Silent Night Standoff

by Susan Sleeman

“He what?” Logan asked, wondering what angle Parsons was working here.

  “I know. Weird, right?” Parsons’s phone chimed, and he dug it out. “He said he saw my story outside the bank on TV and wanted me to pass a message on to Deputy Brennan.” He glanced at his phone. “Interesting. Very interesting.” He looked at Skyler. “My producer tracked the phone number Clyde called from.” He paused and, if possible, Logan knew he’d insert a drumroll here for effect.

  “And?” Logan asked, trying to hurry him along.

  Parsons turned to Skyler. “The phone’s registered to you.”

  “Me?” Skyler seemed confused.

  “He used your cell to call Jake at the bank,” Logan said. “Did you realize he kept it?”

  “I...hadn’t really thought about it.”

  “I’ll have Wagner check the bank and if it’s missing he can run a GPS search.”

  “You’ll want to hear this message first.” Parsons sounded mad, likely because they hadn’t waited with bated breath for the message.

  “Go ahead,” Logan said.

  “Clyde was very specific about what he wanted me to say and made me write it down to get it right.” Parsons flipped a few pages on his pad. “He said, and I quote, ‘I see the fall didn’t do my job for me. When I’m through with you, Deputy, even the best E.R. docs in the world won’t be able to save you.’”

  “He knows I’m here.” Her gaze shot around the space. “Which means he’s nearby. Watching.” Her focus returned to Logan, fear clouding her eyes.

  Logan had spent hours in the lobby and knew for certain that Marty wasn’t in the waiting room. But he could be peering at them through the windows. Keeping his body between Skyler and the windows, he pushed her toward the nurses’ station.

  “What’re you doing?” she protested.

  He didn’t care if she got angry with him for making a decision for her again. He needed to get her out of the lobby before Marty made good on his threat and fired a shot through the window to end her life.

  FIVE

  The police surrounded the hospital, but Logan didn’t feel any better about Skyler’s safety. Wagner had tracked her phone via GPS, and they’d found it in a trash can outside the E.R.

  Marty had been right there. Not more than a thousand feet from Skyler. And a thousand feet away from Logan arresting the guy. Logan wouldn’t let him get this close again. Not unless Logan was slapping cuffs on the guy.

  Staying vigilant, he opened the door to the dusky night settling around the hospital. As they’d waited for the police to secure the area, a cold front had swept through, along with driving rain and heavy wind, shaking the hospital windows. The downpour had since let up, and the drastic change in temperature left the night foggy and damp.

  “Stay close,” he said as he escorted her through the reporters and police officers.

  Parsons stood at the far end of the walkway narrating a report. “We’re hoping Deputy Brennan will give us her thoughts on this threat Clyde has made on her life. Wait—there she is now. I’ll ask her.” Parsons burst through the crowd. “Deputy Brennan!” he shouted.

  Logan didn’t care if he was interfering again. He kept Skyler moving forward, settling her into the car before Parsons reached them. Logan wanted to brush Parsons off, but he couldn’t keep doing so without making the guy mad. Something that wouldn’t paint the FBI in a good light and wouldn’t sit well with Inman.

  Logan turned with a well-practiced smile. “If you’ll give me your business card, I’ll be sure to contact you when we’re ready to issue a press release.”

  Parsons lowered his mic and slashed a hand across his throat for his cameraman. “I was hoping after passing on Clyde’s message, Deputy Brennan or you would give me an exclusive interview.”

  Not happening. “Give me your card, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  Parsons dug a card from his pocket but held it out of reach. “Let’s trade.”

  Logan’s irritation was mounting, but moving ahead at the bureau depended on his ability to handle situations like this tactfully. He fished out a temporary card with the local FBI number on it and gave it to Parsons. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Deputy Brennan really needs to get some rest.”

  “Be sure you call me,” he said, handing his card to Logan. “Preferably tonight.”

  Logan climbed behind the wheel and flicked the card onto the dash. “Have you ever dealt with this guy before?”

  “No.” Skyler buckled her belt. “But I watch him on the news. He’s relentless. I doubt he’ll go away willingly.”

  “Hopefully a bigger story will grab his attention tomorrow.” Logan started the car. “Mind putting your address in my GPS?”

  She started typing on the keypad as he eased through the parking lot. He used his mirrors to search the inky darkness for any threat. Once he was satisfied they hadn’t caught a tail, he relaxed—a little. After all, Marty was still out there somewhere. And he didn’t want Skyler to relax, either.

  “It’s a good idea to remain on alert the next few days,” he said.

  When she sighed, he glanced at her and found her fingers massaging her head again. He hated to bother her with anything when her head must be splitting, but he’d be remiss if he didn’t pursue it. “This is important, Skyler.”

  She blew out another long breath. “You really think Marty will follow through on his threat?”

  “Don’t you? Especially after he showed up here with your phone tonight?” he asked without sugarcoating his words in hopes she’d take the threat seriously.

  “I did when Parsons told us about the message, but I’ve had time to think about it. Now I’m less inclined to believe it.” She swiveled to face him. “I’ve been on the FRS for eighteen months now, and I’ve had my share of death threats. I guess it’s understandable. I come into people’s lives when they’re in crisis. But they soon forget all about me, and I’ve never had anyone make good on their threats.”

  “This is different,” he said trying to hold his frustration at bay. “Marty’s already acted.”

  “You mean the message?” She lifted her chin. A sure sign she planned to fight his suggestion and prove her independence as she always had. “I learned long ago that people like Marty get their kicks by trying to intimidate others. They like to send texts and letters, and make threatening calls, but rarely follow through. If he’s announcing his plans, he’s not likely coming after me. Plus, it makes more sense for him to leave town to escape arrest.”

  “You didn’t see the way he glared at you before taking off. He clearly has revenge on the brain, and my experience tells me he’ll attempt to kill you. The only question in my mind is when.” Logan rolled to a stop at a red light and fired a pointed look at her.

  Her gaze didn’t waver. “Maybe you’re right, and I will be on my guard, but I’m a deputy. I know how to handle myself. I’ll do what’s necessary to stay safe, but I’ll be the judge of what’s necessary.” After holding his gaze for a moment, she shifted to watch out the window.

  Fine. It was going to be that way between them.

  He followed the GPS directions to Portland’s Pearl District. Warehouses and railroad yards once occupied the area, but now it was known for upscale businesses and expensive residences. Condos hovered around a million dollars. Surely, Skyler’s promotion to negotiator didn’t provide enough income to rent in this neighborhood, much less purchase one of the many condos. Though questions begged to be asked, he wouldn’t embarrass her by doing so.

  “It’s the old firehouse on the next corner,” Skyler said when the GPS voice announced their destination.

  He slowed in front of the three-story brick building with massive front columns and bright red doors in the semi-residential neighborhood.

  “You really live here?” The question slipped out before he could
filter it.

  “Yes.” The gleam in her eyes said she was enjoying his confusion. “You can park in the driveway.”

  The building sat back from the road, with a wide driveway lined with pines. As he pulled in, exterior floodlights clicked on, giving him a view of perfectly trimmed shrubs where Marty could easily hide.

  Still baffled about the firehouse, he looked at Skyler. “You didn’t bring me here to ditch me and hide your real address, did you?”

  “No. I live here.” She laughed and didn’t seem inclined to put him out of his misery.

  Before he could check the surroundings, she started for the front door. He planted a hand on his weapon and surveyed the area as he stuck close to her. She flashed him an irritated look. She wanted him to back off. He got it. Loud and clear.

  Too bad. He wouldn’t risk it.

  “You really do live here?” he said to keep her from arguing with him about his nearness.

  “Not just me. The whole squad does.”

  “Still, even with the six of you, I don’t see how you can afford it.”

  She bent to flick on a timer plugged into an outlet, lighting the trees with hundreds of twinkling white lights and flooding the darkness with holiday cheer.

  “Wow,” he said turning in a circle. “I was just starting to accept that you lived here, but these lights? When did you get so many of them? Some rich relative die and leave you a fortune?”

  She dug out her keys. “The lights are mine. Bought them on clearance. The firehouse belongs to the county.”

  “Okay, now I know you’re kidding me. I remember when the city sold this building to a private investor.”

  “You’re right. The Kerr family bought it. Darcie saved Winnie Kerr’s life on a callout and she donated the building to the county to thank Darcie.”

  “I’ve heard of being grateful, but she just ups and gives away a multimillion-dollar building?”

  “Yes.” Skyler inserted her key in one of the solid oak doors, where a large pine wreath freshened the air. “Darcie basically adopted Winnie, like she does so many other strays, and they became friends. One day Darcie was commenting about her rent going up again. With the county freezing wages, everyone on the squad was struggling to make ends meet. The Kerrs had recently bought this building and Winnie figured it would be a good way to repay Darcie.”

  “But why donate it to the county instead of giving it to Darcie directly?”

  “Darcie wouldn’t accept it.” Skyler pushed open the door. “But she did agree to live here if it benefited all of us and future squad members. We really consider this home like the firefighters stationed here did. Except we live here full-time.”

  She flipped an interior light switch, revealing an open industrial space that had once housed the trucks.

  Skyler took a few steps inside and turned. “On this floor, we have a communal kitchen, dining room, family room and even a recreation area and gym. We each have our own condo on the second and third floors. There’s an elevator accessible from the back, giving us private entrances to our condos.” She plugged in another set of lights. “Or these steps lead there, too.”

  Garlands with white lights coiled up the black metal banister opening onto a second-floor balcony. A two-story tree loaded with decorations filled the corner.

  He whistled at the colorful stack of presents bursting from beneath the lowest boughs. “I guess someone’s been good this year.”

  “They’re not for us. I hold the shelter party here now instead of renting a venue.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “It’s almost perfect.” She dropped her keys in a glass bowl on a long metal table. “And speaking of perfect, wait here while I turn on the other lights so you can get the full effect.”

  She headed toward the back of the building, quickly disappearing from view. Not happening. He wanted her within sight until he thoroughly checked out the building. After securing the door, he stepped across the polished concrete floor until he could see her again.

  She bent next to a spruce that soared toward the ceiling crisscrossed with heavy metal beams. Lights suddenly flooded the tree, reflecting off wall-to-wall windows with curving arches. She stood and flicked a switch by a massive fireplace bringing the room to life.

  Perfect, he thought. The perfect Christmas decor to make up for the dismal holidays she’d hinted at having as a child. Exactly what she strived for every holiday.

  “Okay, Logan,” she called out. “You can come in now.”

  When he reached her, she was gently fingering a fragile handmade origami star coated in wax. They’d purchased a set of twelve that last Christmas together. He saw the others spread out on branches and was stunned that she’d actually kept them.

  “Remember these?” She turned the star. The light caught the glitter and sparkled over her fingers.

  The memory of shopping with her for the ornaments she’d said she’d cherish for a lifetime came whirling back like the snow falling that day. They’d held hands, moving in and out of shoppers in downtown Portland. Her cheeks pink from the cold. Snowflakes glistening in her hair. The pure fun and joy that had been part of his life when they were together.

  “I remember.” His voice caught at the reminder of all he’d given up when he’d walked away from her. But the professional gain had been worth it, he reminded himself.

  She suddenly looked away, but he saw tears shining in her eyes, before she turned.

  “How about a tour of the place?” he asked to break the moment between them. “If you’re up to it with the head injury and all.”

  A curtain fell over her eyes, covering her emotions, and he felt bad for ignoring them. He opened his mouth to speak, but she spun on her heel. “If you follow me, I’ll show you the kitchen.”

  Feeling like a jerk, he traipsed behind her. She’d tried to talk to him about their past, maybe bring some resolution to how they’d left things, and he’d shut her down. More important, he’d hurt her once again.

  She stopped by a large island overlooking the family room. “Winnie kept the feel of the firehouse but spared no expense in the remodel. Everything’s top-of-the-line.”

  He took in the bright red metal cabinets, stainless-steel countertops and industrial appliances. Metal air ducts ran along the ceiling, as did water pipes and electrical conduits.

  She planted her hands on the island. “Having such a large kitchen helps immensely with prep for the holiday parties.”

  “Are you still doing all of them?”

  She nodded. “Plus, I’ve added a tea for Mother’s Day where the kids make the food and create homemade gifts for their moms.”

  “Sounds like fun.” He meant it. He liked kids. He just didn’t have much experience with or time for them.

  “You’ll probably be more interested in our rec room.” She stepped through a wide doorway at the far side of the kitchen and pointed at a sizable dining table. “Obviously, this is the dining room. Winnie made sure we had a large table for all of us when we were together and any friends we might want to invite.”

  He counted the chairs as they passed, discovering seating for fourteen.

  Skyler went through another expansive doorway into a room painted a cheerful yellow. A pool table sat in the middle of the room. A video game station filled one corner, and a round table covered with puzzle pieces took up another.

  Logan fingered a piece. “Your teammates don’t strike me as the kind of people who’d sit around doing puzzles.”

  “You’re right. We’re all adrenaline junkies in our own right. I mean, you couldn’t do this job unless you thrived on danger, right? But some of us are more daring than others. Like Cash. He’s our bombs expert. He’s former Army Delta Force.”

  “A special ops, guy, huh? He’s lived life on the edge then.”

 
“That’s putting it mildly,” she said, a smile lighting her face. “He’s into extreme sports and auto racing.” She shook her head. “Thankfully, we don’t all go to that excess. But most of us don’t have the patience for puzzles, either. That’s Jake’s thing. He’s very orderly and likes to do them when he’s trying to work out a problem.”

  Logan could relate to the need for order but not the adrenaline-seeking part. He needed predictability in his life. Needed to know he was in control, and pushing the envelope was far from control.

  He crossed the room to a wall of shelves filled with books and board games. Another long section held vintage toys.

  “Someone a collector?” he asked.

  “Archer.”

  “The other negotiator?”

  She nodded. “He grew up in the lap of luxury and had everything imaginable, but his dad didn’t believe kids should play. He groomed Archer to take over the family business from the get-go. He never got the toys he wanted, so he’s collecting them now.”

  Logan had a similar upbringing, but he had no desire for toys now. Not even the electronic gadgets that many men wanted today. Unless he could use them on the job. Then he was the first in line at the electronics store.

  Otherwise, a waste of money as far as Logan was concerned. “Looks like he’s invested a few bucks here.”

  “He also makes sure there are plenty of toys for the shelter kids every year,” she said defensively, and he could tell she cared about this guy.

  A pang of jealousy stabbed Logan. Not because she seemed to care about the men on her team, but because Logan had been the one to help her pick out toys in the past.

  He went to the arched window facing the front of the house, giving him a spectacular view of the pines spilling light into the darkness. “This is really quite the setup you have here.”

  “It is and we’re thankful for it. We have a lot of stress in our jobs, and this is one place we can actually relax.”

  At the true joy in her voice, he turned to face her. “Sounds like you really like it here.”

  “We all do. Either we have family we don’t get along with or don’t have any family at all. Plus all the others moved here from out of state so we support each other. And since we’re all single...” She quickly cut her gaze away.