Silent Night Standoff

by Susan Sleeman

  “I’m sorry,” she said and Logan could see she was buying into this guy’s story and taking on a boatload of guilt.

  “Sorry doesn’t cut it. You need to pay for what you did.” He curled his fingers into a fist. “I still want to kill you with my bare hands.”

  She shivered, and Logan knew it had nothing to do with the decidedly colder temperatures.

  Logan moved closer. “I could arrest you for threatening a law enforcement officer.”

  He let his gaze travel over her. “You could, but then looks to me like she’s not on duty. Plus, she never identified herself as a law enforcement officer. How was I to know she still is one?” He grinned, revealing tobacco-stained teeth.

  Logan fisted his own hands to keep from throwing Zac against the wall. “Suppose you tell me where you were yesterday morning, last night around seven and again this morning about ten.”

  “Suppose I don’t.”

  “Then I’d have to bring you in for questioning.”

  “Why don’t I save you all that trouble?” That sarcastic grin returned. “I’ll get my lawyer over here. Then see what questions you have a right to ask me.”

  Logan gritted his teeth before saying something he shouldn’t. The guy had threatened to lawyer up before Logan could even ask a real question. They wouldn’t get anything out of him. Continuing to try would be a waste of time.

  “We’ll pass on that conversation for now,” Logan said. “But this isn’t over.” He took Skyler’s arm and backed toward the van, never taking his eyes off Zac.

  Skyler took her seat in the rear and stared at her feet. Logan suspected she was struggling with the guilt Zac’s allegations raised. Logan wished he could do something to help, but she’d have to work through it on her own.

  His phone chimed with a text, then rang with a call. Wagner’s icon appeared on the screen, and Logan accepted the call first.

  “Olivia was able to provide enough detail for a decent sketch of Marty,” Wagner said. “You should’ve just gotten a text with the artist’s rendering. After your approval, I’ll distribute it to the authorities.”

  “Hold on while Skyler takes a look.” Logan thumbed to the picture and climbed between the rows of seats to show it to her. “Does he look anything like Marty?”

  She studied the screen for a long time, then blocked part of the picture with her fingers. “If I hide the nose and cheeks, yeah. The shape of his head, the jaw and the eyes are all the same.” She passed the phone back to Logan.

  “Distribute it, Wagner,” Logan said as he returned to the driver’s seat. “And get it out to media outlets, too.”

  “Will do.”

  “And be advised that I’m leaving Johnson here to keep an eye on Vaughn.”

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Skepticism was rampant in Wagner’s tone. “It’ll take a necessary resource away from our investigation.”

  Wagner was right. Having one less agent working their leads would delay the hunt for Marty. And would delay Logan’s promotion. He felt confident in his ability to protect her—did he really need Johnson on this, too?

  He glanced at Skyler in his mirror. Her gaze met his and held. His heart somersaulted in his chest. Logan wouldn’t change his mind. Johnson would keep tabs on Zac. Logan would even dedicate other resources to Skyler’s safety if needed. Protecting her had to come above everything else.

  Even if it means you don’t get the job. The thought didn’t catch him by surprise after the past few days, and he honestly wasn’t as upset as he’d suspected he’d be.

  SEVENTEEN

  That evening, Skyler mounted the last corner of a welcoming banner for the Christmas party in the firehouse’s entryway and looked out the window. The forecast for the next few days called for freezing temperatures and snow. Snow. White, fluffy, sparkling snow would set the perfect backdrop for the Christmas party. If the roads were cleared, allowing guests to get to the firehouse. A big “if” in the Portland area with few resources to deal with a heavy accumulation, putting the party in jeopardy.

  She offered a prayer for the event and for everyone’s safety as she climbed down from the step stool. She looked up to find Logan assessing her, much as he’d been doing all day. “I can’t stand you watching me that carefully.”

  “Sorry.” He set down his laptop and joined her. “I’m trying to figure out how you’re doing after our visit to Zac. Looked like you were feeling kind of guilty over what happened to Sam.”

  “I’m sad about his incarceration, but I know it’s not my fault,” she said. After working through Zac’s accusations that afternoon, she truly meant it. “Even if I wasn’t okay, I decided to put everything, even Marty, out of my mind and enjoy putting up the last of my decorations.” She grabbed a bag of red and green balloons.

  “Can I help?” he asked, sounding uncertain.

  Skyler shot him a questioning look. “You want to stay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Honestly? You want to put up decorations?”

  “Yeah.” He sounded like he was getting annoyed at her questions, but she had no idea why.

  She didn’t want to make him madder, but she also didn’t think it would be a good idea to work so closely together on something unrelated to the case or her protection. “You’ve already devoted so much time to me. Don’t you have something else you should be doing for the investigation?”

  “I can do it later.” His tone was flat, hollow almost, and his eyes held the same sadness she’d seen in the kitchen last night.

  She should say no to him, but she knew that lost look. Knew how it felt. She smiled to let him know she welcomed his help. “You’re sure?”

  He flashed an easygoing smile. “Absolutely.”

  He was actually putting her ahead of work again. Or maybe putting her charity ahead of work. What should she take from that? She had no clue, but she was still sure it wasn’t a good idea to let him stay. Not for her peace of mind anyway.

  Searching for an answer, she glanced around. Having him here with the Christmas decorations surrounding them brought back their first Christmas together. A joyful, wonderful time in her life. The feeling completely erased the memory of Zac’s brutal anger today.

  “I suppose you can stay,” she said quickly before she changed her mind.

  Logan threw back his head and laughed, the warmth of his happiness reverberating off the high ceiling.

  “What?” she asked, confused.

  He grinned at her. “Your invitation couldn’t be less enthusiastic.”

  She felt her ire rising. “And that makes you laugh?”

  “No, but it was fun to watch you argue with yourself and lose the argument.” He took a few steps closer. “Reminds me of when we went ice-skating at the Lloyd Center. I had to work hard to get you on the ice.”

  She’d never forget that first time she’d skated and couldn’t stifle her grin. “I fell so many times. You kept picking me up and dusting me off. And never even teased me about my klutziness.”

  He came closer still. “Mentioning that the toddlers on the rink were skating better than you would’ve been mean, don’t you think?”

  “So that’s what you were thinking, huh?” She socked his arm.

  He took her wrist and drew her close. “I loved that day. The way your cheeks turned red in the cold.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Seeing your determination despite falling all the time. And I especially liked how you let me kiss you each time you fell. So you see, I wasn’t at all sorry you were such a klutz.”

  She should step back, but she was mesmerized by his eyes. By the magnetic pull that always existed between them.

  “I...” Emotions scrambled her brain, and she couldn’t continue.

  “Me, too,” he said on a whisper, then lowered his head to claim
her mouth.

  His kiss sent her senses into a dizzying spiral. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think other than to know this was perfect. So perfect. They’d always been perfect together from the first day.

  She gave in and let herself feel. Let herself enjoy the kiss while it lasted...which wasn’t long.

  He suddenly lifted his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.” He looked contrite and frustrated at the same time. “As you said, nothing has changed, and I don’t want to lead you on. It’s just... I still...” He shook his head. “I may not be free for a relationship, but my feelings for you haven’t gone away.”

  Her first instinct was to run. Fast and far away from him. From the way he made her feel. But she wasn’t the type to run from her problems. Better that they face this head-on.

  “I understand,” she said.

  He shot her a surprised look. “You do?”

  She nodded. “You’ve put me first in many ways the past few days, and it’s not hard to see you care about me.”

  “You’re right. I do. But that doesn’t change things for me.” He shook his head again. “I still need that promotion. I know that makes me incredibly callous and selfish. Thanks to you, I can see that now, but I can’t give up on the job.”

  She should’ve expected his answer but she’d foolishly hoped he’d changed. Still, he’d made progress and that might mean he was ready to take the next step. “You don’t have to give up on the job. Really you don’t. Just take a closer look at your priorities. Let this thing with your dad go.” She lifted a hand to touch him, but decided it would be a bad idea and let it drop. “You’ll be surprised at the relief you feel. Trust me—I know. I did it with my own parents.”

  He searched her eyes for a long time before shaking his head. “I wish it was that simple.”

  “I never said it was simple. It took me a long time to get over the hurt they caused, but it’s worth it.”

  He released her and backed away, his expression saying he wasn’t ready to believe her.

  She instantly felt cold without his arms around her. And colder still at the knowledge that while he did truly care about her, it still wasn’t enough.

  * * *

  Under gray morning skies, Logan bid Nicole’s parents goodbye and stepped onto their stoop while Skyler said a more protracted goodbye in their foyer. Wagner had really come through today, obtaining the phone records for Nicole’s emergency contact, then tracking down her parents. Logan should be ecstatic about the lead, but the discomfort between him and Skyler left him uneasy.

  Every time he looked at her, the kiss came flooding back and he felt guilty for giving in to his emotions. He had no right to kiss her. She needed him to protect her and find the guy trying to kill her. That’s it. There and only there was where his attention needed to remain.

  Remember that.

  He scanned the area carefully. Up the tree-lined street. Down it. Looking for any threat. Thanks to hourly text updates from Johnson, Logan knew Zac wasn’t lurking in the shadows, but they’d learned that Roger had been released from the hospital and still lived in town. Logan hadn’t had a chance to check him out.

  After talking to the Hills, Logan believed even more that Marty was Skyler’s attacker. They’d said he was a druggie who’d been arrested in the past and had corrupted Nicole, turning her against them. They also thought he might’ve been in the military. Unfortunately, they didn’t know his last name. And they hadn’t seen Nicole in over a year and couldn’t provide any information except her old address. She’d recently moved in with Marty and hadn’t told them where to find her. They’d tried to track her down, but her old building manager said she didn’t leave a forwarding address.

  Logan heard the door close behind him as Skyler joined him.

  She buttoned her jacket and huddled against the howling wind sweeping down the street. “I’ll never get used to making a death notification call.”

  “No one ever does.” He was glad he rarely had to do them.

  “It’s even harder when they haven’t seen their child in so long.” Skyler shook her head. “Marty seems like a real lowlife. Turning her against her family that way.” She glanced at skies that threatened snow any moment, then after a shake of her head, she started for the van. Logan walked beside her and opened the sliding door.

  “You know.” She climbed in and settled on the bench seat in the back. “Since the Hills said Marty wears a ring, it’d be great if you could rush the pictures of military rings to show to them, too.”

  “I’ll put pressure on my staff to get them to us by day’s end.” He closed the van door, then hurried around the front. His phone chimed with a text from Agent Johnson.

  Zac’s on the move with his son. Has a large duffel. Looks like weapons. I’m tailing him.

  After Logan climbed behind the wheel, he looked in the rearview mirror to see Skyler as he updated her.

  “We should join Johnson,” she said excitedly.

  He shook his head. “We don’t even know if Zac’s involved. Now that Nicole’s parents gave us her social security and Oregon driver’s license numbers, we’re better off heading to my office to track her information down and see if we can find any ties to Marty.”

  “You’re right,” she said, sounding disappointed.

  He didn’t blame her. He’d like to do something other than search records on a computer, too. To make something happen on this case. But meeting Johnson probably wouldn’t accomplish anything.

  Logan pointed the van toward his office. He’d barely gotten out of the Hills’ subdivision when his phone rang from its holder on the dash. He glanced at it.

  “It’s Johnson again,” Logan told Skyler, then put it on speakerphone.

  “Zac was carrying all right,” Johnson said excitedly. “He stopped at a firing range.”

  “Interesting.” Logan let the news settle over him. An idea flashed into his brain. An idea that could support or eliminate Zac as a suspect. An idea Logan wouldn’t waste time thinking about, but would immediately put into action.

  EIGHTEEN

  Since it was broad daylight, Logan waited undercover in a stand of trees until Zac departed the firing range, his son trailing behind. Logan had already arranged for Johnson to tail Zac so Logan ignored the guy’s departure and turned to Skyler.

  “You know the plan.” He held up the rifle he’d borrowed from Johnson. “You’re a novice and I brought you to the range to teach you to shoot.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got it. Though it’ll be hard to fake ignorance when I’m a crack shot.” She wrinkled her nose and Logan was glad to see the possible lead had cheered her up after the death notification call.

  He smiled at her. “I doubt we’ll actually get to shoot, but if you do, channel a helpless little girl.”

  “You mean instead of the incredibly confident woman I am.” She winked at him.

  His mood elevated by hers, he stepped into the building and spotted a wizened older man standing behind the counter, eyeing them. Logan was suddenly glad he’d thought to ditch his suit in favor of the jeans and T-shirt he kept in his go bag.

  “Help you folks?” Suspicion crept into the man’s tone.

  Logan supposed it came with the territory of being surrounded by guns and gun-happy people.

  Logan casually slung his arm around Skyler’s shoulders. “I want to teach the little lady how to shoot.” He got a jab in the gut at the “little lady” comment, and he had to fight hard not to smile. “My friend Zac—Zac Vaughn—recommended this place.”

  “You just missed him.”

  “He was here? Today?”

  “Left no more than five minutes ago.”

  “Man.” Logan took his arm from Skyler and dramatically ran his hand over his face. “Been a bad week and I would’ve really liked
to skunk Zac on the range today. What was he shooting?”

  “HK G3,” he said as if challenging Logan’s weapon knowledge.

  Logan recognized the military issue rifle. It was hard to come by for civilians, but not impossible to steal. It fired the same caliber bullets as the slug they’d found outside the sheriff’s office. Logan played it cool and held up his gun case. “I much prefer my Remington to the Heckler & Koch.”

  A flash of respect lit the old guy’s eyes. “They’re both respectable weapons. I’d have liked to have seen the two of you compete.”

  “There’d be no competition.” Skyler poked Logan in the biceps. “This guy has to be better than everyone at everything.”

  Logan hated that she spoke the truth. He’d once been proud of that fact, but after the past few days, he could see how he paid the price for it.

  “Zac’s a hard one to beat,” the old man said.

  “Too bad he’s not here for me to prove you wrong.” Logan moved to the next phase of his plan. “I don’t suppose you’d tell me which shooting station Zac used so I can see if he left any of his targets behind. That way I can harass him about wide shots the next time I see him.”

  “Rifle area. Lane five.” He gestured at a door to his left. “Since you’re so eager, go on in. We’ll settle up when you’re done.”

  “Thanks, man.” Logan all but ran for the door to the shooting stations.

  At lane five, Skyler scooted in front of him. “Now will you tell me what you hope to accomplish here?”

  “After seeing the way Zac let his house fall apart, I hoped he was sloppy and would leave his casings behind.”

  “To compare them to the one recovered at my office.”

  “Exactly.” Logan snapped on latex gloves and squatted to search the dark corners for casings, but he came up empty-handed. “Nothing.”