The Christmas Bell Tolls

by Robin Caroll

  “I know, and I agree with you, but Wilson reminded the Director that your job affords you access to key case components.”

  “Now they’re accusing me of tampering evidence?” Despite the frigid temperatures of the December night, Eva’s face burned. “That I would jeopardize my career, my life’s work, for what? To get back at a guy who broke up with me?” She swallowed and held up her hand. “Apparently they missed the fact that Darren and I are friends. We were before we dated and we are after.” Her voice rose and quivered and she hated how that sounded weak, but she just couldn’t help it. “For such accusations—”

  “I understand how you feel, Eva. I do. I don’t agree with this at all. I just don’t have a choice.”

  Eva went rigid. “Maddie can’t work the case either, so who is going to run the tests, Peter?”

  “Luckily, Sarah’s agreed to step in and help.”

  She wanted to hit something—hard. Sarah Newton … in her lab … doing her job. “I can’t even.” Eva turned and stepped outside. The blast of cold air barely registered against her flaming face.

  For the briefest of moments, Eva wondered if she should call someone. Maybe an attorney? She disregarded the idea almost as quickly as she processed it. She had nothing to hide.

  Maddie’s observation flashed through Eva’s mind: You were falling in love with him.

  Maybe she did have something to hide after all.

  Seven

  “Eva.” Darren stared at her standing in the doorway, looking more than a little uncomfortable.

  A push of arctic air shoved against him. He moved out of the doorway. “Come in out of the cold.”

  She stepped inside and he shut the door behind her. He turned to take her coat, and realized he didn’t know what to say to her.

  “Guess you heard I’ve been removed from the case.” She made the announcement without accusation, to which he was grateful.

  “I’m sorry, Eva. You have to know that I know you aren’t involved.”

  She smiled and reached out, squeezing his hand. “I know.”

  SAC Wilson stormed into the living room. “Ms. Langston, I presume?”

  The softness of her face disappeared. “Mr. Wilson.”

  “You really shouldn’t be here.” He threw Darren a hard look.

  “Why not?” Eva pushed back.

  “Excuse me?” Wilson looked as if he couldn’t believe she’d addressed him.

  “Why shouldn’t I be here? I’m not on the case anymore, thanks to you, so why wouldn’t I come to be with my friend?” She popped her balled hands onto her hips.

  Darren didn’t know whether to kiss her or kick her out. Instead, he pressed his lips together as Wilson’s face became stone.

  “I’m sure you understand why you’re suspect.” Wilson leaned against the back of the high back chair.

  Eva nodded. “I can understand why you would need to clear me as a suspect, of course. It’s very obvious that I was working all day, therefore unable to take Savannah and I’m certainly not the woman on the video.” She leaned against the back of the couch. “One would assume that once my whereabouts had been established, I would no longer be suspect.”

  “Surely you don’t think it could be beyond the scope that one might be working with a partner?” Wilson straightened.

  Eva mirrored his posture. “Is there any evidence to support such a theory? That there is more than one person involved?”

  Before Wilson could respond, Agent Lacey rushed into the room. “Hello. I’m Agent Lacey.” She nodded at Eva.

  “Eva Langston.”

  “Sir?” An agent interrupted, staring at Wilson. “Memphis PD has picked up Barbor and his sister.”

  Darren’s heart hesitated.

  “There’s no sign of the girl,” the agent concluded.

  Wilson nodded, then led the agent from the room.

  “I’m sorry.” Eva’s throaty whisper was nearly Darren’s undoing.

  He nodded. “I’m sorry you got pulled from the case. I know you had nothing to do with this. I told Wilson that.”

  She smiled and shrugged. “Meh. He doesn’t bother me.” She sobered and laid a hand on his forearm. “How are you doing, Darren? Really?”

  He motioned for her to sit. He dropped beside her on the couch. “I’m okay.” He motioned for Agent Lacey to sit as well. “I’m going on the assumption that whoever took Savy isn’t intending on hurting her.”

  “And she’s got her medicine now.” Eva nodded.

  “That supports my theory,” Agent Lacey said.

  “Because they knew what she needed.” Darren explained to Eva.

  “It’s more than that, though,” Eva said.

  “What do you mean?” Agent Lacey inched to the edge of the chair.

  “Well, not only the medication, but knew the drug store’s procedure. Knew what day the inhalers were delivered and where they were left.” Eva shook her head and sucked on her bottom lip like she did when she mulled over something. “The woman got the exact medication very quickly, without drawing any attention. The store wasn’t even aware anything had been taken until they watched the video.”

  “She’d been observing even the littlest of details for quite some time. It takes several weeks to figure out the established pattern of store deliveries and such,” Agent Lacey said. “How long had Savannah been scheduled to attend the party?”

  “A couple of weeks?” Darren couldn’t remember. He looked at Eva.

  “It’s been planned for almost a month. Of course, the plans grew from the original idea.”

  Agent Lacey nodded. “She could have been paying attention for weeks…months even. Gathering details. Waiting for her chance.”

  “Did you notice anything unusual in the full-length picture of Savy from the drug store?”

  He stared at Eva. “What full-length picture?”

  She groaned out loud. “The agent at the drug store worked with the clerk to try and recall anything odd. She remembered something about Savy’s shoes being too dressy for the sweats.” She shook her head. “He asked the other agent to send you a full length picture of Savy to see if you noticed anything odd. Didn’t you get it?”

  “No.” But he would correct that right now. He stormed into the kitchen where Wilson hunkered in a corner with another agent. “Wilson, why wasn’t I shown the photograph of my daughter that an agent sent over after interviewing the clerk at the drug store?”

  SAC Wilson turned. “I’m not aware of any such photograph.”

  “Eva said one of the agents who interviewed the clerk ordered it be sent to me.”

  “Eva did, did she?”

  “Yes, she did. Could you follow up on that, please?” Darren had about lost his patience. His baby was missing and he was sitting on his hands here. He’d played by the rules long enough with no result.

  Wilson nodded to another agent. “Follow up with the team at the drug store.” He turned back to Darren. “Barbor was picked up by Memphis police and brought in for questioning. I’m heading over there now.”

  “I’ll get my coat.” Finally! Something he could do.

  Wilson shook his head. “You know better, Timmons. You have to stay put.” He clamped a hand on Darren’s shoulder.

  “I say this with the utmost respect, sir, but you and I both know this isn’t a kidnapping. Not in the sense that I need to wait around for a ransom.”

  “I know it’s hard, Agent Timmons, but you know policy. I’ll let you know something as soon as I can.” He headed out toward the living room before Darren could offer any more objections to being left behind.

  Darren was sick of policy and procedures. This was Savannah. His girl. All that he had left. He would risk everything to get her back.

  “Everything okay?” Eva stood in the kitchen doorway. “Mr. Friendly glared as passed through on his way out.”

  He sank into one of the barstools. “I don’t know, Eva. I just don’t know.”

  Her touch on the back of his nec
k was like a spark down his spine. “I don’t know what to say, Darren. My heart is breaking for you. For Savy.” Her voice hitched and thickened. “I-I-I…I just want you to know I’m here for you.”

  “Thanks, Eva. It means a lot.” He grabbed her hand and held it in his own. The shared comfort felt…right.

  “Agent Timmons?” One of the agents handed him a tablet. “Here’s the photograph that they sent from the drug store footage.”

  Darren studied the photo. Side profile of Savannah, the woman on the other side of her. Same cap and coat Savannah had been wearing in the other photograph, but he could see the sweatpants she wore. “Those shoes. She wasn’t wearing them. She wore her boots today.”

  “Are you sure?” Agent Lacey asked. Darren hadn’t even realized she’d joined them in the kitchen.

  “I’m positive. I actually thought she’d wear these shoes because we just got them this week, but she wore her boots. I helped her put them on.”

  “What do you mean by these shoes?” Agent Lacey asked.

  Exactly! “She has this exact pair of shoes.” Darren shot to his feet and rushed down the hall to Savannah’s bedroom. Agent Lacey and Eva were right on his heels. He opened her closet door and lifted the sparkly shoes he’d just bought. He held them up alongside the photograph. “See?”

  Agent Lacey took the shoes and let out a low whistle. “These are rather pricey shoes for a five year old.”

  Heat shot up the back of his neck. “I know, but she wanted them so badly. With the Christmas season here and she wanted to be festive….”

  Eva waved off the female agent. “Every girl likes sparkly shoes during party season. Of course you had to get them for her. You owe no one an explanation for being a good father.”

  Darren didn’t miss the disapproving frown Eva shot Agent Lacey. If it were a different time, different place, different circumstance, he just might think Eva was staking her territory. He didn’t know how he felt about that, but it didn’t matter. He couldn’t concentrate.

  “The point I’m making is that these are specialty shoes. Not something you can just run out and grab at the local store.” Agent Lacey obviously wasn’t bothered by Eva’s chastising.

  And she made sense. Darren nodded. “Right. We got them at the mall.” He remembered the shopping trip vividly. “Even the saleslady commented that they must be for a special occasion.”

  Eva nodded, too. “You said you just bought them?”

  “This weekend.”

  Agent Lacey gripped his wrist. “Chances are, Savannah’s abductor was in that store at the time you were. Otherwise, she wouldn’t know which exact pair of shoes your daughter wanted so badly.”

  Eva took the photograph and stared at it. “These fit her feet, too, so I’d guess that she was close enough to you and Savy to know what size you bought.”

  Chills followed bursts of tingling up and down his back. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. That the woman who took his baby had been so close to them…to him, and his warning sense hadn’t gone off…just how good of an agent was he? An abductor stood no more than feet from his baby girl, already plotting taking her from him, and he never felt even the slightest bit uneasy.

  “I need to go to the store.” He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud until Eva nodded.

  Agent Lacey shook her head. “Call SAC Wilson and he’ll send someone to check it out.”

  Darren carefully placed Savannah’s shoes back in her closet. “You and I both know he won’t be able to get any information without a warrant.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost ten now. He won’t get a judge out of bed and a warrant signed before the store closes.”

  “The mall has extended holiday hours. They’re open until eleven tonight.” Eva’s expression reflected the hope filling his chest.

  “He’ll never get a warrant in time.” Darren rested his hands on Agent Lacey’s shoulders. “As a profiler, you know how critical timing can be.”

  “I’ll go.” Eva interrupted and he wanted to hug her. “Leo Wilson can’t tell me I can’t go to the mall.”

  “You’re not authorized to question anyone,” Agent Lacey said, but her tone held no malice. She stepped out of Darren’s reach.

  Eva smiled and held up the badge she still wore. “Actually, I am.”

  “I appreciate you, I do, but you’ve been removed from the case, Eva,” he said softly, dejection nearly suffocating him. “If you do anything that Wilson even thinks borders on interfering, he’ll report you. You’ll get in big trouble.”

  “So? I don’t care. Finding Savannah and bringing her home is what’s more important, Darren.”

  Now he wanted to kiss her. Had she always been so attentive to his daughter and he just missed it? Was he doing what Rafe had accused him of: sabotaging any chance at love and happily ever after?

  “Okay. If you two are going, you’d better sneak out while SAC Wilson is gone.” Agent Lacey smiled. “Just try to be back before he returns.”

  Eight

  Despite the below freezing temperature outside, the heat in the cabin of Eva’s car sizzled.

  “Thank you again for doing this.” Darren stared out the front windshield into the darkness. “I can’t tell you how much.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course. This is Savannah. I love her, too.”

  Darren didn’t respond. Eva couldn’t tell if he was lost in thought, or just uncomfortable with her. She risked a quick glance at him.

  “I didn’t know,” he finally whispered.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t know you love her.”

  She snorted as she turned into the mall’s parking lot. “Don’t be stupid, Darren. Of course I love her. What did you think I was doing when we’d go places together?” She caught his expression as she whipped into an empty parking space.

  Her heart tightened as she realized what he didn’t say meant. “Oh, you thought I was just humoring her to stay in your good graces?” She slammed the car into park and turned off the engine. “I thought you knew me better, Darren Timmons.”

  “I’m sorry, Eva. I just…I don’t…I thought…”

  She shook her head against his words, against the hurt resurfacing. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s just go see what we can find out.” Eva opened the car door and stepped into the dark night, welcoming the cold air swirling around her as she moved toward the mall’s entrance.

  Darren fell into step alongside her. He took gentle hold of her forearm, stopping her. “I’m sorry, Eva. I guess I’d just been burned by women who played nice with Savannah to get to me, but didn’t really care about her.”

  “I’m not like that, and if you knew me at all, you would have realized that.” The hurt was raw all over again. Understanding now that she’d been falling in love with him made the depth of her angst much more profound somehow.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have. I knew you better.” He took a step closer to her, invading her personal space. “I know you better.”

  The back of Eva’s eyes burned. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of him. Not here. Not now. She forced a smile. “It’s okay. We can talk about this later. Let’s just go find out what we can to bring Savy home.” She didn’t wait for a reply, but shrugged out of his burning touch, broke free of his intense stare, and headed to the entrance.

  He opened the door for her, then led her to the shoe store. As soon as they entered, he made a beeline for a specific salesclerk standing behind the counter. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-two or three with subdued auburn hair. Her makeup had been applied flawlessly and she wore a neat Ann Taylor suit. Her eyes widened just a bit as they approached.

  “Do you remember me?” Darren asked.

  She nodded. “You were here on Saturday. With your daughter.” She blinked rapidly, her eyelashes fluttering. “I saw her picture on the news. She’s the missing little girl, isn’t she?”

  He nodded. “We need your help. We think her abdu
ctor was in the store at the same time my daughter and I were here.”

  Her eyes widened.

  Eva flashed her badge. “We believe she followed Darren and Savannah here, saw what they bought, and then bought the same thing. Probably later that afternoon.”

  “Oh my goodness.”

  Darren nodded. “So if you could check your records and see if anyone bought the exact same shoes I did…”

  “In the same or close size to what Darren bought,” Eva finished.

  The salesclerk hesitated. “We’re not supposed to give out information like that. Not without authorization. I’ll need to call the manager.” She reached for the phone on the counter.

  Eva gently pushed the girl’s hand holding the receiver back down. “Look we’re not asking for financial information or anything like that.”

  The clerk’s eyes darted from Darren to Eva, then to the phone. “I don’t know.”

  “Just look on the computer and see if another pair of those exact shoes in a similar size was sold.” Eva tapped the counter. “It’s his little girl that’s missing. She has asthma and a heart condition.”

  “Please,” Darren sounded as pathetic as Eva had ever heard.

  The clerk glanced around the store, then accessed her computer terminal. “I guess I can do a quick check.”

  Eva let out a slow breath. Darren winked at her and gripped the edge of the counter. His knuckles were white as a minute passed. Two. Three.

  “I’m sorry, but there’s no sale of those shoes on Saturday after the pair you bought.”

  Eva’s muscles suddenly felt like they’d been injected with anesthesia. She’d been so sure this was the lead. The break they’d been waiting on. What they needed. She looked at Darren and wanted to cry. The disappointment on his face…

  “Hang on.” The clerk typed, then scrolled. “There.” She stared at Darren over the counter. “There weren’t any sold on Saturday, but we did sell a pair, exact same size, to a lady on Sunday.”