Christmas hostage, p.18
Christmas Hostage, page 18
“Marisa is waiting for us just inside Departures. She’ll send a police officer out to deal with Soldier so we can focus on the search.”
As Laura pulled up to the curb, a uniformed officer emerged and walked toward their car. Once the officer had Soldier in custody, she and Hollis hurried inside.
Marisa and another officer were waiting just inside the sliding glass doors. Laura glanced around. The airport, which only had two gates, was full of waiting passengers. It wasn’t until she saw some of the passengers carrying wrapped packages that she realized it was two days before Christmas.
Marisa approached them. “There have been some flight delays because of the storm. We’ve done a search of the passengers. No one matching the description you gave me. It would take a warrant to get the names of the passengers from the airlines.”
Laura looked up at the board, where she saw that the three pending flights had all been delayed. “Will they even take off tonight?”
Marisa shifted her weight. “I asked the ticket agent. He seems to think the flight headed south will still be a go.”
“We need to search this whole airport,” Hollis said. “The restrooms as well as all the hallways. Anywhere someone might hide.”
They had no idea which flight the man might be on, or if he was even here. “What if he’s on one of the flights that likely won’t take off tonight? He’ll just go back to his car and drive to the international airport in Bozeman.”
“Laura’s right,” Hollis said. “We’ll search the parking lot and see if we can find the SUV he was driving. You and the officer can keep searching the airport.”
It was possible that Arthur had made arrangements for the car to be picked up by Branson or someone else. Or perhaps it had been a rental. Regardless, this was their last chance, so they had to cover all the bases.
Laura and Hollis stepped back out into the storm. Time was running out.
* * *
The snow slashed against Hollis’s exposed skin like a thousand cold needles. Their heads down, he and Laura hurried back to the car. Hollis got behind the wheel and turned the heat on full blast. He drove slowly through the parking lot, up and down the rows.
Laura shook her head. “I don’t see Arthur’s SUV anywhere.”
The darkness and the storm had reduced visibility. It was too cold to get out and walk through the lot. “Let’s search the lot one more time.” With the snow piling up on the cars, it would be even harder to find the one they were looking for.
Once again, he eased by the first row of cars. Laura pressed her face close to the window. When she turned her head, she sat up straighter.
“What is it?”
She pointed toward the edge of the parking lot. “That police car. I can’t see for sure, but I think a man in a yellow coat just got into the passenger side.”
Hollis sped up. There had been two police cars parked outside of Departures when they arrived. Now there was only one. But one of them could have taken Soldier to jail, or it could be the car they were headed toward. Hollis sped toward the edge of the airport parking lot. The snow was coming down even faster. The police car got on the road that led away from the resort. That meant it was not the police car with Soldier and the real officer taking him into Lovell Heights.
“Call Marisa. Tell her where we’re headed and why. We’ll need some backup.”
While Laura made the phone call, Hollis concentrated on driving in the hazardous conditions.
Laura clicked off the phone. “Marisa and the officer are headed this way.”
Hollis followed the patrol car, hanging back but keeping the taillights in his view. He was grateful the low visibility created by the storm made it so that neither Branson nor the man called Arthur Richards could recognize the vehicle Soldier had driven. At this point, they still had the element of surprise on their side.
Hollis surged forward only to have his car fishtail and swerve across the yellow line. He let up on the gas and regained control, reminding himself that all they could do was stay close and wait for Marisa.
The wipers whooshed across the windshield. Laura gripped her armrest and stared straight ahead.
A set of headlights appeared in the rearview mirror. Not the police car, but a dark-colored truck. The truck pulled into the left lane, preparing to pass. It gained speed and then kept going faster, making it clear it intended to pass the police car as well.
The truck surged ahead of the police car but then spun in the middle of the road. Branson must have slammed the brakes, which caused the police car to go out of control. The truck stopped but took up both lanes. The police car crashed into the driver’s side of the truck with such force it moved the truck sideways several feet.
Hollis pumped his brakes to keep from crashing into the other two vehicles.
Before he came to a stop, a man dressed in dark clothes exited the passenger side of the police car and ran into the surrounding trees.
Before he could tell Laura to remain in the vehicle, she got out at the same time he did. Down the road, he saw the headlights of an approaching police car. Marisa and the officer, he hoped. Branson had not gotten out of the crashed car yet. Fully aware that they might be walking into a trap, Hollis approached the crash.
The driver of the truck had scooted across the seat and gotten out on the passenger side. The young man was walking and didn’t appear to be hurt, though his wide-eyed expression suggested he was in shock.
Hollis gestured that Laura needed to hang back. The whole front end of the police car was crumpled from the crash. Because of the angle of impact, the driver’s side had taken the brunt of it. The airbags had not deployed for whatever reason. Branson was slumped over the steering wheel, probably unconscious.
The other police car was getting closer, but Hollis couldn’t wait. “Call an ambulance. Tell Marisa where I went and to follow me,” he told Laura. The officer with Marisa could remain behind to ensure that Laura wouldn’t be in danger if Branson came to.
He set off to chase Arthur into the woods unarmed. He didn’t want to risk that Arthur would make another phone call and simply get someone else to come pick him up.
The path of the footprints was easy enough to follow in the fresh fallen snow.
Arthur appeared to be in good shape and moving fast. Hollis didn’t see him anywhere, not even when the trees opened up to a flat area. Only the footprints told Hollis which way to go. Hollis entered another wooded area. He had to assume that Arthur was armed, but so far he wasn’t even sure he could catch up with the man.
The forest canopy was thicker, making the footprints less obvious without as much snow. Hollis slowed down. He was out of breath. He heard a voice and moved toward it, stepping carefully to keep from making noise. He spotted Arthur.
As he spoke on the phone, Arthur’s back was to him. “Yes, it looks like there’s a road that leads to someone’s house.” Arthur looked out through the trees, where he must have noticed a road. “You can track me with your phone. I have to keep moving in case overzealous lawmen get any ideas.”
This was Hollis’s only chance. He sprinted across the five yards that separated the two men. Arthur whirled around, reaching inside his coat and pulling out a gun just as Hollis crashed into him and knocked him to the ground.
“You.” Rage filled Arthur’s voice.
Hollis braced the arm that held the gun with his knee before the other man could lift his hand to fire. The other knee pressed into Arthur’s chest. “Drop the gun.” Hollis clamped his hand on Arthur’s throat, making it almost impossible for the other man to move.
Arthur complied and let go of the gun. Hollis knew if he tried to get the weapon, it would mean letting pressure off Arthur’s neck and chest, making it easier for him to attack.
He reached for the gun. Though his shooting arm was still pinned, Arthur rolled his body and punched Hollis hard in the back several times.
In pain, Hollis got to his feet, stumbling backward. He steadied his hand and held the gun on the man he had been chasing for so long. “Get up and start walking, arms in the air.”
Arthur sneered but did as he was told.
Hollis fell in behind him. They walked through the trees into the open area. Marisa met him when he was almost back to the road. Together they led Arthur to the police car. Two ambulances had arrived and were transporting Branson and the driver of the truck.
Once Arthur was in the police car, Laura got out of the car, where she’d been waiting.
She walked toward Hollis. “So it’s over. He’s in custody.”
“Yes, you can go back to your old life now. I’m sure George the aloe-vera plant missed you.”
He couldn’t quite read the expression on her face. Was she sad? Confused? “That is what you wanted, isn’t it?” He stepped closer to her.
“I thought it was at first.” She tilted her head. “But now I don’t know anymore if it means not seeing you again.”
He pulled off his glove and reached out to brush her cheek with his knuckles. Her features softened and he knew what he saw in her eyes—trust and love. She wanted to stay in his life. Was he ready for that? Such a big step. He needed time to think and pray. He took her into his arms. “Tell you what—it’s two days until Christmas, why don’t you come and spend the holiday with me and my aunt’s family?”
“I’d love that, Hollis.” She pulled back so she could meet his gaze. There was a question there in her eyes. Do you love me?
He wasn’t sure how he would answer that.
TWENTY-TWO
The powerful words of the Christmas carol Hollis’s family was singing followed Laura as she stepped out on the covered porch to catch her breath and enjoy the beauty of the snow falling. She’d grabbed a throw on her way out.
Celebrating Christmas with Hollis’s family had felt like something out of a dream. Christmas Eve service, games, big meals and yummy treats, lots of laughter. Everything she had wanted and prayed for as a lonely little girl. And she had a standing invitation from Hollis’s aunt to come back next year.
God did answer prayers, she realized, but on His timeline.
There was only one thing missing. She knew now that she loved Hollis, but did he feel the same way about her?
She looked up to see the soft swirling snow and the glittering stars.
The singing grew louder as Hollis opened the door, and then it became muffled when he closed it.
He held up his phone. “I just got a call from my supervisor. They’ve identified who Arthur Brooks really is, he’s going to name names. It’s just a matter of time before all those involved in the robbery are brought in.”
“That’s good news.” A note of disappointment entered her voice. While she was happy about the investigation ending well, she had hoped that Hollis had followed her out here to talk about their future together...if there was even going to be one. When they were on the snow-covered road, she had thought she had made it clear that she wanted to see more of him. His response had been so reserved and hard to read. Yet, he had invited her here. “I suppose you will be going back to work soon on another case?”
“Yes, I will. I have a little downtime since this investigation was so intense. How about you? Will you go back to your job?”
“Not sure. All of this has been life altering for me.” She stared at the ground. Maybe she had mistaken Hollis’s sense of decency for attraction. Maybe he didn’t share her feelings.
He leaned closer to her. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s more than okay. Thank you so much for inviting me to be with your family,” she said. “It has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.”
Still, she saw such warmth in his eyes. “They like you a lot, Laura.”
Laura peered at the family through the window. They had stopped singing and now were settling down to watch a Christmas movie. As Aunt Gin carried a giant bowl of popcorn into the living room from the kitchen, she gestured for Laura to come inside. “Looks like they’ll be starting the movie soon.” She stared at Hollis.
“I suppose we should go back inside.” He glanced out across the property and then stared at the porch floor.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Neither of them moved. “Is everything okay with you?”
Hollis licked his lips and shifted his weight from foot to foot. Though he was dressed in a thick sweater, he was obviously starting to feel the chill, as she was. She pulled the throw tighter around her.
“Laura, I’m not totally prepared for this. Once the stores open tomorrow, I promise we’ll pick out a real one together.”
“What are you talking about?”
He pulled something out of his jeans pocket. “My uncle helped me make this from some scrap metal he had.” He opened his palm to reveal a simple ring.
Her breath caught and the chill she felt disappeared. “Oh, Hollis, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes, Laura, marry me.”
“And your family agrees?”
“They’re crazy about you.” Hollis took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger.
It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d ever worn.
He kissed her.
When they looked back into the window, the whole family had gotten up from the couch to applaud.
The warmth of their love and support made her heart soar. “Best Christmas present ever.” She turned her attention back to Hollis. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Hollis took his bride-to-be into his arms and kissed her again.
* * *
If you enjoyed this book, please look for these other stories from Sharon Dunn:
Undercover Mountain Pursuit
Crime Scene Cover-Up
Keep reading for an excerpt from Tracked Through the Mountains by Rhonda Starnes.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for going on the romantic, often dangerous, roller-coaster ride with Hollis and Laura. As I was writing this book, I thought about the importance of prayer and God’s timing. Laura closes her heart off to God as a child because He didn’t answer her heartfelt prayer and yet that prayer is answered in abundance by the end of the book, when Laura is an adult. That is a long time to wait for God to come through. While I totally understand a child’s faith being shaken when answers to prayer don’t materialize, I think as adults, we need to learn to trust that God has heard us even if things seem dark and we feel like God has lost our phone number. I loved writing a book that takes place at Christmas, not just because it’s my favorite holiday, but because this time of year, I think people’s hearts are softer and more open to the gospel just like it was for Laura.
Take care and Merry Christmas!
Sharon Dunn
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Tracked Through the Mountains
by Rhonda Starnes
ONE
Sawyer Eldridge maneuvered the John Deere Gator UTV over the uneven, rocky landscape that covered the remote section of Mountain Shadow Ranch that nestled against the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. In the ten months that he’d worked as the foreman on Frank and Marie Vincent’s ranch, he had come to appreciate the beauty and solitude of this section of land.
He slid a sideways glance at Bridget Vincent, who sat silently in the passenger seat, her posture rigid. This was the first time he could recall the auburn-haired beauty going deep into the woods since her arrival at her grandparents’ ranch two months ago to heal from injuries sustained in an attack. He didn’t know all the details, but he knew she went to physical therapy twice weekly. “You know, I could have checked the game cameras alone.”
“No way. I promised Granddad I’d do my part while he’s away.”
“You’ve definitely kept your word. I’d still be working to repair that section of fence near the hayfield if you hadn’t helped.”
“I’m still surprised Granddad and Grams went on vacation the week before Thanksgiving.” She sighed. “I guess, when you own a ranch, there’s never a perfect time to take a vacation.”
“You’re probably right, but I’d say this was as good a time as any. Besides, they’ll be back late tomorrow night, which gives them a few days to prepare for all the family arriving for the Thanksgiving weekend.” He glanced at her again, noting her pink windburned cheeks, and sighed. “I really should have dropped you off at the farmhouse. If it wasn’t so late in the day, I’d turn around now and take you back before checking the game cameras.”
As if to emphasize his words, the sun dipped lower in the sky, its pink and orange hues mingling with the shadows on the mountains.
“I appreciate the thought, but Granddad wouldn’t approve.”
Sawyer couldn’t argue with that. One of Frank’s hard-and-fast rules was for no one to venture into the area of the ranch referred to as the back forty alone. He smiled. The back forty was actually closer to four hundred acres, at the far corner of the property in a valley beyond a creek that flowed from a waterfall on the side of the mountain bordering the twenty-four-hundred-acre ranch. In Sawyer’s opinion, it was the most beautiful section of the ranch, full of deer and other wild game. However, with poor cell reception, if someone were to be injured while working in that section of the property, they could easily die before being found. Hence Frank’s rule.
