The Christmas Bell Tolls

by Robin Caroll

  Nick met them with another man. “Everyone, this is Special Agent in Charge, Leo Wilson. He’ll be taking over the investigation from here.”

  “Thank you, Agent Hagar.” Leo Wilson had a nasally voice that didn’t match his appearance. He stood about 5’11” with narrow shoulders and a neck almost thicker than his bulging waistline. His arms were beefy and his thighs like tree trunks.

  Peter made introductions of the team.

  “Nice to meet each of you. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that we need to make sure nothing is missed.”

  Eva pressed her lips into a tight line.

  “We’re very thorough.” No mistaking the defensiveness in her boss’ voice.

  “I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t.” Leo waved off Peter’s attitude as he gave them the information they knew, which wasn’t much. “No one saw any vehicle back here, either before or after the abduction. There are no security cameras in the area.”

  Basically, nothing.

  Click. Click. Click.

  “Eva, go ahead and take samples from all these spots in this area.” Peter turned away from Leo and pointed at the little stains of fluids marring the parking spaces around the mitten.

  She nodded and started taking specimens as Peter measured, Ivan dusted the handrail on the back stairs, and Kurt kept snapping a steady stream of photos. An EMT brought Eva several vials of blood, taken from the victim. The florist. She never even realized the new agent had left them, or when he had.

  The team fought against the cold breezes as they finished up hours later. If there had been any trace evidence on the lot, it’d surely had blown away. Eva tried not to think about it. She couldn’t deal in what-ifs, only what was. Reality.

  The reality was that Savannah had been abducted.

  Eva’s stomach grumbled, and she glanced at her watch: 4:42. Working a scene and collecting evidence took time, unlike the fantasy shown on current television shows. Contrary to public popular opinion, a crime scene unit had to be methodical and thorough, and could not be completed in under an hour. Not counting the twenty minutes of commercials.

  She glanced at her watch again, calculating. Savannah had been missing over six hours. Why hadn’t they been updated in so long?

  Eva found Peter in the building, talking with a uniformed officer. She paused just out of hearing range.

  He waved her over. “About done?”

  She nodded. “Ivan’s loading the truck.” She twisted her watch around her wrist. “What’s the update? Any ransom demands?”

  “We don’t get updates.”

  Eva’s fists popped to her hips, almost of their own accord. “Excuse me? Since when?”

  “According to Special Agent in Charge Wilson, details regarding the case are on a need-to-know basis and according to him, the CSI unit doesn’t need to know.”

  This had to be a very bad joke. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish I was. He’s very adamant.”

  “He’s very stupid is what he is.” She turned to see if she could find this SAC.

  Peter grabbed her arm. “He says he doesn’t want the information of the case to jeopardize our findings. I checked—he’s within his right to keep us out of the loop if he feels there’s a chance the facts of the case could influence our findings.”

  Her blood could very well be at the boiling at the moment. “Seriously? This bozo actually said if we knew the facts, we might let that influence our scientific findings?”

  “Calm down, Eva.” Peter’s voice was low and steady. “He doesn’t know us. He’s doing what he thinks is best for the case.”

  “It’s insulting.”

  “Yes, to us, but realize there are many labs that don’t have as high standards and ethical levels as we employ.”

  True. There’d been a couple of scandals the last few years where labs fabricated results to fit the investigators’ theories.

  “He doesn’t know us, Eva. Don’t take it personally. He’s only trying to do the best job.”

  It was hard not to take it personally. Harder still to not know what was happening.

  “Before you go off half-cocked, remember the best thing you can do is just what you always do: your job.”

  He was right. She nodded. “I’m about to head up back to the lab and start work.”

  “You’re tired. You’ve been in the field all day, not even stopping to eat.”

  How could she eat when Savannah was missing? Poor Darren must be climbing the walls. She couldn’t even imagine. “I’ll be fine. Without Maddie…well, I’m it.”

  “Actually, you’ll have Sarah Newton to assist.”

  Eva stiffened and glared.

  Peter held up his hands. “Not my decision, Eva. Dr. Sebrowski made the determination. Sarah’s prepping the lab for scanning in the evidence.”

  “She’s in my lab?” The trembles skittered out from Eva’s spine.

  “Under Dr. Sebrowski’s supervision. Dr. Sebrowski also pulled in two interns to assist.” He reached out and put a hand on Eva’s shoulder. “You’re in charge since Maddie’s out. Dr. Sebrowski has made sure of that. You’re just going to need some help processing because you’ll need to be in the field as needed.”

  She still couldn’t speak. Sarah Newton in her lab.

  “This case is top priority. If they need evidence gathered anywhere else later, we’ll be responding. I’ll try to balance our members so everyone has plenty of time to rest, but also to do our jobs.”

  Arguing with Peter and Dr. Sebrowski would be counterproductive anyway. She had to focus on working the case to find Savannah. If that meant working with a she-beast, then so be it. “I’ll let the team know.”

  “I’ll meet you at the truck as soon as I touch base with Wilson. Don’t forget to have everyone sign out of the scene log.”

  She nodded and headed to sign out. She knew Peter was right, that this wasn’t personal, but everything about the case felt personal. Eva could almost feel Savannah hugging her. Could almost smell the recess smell clinging to Savannah’s golden curls. Could almost hear the child’s laughter as Darren tickled her side.

  It was all personal.

  “Why don’t you try to eat something, Agent Timmons?”

  Darren stopped pacing long enough to glare at the agent sitting in front of the computer set up in the corner of Darren’s living room. Eat? Seriously?

  Maddie intervened, jumping up and looping her arm through his. “He’s just doing his job by the book.”

  He let out a long breath and ran his hands down his face before dropping to sit on the couch. “I know.”

  Maddie sat beside him, laying her arm across his shoulders.

  “Why haven’t I gotten a demand?” While he asked the question, he didn’t really expect an answer.

  Maddie gave one anyway. “You know the drill. Better than most. What does your training tell you?”

  “Maddie.” Nick joined them on the couch and gave her a hard stare.

  “No, she’s right.” Darren leaned back. “I know what it means. So do you, sir. Every hour we don’t get a demand…”

  Maddie turned to face him. “Don’t think like that.”

  “I know. Stay positive. Deal with the facts as they come in. You’re right, Maddie, I know the drill. I know what I’m supposed to do. Stay focused. Keep thinking of anyone who could have done this.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. “I know all that, but that doesn’t help. This is Savy.” Despite his best efforts, his voice hitched. “This is my baby.”

  “I know.”

  “She doesn’t have her inhaler, Maddie. It was still in her coat left at the community center. If she has an asthma attack…”

  A knock at the front door shot everyone to their feet.

  Darren crossed the room and opened it before anyone else could move.

  “Agent Timmons?” A husky man stood there. In a suit. The agency.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Speci
al Agent in Charge, Leo Wilson. May I come in?”

  Darren waved him in and led him to the living room. Wilson stopped short as Nick held out his hand to shake.

  “What are you doing here, Agent Hagar?” Wilson ignored the hand, continuing before Nick could reply. “You were told I had the case.”

  “I understand that, but Agent Timmons is also a longtime family friend of my fiancé’s. We came by to check on him.”

  “You’re a material witness as well as an employee of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Lab, correct?” Wilson stared at Maddie.

  She stood a little straighter, a defense posture. “I am.”

  Wilson sighed. “You people can not be here. You are bordering on interfering in my investigation.”

  “We’re here merely as friends,” Maddie defended.

  “But you are a material witness. And you,” he turned to Nick, “are an agent and his boss. You know better.”

  Nick’s jaw tightened. He took Maddie’s hand. “I’m sorry, Agent Wilson. We’ll leave immediately.”

  “But—” Maddie opened her mouth to argue.

  Darren reached out and hugged her. “It’s okay,” he whispered before letting her go.

  Nick and Maddie grabbed their coats and were gone.

  Agent Wilson motioned toward the couch. “May I?”

  “Of course.” Darren sat across from him.

  “I don’t mean to be harsh. I know they’re your friends and want to be here for you, but I must make sure this investigation is executed without incident. I’m sure you understand.”

  Darren nodded. “I just want my daughter back.”

  “I’m going to do my job to the best of my ability to make that happen.” No promises…could be taken straight out of the FBI manual. “I wanted to update you. The crime scene unit has completed their scene work.”

  “Did they find anything?”

  “They’ve taken the samples back to their lab to test. As soon as they get results, they’ll notify me immediately.”

  At least Eva was on the case. She was good. If there was anything to be found, she’d find it. Darren nodded.

  “I have agents looking into your list of recent cases. So far, nothing has triggered a deeper look.”

  He didn’t think there would be. This didn’t feel like someone he’d sent to prison. “Is it possible someone else is the target? Abduction but to hurt not just me, but someone else? Maybe someone I’m close with?”

  Wilson flipped open a small steno notebook. “Yes, there is quite the list from targets to choose from. Aside from you there is Maddie Baxter, DNA/serology technician with the TBI. Nick Hagar, her fiancé and your boss, FBI SAC. Riley Baxter Simpson, an investigative reporter whose husband is the police commissioner in Hopewell, Louisiana. Remington Wyatt Baxter is a freelance criminal psychologist who consults for the FBI and her husband, Rafe Baxter, FBI agent who just happens to be your former partner. Quite the incestuous little group, wouldn’t you say?”

  Darren fisted and unfisted his hands. “Look, I’m not real sure what you’re trying to imply, but—”

  “I’m not implying anything. I’m confirming that there are, in fact, quite a few possible targets that were at the community center today. I assure you, I have people looking into each and every one of those angles.”

  He let his hands fall slack over his knees. “Is there anything promising you can tell me?”

  “We have Amber alerts out. BOLOs. We’ve saturated the media and social media with your daughter’s picture and our hotline.”

  All standard procedures.

  “We’ve got alerts at the airports, bus stations, and train station. Even the taxi companies are on the watch.”

  Standard operating procedures from the agency manual. Kidnapping 101.

  “I’m going to ask for some items now that you probably wouldn’t think about. Please understand, I’m just doing my best to find your daughter.”

  “Go for it.”

  “Have you noticed anyone following you over the past weeks?”

  “No.”

  “Seen any strange vehicles in your neighborhood the last several days?”

  “No.”

  “Agent Timmons, think harder. I know most agents are aware of their surroundings and like to think they would automatically notice something amiss, but consider possible unimportant details. Little things.” Wilson snapped at one of the new agents hovering in the corner. “This is Agent Cobb. I need you to walk him through your last week. Every little detail. It might seem trivial, but we’re not going to miss anything. I can assure you of that.”

  Darren nodded, but inside, little pieces of him were crumbling. He was missing one crucial thing: his daughter.

  And he wanted her back more than he wanted to take his next breath.

  Four

  “We have a hit!”

  Everyone in Darren’s house froze for a nanosecond, then rushed into a flurry of action, until Wilson whistled and stopped everyone again. He stared at the agent who’d made the announcement. “What’s the hit?”

  “A gas station attendant reports seeing a child matching Savannah’s description.”

  Finally!

  “Where?” Wilson bellowed before even Darren could ask. “When?”

  “Ten minutes ago. Thomas Street, north of US 51, right by the Interstate 40 connection.”

  “You two,” Wilson pointed at the two field agents closest to the door. “Get there now. Interview, but priority is security footage if they have it. I want to verify identity and work from there.”

  Darren grabbed his coat from the peg behind the door.

  “Whoa, Timmons. You can’t go.” Wilson hovered behind him.

  “Yes, I can.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “I can immediately identify.”

  “As you can when they take a picture of it with their phone and send to us.”

  “I can do onsite and then assist in the interview.”

  Wilson blocked the doorway with his fullness. “You know policy. The parent stays here.”

  Darren took a step, then stopped. “Come on, I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

  “But you know you’d only get in the way.” Wilson’s tone had softened by several degrees. “Look, I know how hard this must be. I’m going to stay here at ground zero with you. You’ll get the information immediately. Why don’t you get the area map set up on the easel there? As soon as identity is confirmed, we can start building our lock-down areas.”

  Slowly, Darren hung up his jacket, then headed to help the agents setting up the map. He took note of the time: 7:20. She was seen at 7:10. Even racing, it would take the agents a good twenty minutes to get there. That gave the abductor a good thirty minutes head start. In that time, no telling where Savannah could be.

  “Call the TBI to meet them at the gas station to gather any evidence they can,” Wilson told another agent, who nodded and put a phone to his ear.

  “Sir, I’ve got something. Maybe.” One of the agents manning the phones in the corner stood. He frowned as Wilson approached. “Or maybe it’s nothing.”

  “Go ahead, agent.” Wilson crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Someone Agent Timmons and Agent Baxter put away was paroled. SAC Hagar oversaw the investigation. Perp was released two and a half weeks ago.”

  “Who?” Darren asked.

  “Sanford Barbor.”

  Darren’s blood went cold. “Barbor is a child pornographer. How is he out?”

  “He was incarcerated almost ten years ago, sir.” The agent looked at Wilson.

  “What else?” Leo Wilson asked.

  “He registered as a sex offender.”

  “That’s a condition of his release, not because he’s rehabilitated, I can guarantee you that.” Darren gave an inward shudder. Barbor was vile. He’d filmed little girls, no more than ten years old, undressing. Naked. The man was pond scum.

  “Yes, but what might be relatable is where he re
gistered.” The agent glanced at the scrap of paper in his hand. “6756 Rabbit Tail Lane in Arlington.”

  Darren balled his hands. “That’s only ten minutes from here.” A sex offender…this close to his home. To his daughter.

  Barbor was out. He’d been furious with Darren and Nick and Rafe. More than just hated being caught, he’d been out of control. Vowed vengeance and retribution.

  If Barbor had taken Savannah…waves of nausea rode over Darren like a tsunami. Lord, please, no.

  “Call his probation officer and see when he last reported in. Verify his home address with the PO, then send someone over to interview him. I want eyes on him.” Wilson faced Darren. “Take a deep breath, agent. Don’t go suspecting the worst until we know.”

  Darren nodded, but still felt sick to his stomach.

  A soft rap sounded at the front door. The agent closest answered it, and a woman wearing grey slacks with jacket entered. Yet another agent.

  “Agent Timmons, this is Agent Lacey. She’s a profiler, one of the best at these types of cases,” Wilson said as a way of introduction.

  Just what he needed, more agents but still no answers. Still, Darren nodded at the short brunette who looked more like an aerobics instructor than an FBI agent.

  “Sorry to meet under these circumstances, Agent Timmons.” She had a roughness to her voice that didn’t quite match her appearance. “If you would take me to your daughter’s room, please, I’ll get started.”

  Darren cocked his head and met Wilson’s stare. Agent Cobb had looked over Savannah’s room after grabbing answers to his redundant questions. Had he seen something he wanted a second opinion on?

  The SAC gave a brief smile in response to Darren’s raising of a single eyebrow. “Agent Lacey is known for seeing what the rest of us miss.”

  “Savannah wasn’t taken from here.” Had they found something? Was there a link to Savannah herself? What had he missed?

  “Yet there could be some clue. Some hint.” The roughness of her voice rubbed Darren wrong.

  “A clue to someone abducting her might be in her room?” He’d been in the FBI all his adult life and he’d never heard of taking such an angle in an abduction investigation.