Christmas Up in Flames

by Lisa Harris

  Reid studied the photos on the bulletin board. Unless he—or she—was in disguise.

  “Reid...” Claire held up another photo. “These aren’t just from the fires. Apparently our fire-spitting drone also took pictures. And it looks like there are more from the fire at the B&B—”

  “And from the scene of my wreck.”

  Reid felt his mouth go dry. There was a stack of images of the two of them out on horseback, taken from the drone. He turned back to the desk, wincing at the pain that shot through him. He’d run into burning buildings to save people, but had never been targeted himself. And what made it even more unsettling was that he had no idea why.

  “What are you thinking?” Claire asked.

  Reid rubbed the back of his neck, trying to put everything together, but the pieces still didn’t fit. “I’m just trying to make sense of all of this. He uses this as his base, documents everything he does, including his attacks on us, then brings your son here. What does he want? Is it just a game he gets pleasure from, or does he actually have an end goal?”

  “That’s what we need to figure out,” Claire said.

  “Who owns this cabin?” Reid asked.

  Detective Kaufman pulled out her notes. “A Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, but it sounds like they’re only here a couple weeks out of the year in the summer.”

  “So our arsonist was squatting here and keeping records of everything he did, anything related to the fires that he could get his hands on,” Griffin said. “We can bring in a forensics team and sweep the place, see if we can get some fingerprints. Hopefully, we’ll come up with answers soon, but there’s no question any longer that the two of you need to be in protective custody.”

  “I can’t run this case while hiding,” Claire said.

  “I’m not asking you to drop the case, but you have a son out there who needs you, Claire. We can find a way for you to continue working on the case without putting your lives in danger.”

  Reid caught the conflict in her eyes, but still knew her well enough to know she’d always choose her son over her career. And as angry as he felt toward her, she was the kind of person who’d always kept her priorities straight. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to find a way to work outside the box.

  “You’re right. I need to be with my son, but I also need to find a way to catch whoever’s behind this. No one can guarantee Owen’s safety until then.”

  “Why don’t you come back to the ranch, both of you?” Griffin said. “You and Owen will be safe there, and your mother can come, as well, if that would make you feel better. I know for sure that you don’t need to be investigating out in the field. I’ll have CSI sweep this place and gather all evidence and get it to you. Agreed?”

  Reid nodded. “I’ll help you go through everything, Claire. We’re going to find who’s behind this. There has to be evidence here. No one is infallible. Between the photos, the lighters and the social media downloads, we’re going to find something that identifies whoever is setting these fires.”

  “I can agree to that.”

  “Good, then it’s settled.”

  Reid hesitated, searching her face. He had so many questions he wanted to ask her. He hated the fact that this case had to take priority right now, but whatever needed to be said between the two of them was going to have to wait. Keeping their son safe was all that really mattered.

  “Why don’t you go get Owen?” Griffin turned to Claire. “I’ll escort you to my truck while Reid gets checked out by the paramedics. Then we’ll get all three of you out of here and to the ranch.”

  Reid nodded, but he was still uneasy about the situation. Whoever was behind this had resources and didn’t seem to have limits to what they did. The attacks had taken place both at the ranch by the drone and in broad daylight on the highway. What if their plan wasn’t enough to keep Claire and Owen safe?

  Griffin laid a hand on Reid’s shoulder. “You don’t seem convinced with the plan moving forward.”

  “I am. It’s just...” He glanced at Claire, who was asking the detective a question. There probably wasn’t any plan he’d be happy with. He wasn’t just worried about an old girlfriend. All of this had taken a very personal twist. His son’s life was in danger.

  “We need to figure out who’s behind this as soon as possible.”

  Griffin nodded. “I know this is important to you, and we will. I promise.”

  They headed back into the living room behind the women. Claire stopped short in front of him.

  “Owen...”

  “What’s wrong?” Griffin asked.

  Reid glanced at the spot where they’d left their son with Shawn. A shot of terror flooded through him. Owen was gone.

  FOURTEEN

  The panic that had tortured her all day raised its ugly head again.

  “Where’s Owen? He was just right here...with Shawn.”

  This couldn’t be happening. She never should have let him out of her sight again. This was where the arsonist had brought her son, which meant he had to be nearby, and now, if he’d managed to grab her son again...

  “Owen?” She shouted louder this time as she ran outside onto the porch.

  “Claire?” Shawn turned around. Owen stood next to him on the corner of the porch.

  “Mom, are you okay?”

  “Owen...” She picked him up and held him against her chest.

  “Mom.”

  She put him down, but didn’t let go of his hand.

  “I’m sorry,” Shawn said. “We just stepped out onto the porch. I thought it would be safe with so many officers out here. The sheriff is taping this off as a crime scene and Owen wanted to watch. I told you I’d take care of him for you.”

  “I know. I shouldn’t have panicked.”

  “No, I don’t blame you,” Shawn said. “We should have stayed in the cabin. I wasn’t thinking. And you’ve already been through so much today. I really am sorry.”

  Detective Kaufman walked up to them. “And I’m sorry to interrupt, but we are going to need to talk to Owen and see if he can give us any clues to who took him. And while I’d like to work on your timetable, the sooner the better. We need to find this man, and Owen has been with him.”

  “Of course,” Claire said. “I understand.”

  “We’re actually not far from Timber Falls, and I have colleague there who’s a psychologist and has worked with the police before. If it’s okay with you, we can go there immediately.” Detective Kaufman lowered her voice. “I also need to be mindful of your son.”

  Claire pulled the detective a couple of feet away, but kept Owen in full view. “I agree that the sooner we find this person, the sooner this will all be over. I’m just worried about him. He doesn’t seem to understand the significance of what happened. I don’t know the best way of handling things, but I don’t want him to feel as if he’s in trouble.”

  “I understand. Stacy is good at uncovering details without making him feel guilty or scared.” Detective Kaufman glanced at her watch. “I’m going to keep the teams searching for now, but I’ll have Deputy Griffin escort you back to Timber Falls.”

  Thirty minutes later, Claire was sitting in a back room of the Timber Falls sheriff’s office, handing Owen a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows someone had scrounged up for him. She’d asked Reid to come, as well, knowing that despite what they might feel toward each other, they had to put Owen and finding his kidnapper first.

  Claire sat. “Owen, I’d like you to meet someone. Her name is Miss Porter.”

  “Hello.”

  “I’m happy to meet you, Owen. You can call me Miss Stacy if you’d like.”

  Owen just nodded.

  “Sweetie, I’ll be right here the whole time, but Miss Stacy would like to talk to you about the man who took you. And when you’re done talking with her, I thought we might go get some tac
os.”

  “Okay.”

  “Just answer everything she asks you as best you can.”

  Claire glanced at Reid before leaning back in her chair, hating how out of control she felt, how hard it was to not take over the conversation.

  “It sounds like you’ve had quite an exciting day,” Stacy said.

  “Yep.”

  “Can we talk about it?”

  “I guess.”

  “What can you tell me about the man in the brown car?”

  Owen took a sip of his hot chocolate. “I was waiting for my grandma. He told me my mom was hurt and he was going to take me to see her. Told me my grandma would come after she bought lunch. That it was important that we hurry.”

  “Is that why you went with him?”

  “Yes. But I don’t know why he told me that. My mom said she’s fine.”

  “You know, Owen, I’m not sure why he said that, either, but I know that your mother and the others are doing everything they can to find out. But mainly they are just happy you are safe. It’s always scary for a mommy when she doesn’t know where her child is.”

  “I was scared too.”

  “Owen, we want to find the man so we can talk to him, but we really need your help.”

  Owen shifted in his seat. “Would that mean I’m like a sheriff’s deputy?”

  “I bet if you help me, we could find you a badge. Would you like that?”

  Owen nodded.

  “Good. Now, do you remember what the man looked like?”

  “Not really. He had a mask on. Well...kind of a mask.”

  “What do you mean, Owen?”

  “He had a hat and glasses and a beard. But it wasn’t a real beard though.”

  Claire fiddled with the zipper of her jacket, praying he’d be able to give them something concrete, but five-year-olds were more interested in fast food and video games than remembering a description.

  “Could you tell me about his beard?”

  Owen grabbed his hat off the table. “It was like my hat, but black, I think.”

  “A knit cap.”

  “Yeah...it looked kind of silly.”

  “A beard beanie,” Reid said.

  “A beard beanie. What’s that?” Claire asked.

  “It looks like a beanie, but it’s for your beard.”

  “Okay...” Claire pulled out her phone and did a quick Google search before stumbling on what she was looking for. “Like this?”

  She slid the phone in front of Owen.

  “Yeah. I told him it was funny. Wearing a hat on your chin. He said it kept his face warm.”

  “Do you remember what else he said to you?” Stacy asked.

  “He said my mom had been in an accident.”

  “A car accident?”

  “I think so. He was going to take me to the hospital to see her.”

  “Did he tell you what Grandma was doing?”

  “He told me his friend was going to pick her up after she paid for the tacos.”

  “And then you drove to the cabin?”

  “He gave me a video game in the car and told me I could play with it if I stayed very quiet.”

  “So that would have been extra fun for you.”

  “Yeah. He told me Mommy said it was okay.”

  “Did you go to any other cabins?”

  Owen shook his head. “Nope, just the one where Mommy found me.”

  Claire made a mental note of the discrepancy. The couple who’d called in saying they’d seen Owen had given the police a different location than where he was found. Was that just a mistake or something significant?

  “Did he talk to anyone on the phone while you were in the car or here at the cabin?” Stacy asked.

  “I don’t think so. He just kept checking his watch.”

  “Owen, I’m going to show you some photos to see if you can recognize him.”

  Owen just shrugged. “Okay.”

  Stacy went through a number of photos Claire had given her of men who had been at the fires and matched the height and weight description her mother had given the police.

  “Do you see him here?”

  “No, but it’s hard to tell.”

  “Because of his beard?”

  Owen nodded. “They don’t have beards.”

  “That is true. Did he ever take off the cap?”

  “Nope. He told me his face got cold in the winter.”

  “What else did he tell you, Owen?”

  “He told me that my mom was better and that she was going to meet us there. And then she did.”

  “Yes she did. She was very happy to see you.”

  “But she’s not hurt.”

  “No, your mother is fine. You don’t have to worry about her at all.”

  Owen scrunched his lips together. “I remember something else.”

  “What’s that, Owen?”

  Claire sat up in her chair and leaned forward, praying her son had something that would help them find the man who’d taken him.

  “He had a tattoo.”

  “That’s great. Can you tell me where it was?”

  “I don’t really know what it was, but it was here,” Owen said, pointing to his wrist.

  “So he had a tattoo on his wrist. Was it an animal?”

  “No.”

  “Do you think you could draw it?”

  “Maybe.”

  Claire pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from her bag and slid it in front of Owen.

  Owen took the pen, tapped it on the table, then starting drawing something. “It looked like...fire.”

  Claire glanced at Reid. It made sense. An arsonist with flames on his wrist.

  “Does that help?” Owen asked.

  “Very much. You did great. Thank you for helping out.” Stacy shot him a wide grin. “I’m going to talk to Deputy O’Callaghan about getting you a badge.”

  “Cool.”

  Stacy stood up. “Can I borrow your mom for a minute, Owen? We’re just going to be in the hall.”

  Owen reached for his hot chocolate and took another sip. “That’s okay.”

  Reid followed the women into the hall where Detective Kaufman was waiting for them, but this time, Claire stayed close enough so she could still see Owen through the doorway.

  “The information he gave will help,” Detective Kaufman said. “We’ll add the tattoo to the BOLO.”

  “Good.”

  “I understand you want to stay here in Timber Falls?” the detective asked.

  “At my parents’ ranch,” Reid said. “Griffin and the captain believe they’ll be safest there.”

  “Are you sure your parents are okay with that? Are you okay with that?” Claire asked.

  “Of course. I want you both safe.”

  She studied his face, trying to read his expression, but there was no emotion or warmth behind his words. He was just doing his duty as Owen’s father. Just like she’d always feared.

  And there wasn’t anything she could do to take back the past.

  She’d almost lost Owen, and now because of what she’d done, she’d lost Reid for the second time.

  * * *

  Claire opened the car door, then kissed Owen’s sleepy face. “Hey, buddy...can you wake up? We’re at the ranch I told you about. They’ve got horses and a pond. You’re going to love it.”

  Owen’s eyes widened. “Can I ride a horse?”

  “Well, tonight we’re going to go get settled into the house and go to bed, but we’ll be here for a few days.”

  “I think we can manage a horse ride tomorrow, if it’s okay with your mom,” Reid said. “Do you want me to carry him in?”

  Owen slipped out of her arms. “I can walk.”

  Claire marched up the front
steps behind Owen, then stopped at the top of the stairs, suddenly feeling as if she were heading to an execution, not just into the father of her son’s childhood home. That was a problem. But how was she going to face Reid’s family with them knowing she’d never told them about Owen?

  She tried to steady her breathing, but the anxiety lingered. Still, Owen was okay and that was all that mattered right now. Reid would come around, and if he didn’t...well...they’d go on with their lives and be okay, as they always had.

  Then why is your heart begging to let him in?

  She glanced at Reid, wishing he’d at least talk to her, but he’d been quiet the entire trip back to the ranch. The problem was, he had every right to ignore her. Maybe things would have been different all those years ago when she’d first found out she was expecting Owen. If she’d simply told Reid the truth then, they’d be in a different place today. But it didn’t matter now, because she hadn’t done that. And she couldn’t force Reid to love her and Owen.

  Marci met them at the doorway with a broad smile. “You must be Owen.”

  Owen nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m Reid’s mom. And if it’s all right with your mom, I have some fresh chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen waiting for you.”

  “Mom, can I?”

  “Yes. Just remember your manners.”

  “I’m going to put you in Reid’s old room,” Marci said to Claire. “It’s a good size, and we set up a cot in there for Owen.”

  “Thank you.” Another pang of guilt raised its ugly head. “I really appreciate it.”

  “Of course. I’ve also got tea and coffee.”

  “Some tea sounds great. And thank you for letting us stay.”

  “I’m sure Reid has told you that I’ve always loved a house full of people.” Marci turned to Reid. “Why don’t you get Owen some cookies and milk, then maybe introduce him to Sasha. And Claire, you go sit down in the recliner. I’ll bring you some tea in a minute.”

  Claire watched as Owen followed Reid into the kitchen, seemingly right at home, then she headed into the living room where Christmas lights were twinkling on the tree. Her son needed a father figure in his life.