then I’ll do my best to get you to church in time for the pageant.”

  He’d already called Zora, who told Rebecca to meet Jess at the station.

  Some Christmas Eve this was turning into.

  * * *

  The main corridor leading to the original sanctuary was stuffed to the gills with almost fifty children in their nativit
y costumes. Parents corralled the youngest, adjusting halos and wings on angels while Zora and Shirley Mae helped with the larger animal costumes.

  Peter was giving last-minute directions.

  “It’s crazy in the sanctuary. Did you see the guards there?” Shirley Mae kept her voice below the din, so that only Zora would hear her.

  “Yes. It’s a necessary evil, I’m afraid. Until they catch the...you know.” She wasn’t going to have this conversation with so many underage ears about. Nor with all the parents, whose hysteria could be even worse. While they all banded together in a show of solidarity for their church, everyone was happy to have SVPD provide extra security. Since the Silver Valley Community Church was so large and blessed with a robust operating fund, they’d also hired additional contract security for other, smaller churches that might not be able to afford their own. While it was impossible to police and secure every church with a female minister in the area, SVPD was going to do its best to make sure there wasn’t a Christmas murder in Silver Valley.

  “Okay, everybody.” Peter clapped his hands and walked to the front of the line. The voices hushed and only the rustle of fabrics and papier-mâché from the costumes could be heard. Some of the sheep baaed and a child giggled when an alpaca spit.

  “We’re going to do it just like we did in practice. If you forget a line or miss your mark, don’t worry. Someone else will say it for you. Older kids, I need you to help keep the angels and shepherd boys in their spots. Let’s take a deep breath, blow it out. Okay, now, let’s say a prayer. Reverend?”

  He looked at Zora and nodded.

  Sometimes, even with the constant reminder of the scratchy wig and ridiculous suits, she forgot she was here as a minister. The counseling role came naturally, and protecting everyone was part of her duties as a Trail Hiker, but the ministering part, the prayers, weren’t as natural a fit for her.

  “Sure. Yes.”

  Stop it. Just say the damn prayer.

  “May we all remember why we’re here and have fun. Thank you for this time together. Amen.”

  She finished and smiled triumphantly at the group. The kids were the first to look back up, but it took the adults a bit longer. When they did, she saw some puzzled expressions.

  “Did I do something wrong?” she queried Shirley Mae, who stood next to her, a sly grin on her face.