Christmas Haven (21 page)

“He has to be okay, Morgan. He just has to be.”

Anger flared in Morgan’s chest at the possibility that the kid was part of a plan to find Julie. No, if Julie had faith in Dane, Morgan needed to follow her lead and give the kid the benefit of the doubt, as well.

They got to Dane’s room and searched the floor, the bed and the closet. Nothing.

“Let’s check the stairs,” he said. Although he considered the threat to Julie if they found Dane with the man who set this up, Morgan couldn’t leave her alone and vulnerable. Besides, she’d never let him take off in search of Dane without her.

He pushed the door open to the stairs and guided her behind him. “Stay back.”

She nodded and they started down the stairs. Morgan didn’t want to draw his firearm, but had no choice given the circumstances.

They got to the second floor and he opened the door, peered down the hall. Empty.

Halfway down to the first floor, he stopped at the sound of a whimper echoing up the stairs. Morgan put his finger to his lips and Julie shifted behind him. A few more steps and…

Morgan spotted the boy huddled on the bottom step. Dressed in his hospital gown, he clung to his clothes, his shoulders jerking as he fought back tears. Morgan holstered his gun and motioned Julie ahead.

“Dane?” she said.

He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand and glanced
up. “I didn’t know where to go. You weren’t here and…he called. He said Andy was dead and they were coming for me.”

She sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulder. “Who called?”

“Henson. He said I should have come back, but I didn’t so they killed Andy. It’s my fault, he’s dead because of me!”

“Shh, calm down.”

“And now they’re coming for me!”

Julie glanced at Morgan with worry in her eyes.

“How did he call you?” Morgan asked.

“On my cell.”

“Where is it?”

Dane reached into his jeans bunched in his lap and pulled out the phone. Morgan grabbed it. “We need to leave. Now.”

“Morgan?” Julie questioned.

“We can’t risk them tracking his GPS. We need to dump the phone and get back to Port Whisper.”

“Do you want to get dressed?” she asked Dane.

“No time,” Morgan said. “Come on, let’s get to my truck.”

He guided them down to the basement level and pushed open the door. Scanning the parking garage, he spotted a delivery van unloading supplies. Morgan handed Julie his keys.

“Get to the truck.”

Morgan kept watch as Julie led Dane to the truck. Once they were safely inside, Morgan went to the delivery van and slipped Dane’s phone under the front seat. He figured the van had other stops and would hopefully be headed in the opposite direction of Port Whisper.

Casting one last glance around the garage, and feeling confident they weren’t being watched, he got into the truck and started it up.

“Dane, I need you to stay down. Can you do that for me?” he said.

“Yeah.”

Dane disappeared from the rearview mirror. Calming his adrenaline rush, Morgan pulled out of the lot, keeping a keen
eye out for vehicles that might be following them. A gray Chevy pulled out behind him. Actually, this could be a good thing, an opportunity to stop and challenge the driver and get some answers. If the guy was sent by Henson, this could be a solid lead.

Before pulling onto Highway 101 North, Morgan slowed down and signaled.

“What’s wrong?” Julie asked.

“Someone’s following us. I want to see what he does.”

Instead of pulling over behind Morgan, the Chevy passed them. Morgan jotted the plate number on his dashboard notepad. He didn’t want to sit on the side of the road any longer than necessary, so he handed Julie his phone. “Call Scott for me. Speed dial two.”

She did and put the phone on speaker. “Hey, Chief.”

“Scott, I need you to run a plate for me.”

“Sure.”

Julie read him the number.

“Get back to me as soon as possible,” Morgan ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

“How’s everything in town?” Morgan asked.

“Waddingham’s dog bit the Kingston kid and we had a fender bender on Front Street, but otherwise same as usual. Where are you?”

“On my way back. I’m bringing one of Julie’s boys with us. We think he’s involved in this case.”

“Are we locking him up?”

Dane sat up, worried. Morgan eyed him in the rearview.

“No, he’ll be a guest at Dad’s house. Speaking of which, could you have a cruiser swing by the house every half hour or so, just until I get back?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thanks—” Morgan paused “—Chief.”

“Very funny. Get back here before the place falls apart.”

“Check that. ’Bye.”

Julie pressed the end button and placed the phone into the cup holder. “Do you think they’ve located your dad’s house?”

“No, but it doesn’t hurt to have a police presence cruise by.”

Morgan glanced in his side-view mirror. “Dane, want to help me out?”

“It depends.”

“Dane,” Julie warned.

“Can you keep an eye out for cars that might be following us, especially a gray Chevy?” Morgan asked. “I’m going to pull off the highway before we get back to Port Whisper just to be sure, but I could use another set of eyes to keep watch.”

“Sure, okay.”

“And we’ll stop by a Target to get you some clothes.”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Dane said.

“Thought you’d want something clean, but hey, if you want to wear those…”

“No, that’s okay, I guess.”

Julie glanced at him over the seat. “How about ‘thanks, Morgan.’”

“Thanks,” the kid grunted.

Morgan eyed Julie. “Keep an eye on your side-view mirror for me?”

She glanced at her mirror. “I don’t like the sound of you calling Scott ‘Chief.’”

“It’s temporary.”

She shot him a worried look. “I hope so. I would never forgive myself if I ruined your career.”

“Do you ever forgive yourself for anything?”

She refocused on the mirror.

“Jules?”

“What?”

“I made the decision to step down, Lana made the decisions she did in high school that got her into trouble and Suzy made the choice to take the boat out at night.”

“Don’t.”

“What, point out the fact that this whole beating-yourself-up thing is dangerously close to narcissism?”

“Morgan,” she protested.

“Sorry, but it’s a logical conclusion. You hold on to other people’s angst and sorrow like you’ve created it for them. You didn’t throw the street kids out of their homes, you didn’t get them hooked on drugs. You—”

“That’s enough,” she said, her cheeks reddening.

“Why? What are you afraid of?”

“Everyone knowing the truth.”

“Which is?”

“I’m a failure. I failed as a friend or Suzy would still be alive, I failed as a girlfriend and I failed as a counselor.”

The car fell silent. She turned to look out her window and he regretted pushing her. She’d admitted to the demons chasing her, but to what end? Did speaking it out loud purge the fear from her system or just solidify it? He wished he didn’t need to be so focused on avoiding their pursuers and keeping her safe.

He wished he could pull her into his arms and tell her that she was anything but a failure, that she was kind and smart and brave, for starters.

“Miss Burns?” Dane said from the backseat.

“Yes?”

“I just want you to know, I would have been dead by now if I hadn’t met you.”

The sight that greeted them when they pulled up to Morgan’s house nearly took Julie’s breath away. Mom had not only found the Christmas decorations, but had put them up in record time. Colorful lights trimmed the roofline of the house, spruce garland was wrapped around the porch railing and a fresh pine wreath with multicolored lights hung on the front door.

Morgan eyed the front door. “Now, I know they didn’t find that in my garage.”

“I don’t want to know how Mom got the lights up on the roof. I don’t like the thought of her on a ladder.”

“I’m guessing Anderson helped out, or Scooner, or maybe even Sketch.”

“You’re not upset, are you?”

He parked in the back and glanced at her. “Why would I be upset?”

“I sensed you didn’t want her finding the Christmas decorations.”

“It’s just been a long time since anything’s been celebrated in Dad’s house. I’m glad you and your family are changing that.” He placed his hand over hers and her breath caught.

Suddenly Dane popped up in the backseat, awakening from a sound sleep. “Where are we?”

“My dad’s house. Come on, let’s get inside.”

As they started up the back steps, the sound of Christmas music echoed through the window. Morgan opened the back door and the aroma that greeted them made Julie’s mouth water.

She realized she hadn’t eaten anything substantial in close to twenty-four hours and she was starving.

The table was set, the kettle was on and Mom greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “I made your favorite, shepherd’s pie.” She glanced at Dane, who carried two shopping bags. “You’d better change, young man. We’re expecting guests any minute now.”

Just then, Lana pulled into the driveway.

Dane glanced frantically around as if looking for a place to hide. Or escape. Still dressed in his hospital gown beneath a jean jacket Morgan had bought him, the boy was obviously feeling exposed.

“Bathroom’s upstairs on the right,” Morgan said.

Dane rushed through the living room and up the stairs.

“The house looks great, Edith,” Morgan said.

“Thanks. We took care of the outside today and tomorrow’s
goal is the living room. Are you getting a live tree this year, Morgan?”

“Hadn’t given it much thought.”

“I’ll never forgot the time you and Julie went to Miller’s Farm and cut down a seven-foot tree.”

“That didn’t fit in our living room.” Julie smiled at the memory.

Morgan glanced out the kitchen window at Lana and Ashley, who approached the back steps carrying shopping bags from Tindle’s market.

“Is Sketch joining us?” Morgan asked.

“I’m sure he’ll be here. Where Ashley goes, Sketch goes,” Mom offered. She smiled and checked the pie. “Kind of reminds me of you two at their age.”

For the first time since she’d been back, Julie didn’t feel the need to scold Mom for bringing up their past. They had been close, in love, and it wasn’t right to pretend it didn’t happen.

Or that it wasn’t happening again.

“I need water,” Julie said, grabbing a glass and filling it with ice. She needed to do something to shock her back to reality. Perhaps she should dump a glass of ice water over her head?

Lana and Ashley came into the kitchen. “Wild rice was on sale, plus whole chickens and celery.” She slid the bags onto the counter.

“You’re making more food?” Julie asked.

“Chicken soup for tomorrow.”

“You’re spoiling me,” Morgan said, stepping around Julie for a glass.

“It’s my pleasure,” Mom said. “Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”

“How can I help?” Julie said.

“No, no.” Mom waved her off. “Sit, relax, tell us about our guest.”

Suddenly, Sketch appeared in the doorway. “What guest?” His eyes caught Ashley’s and she smiled. Sketch smiled back and glanced at the floor.

They were adorable. Morgan glanced at Julie and cracked his own smile. He must have been thinking the same thing.

“His name is Dane Simms,” Julie said. “He’s upstairs changing.”

“Who is he?” Sketch flopped down at the kitchen table.

“One of the boys I counsel at Teen Life.”

“Sounds like he got caught in the same net that snared Julie,” Morgan added.

“Can he help solve the case?” Lana asked.

“Possibly,” Morgan said.

“He needs to take it easy,” Julie said. “We were at the hospital with him all night.”

“Was he drugged out?” Sketch said.

“No.” She glanced at Morgan. “He was dehydrated.”

Sketch dumped his computer bag on the kitchen table.

“Nuh-uh,” Mom said. “We’re setting the table. Ashley, could you do the honors?”

“Sure.”

“Sketch, I could use your help with something,” Morgan said. “Come into the living room.”

“Okay, Chief.” He eyed Ashley. “Duty calls.”

Sketch followed Morgan into the living room.

Ten minutes later, Edith was calling everyone to the table. Julie glanced toward the second floor.

“Do you want me to check on him?” Morgan asked.

“No, I’ll do it.” Julie went upstairs and found the bathroom door open, Dane’s dirty clothes on the floor, but no Dane. Panic flooded her chest. “Dane?”

“In here.”

She followed the sound of his voice into Morgan’s room. Dane sat in the corner, freshly showered and dressed in the clothes Morgan had bought him, knees pulled to his chest. Julie sat on the bed a few inches from him.

“What’s up, buddy?” she asked.

“I like this room.”

She figured he would. “This was Morgan’s room.”

“He’s got a lot of plaques and stuff.”

“He had some good years in high school.” She paused. “And some bad. Come on downstairs for dinner. You have to be starving.”

Dane shrugged. “It sounds like there’s a lotta people down there.”

“Just family. Morgan, my mom, my sister, Lana, her assistant, Ashley, and Ashley’s boyfriend, Sketch. He’s seventeen. Like you.”

“And he’s probably a brain or jock or something.”

“Actually, he’s a high-school dropout. But yeah, he’s kind of a computer brain. Come on.” Julie stood and motioned for him to join her.

“I’ll be down in a minute.”

“I wouldn’t wait too long. My mom’s shepherd’s pie is a favorite.”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“It’s like hamburger meat, flavored with veggies and baked with mashed potatoes on top. She also made Jell-O salad, Christmas cookies and caramel-apple pie for dessert.” She paused. “À la mode.”

Dane absently licked his lips, but didn’t move.

“Okay, well, I don’t want to keep them waiting. See you in a few minutes.” Julie headed downstairs, hoping she’d enticed him to join the family.

The family. A surge of contentment filled her chest. Yes, this was a family, everyone gathering to celebrate a meal and their love for one another.