Holiday Havoc (8 page)

Keeping the scarred side of his face turned away from the window, Adrian said, “Had a report there was a downed telephone line on this street, but I don't see it. Do you?”

“No downed lines. Move along.”

The jogger left Lauren to enter her home, drove his truck to the intersection and turned. She was alone. The timing couldn't have been better.

“Yes, sir.” Adrian started the van.

The officer stepped back as Adrian pressed on the gas and eased the van away from the curb. He slowly drove down the street, keeping a good distance from the black truck as he followed it around the block to make sure the jogger was really leaving. When the truck doubled back and turned down the street that ran parallel to the back of Lauren's house, Adrian rolled past. The truck stopped in front of the house whose backyard adjoined Lauren's backyard.

Adrian barked out a laugh as he pressed on the gas and drove away.

They thought they were so smart. Ha! He'd show them. He'd show them all just how clever
he
was.

 

Lauren entered the dimly lit cottage and tried to catch her breath. What had she been thinking, asking Sean to kiss her again?

A moment of insanity, for sure, because as soon as it was done, she became more acutely aware of how much she loved him and how hard it would be when they parted. What she felt for Sean was deeper, more mature than anything she'd ever felt before. And the loss would be that much greater.

She shook off the disturbing thoughts brought on by the kiss and focused on Detective Jarvis, who was introducing her to the other officers in her living room.

“Officer Garrett will escort you back to the bed-and-breakfast and stay there with you,” Jarvis explained.

Lauren extended her hand to the officer. He was tall, with wide shoulders and a chiseled jaw. She estimated he was in his late thirties, possibly early forties. “Thank you.”

“Not a problem,” he said in a deep tone.

“You met our decoy, Officer Rachel Sims, earlier.” Jarvis gestured toward the pretty, dark-haired woman who rose from the couch and glided forward.

There was a resemblance, Lauren thought. Rachel was the same height as Lauren, had a similar pale complexion and wide-set dark eyes. Lauren found it disturbing to see another woman wearing her favorite sweats outfit. “Officer Sims, I appreciate you taking this risk.”

She inclined her head. “It's my job.”

Lauren turned to Jarvis. “Should she have the wire now?”

“She has her own.” Jarvis reached to Lauren's side and fiddled with the transmitter, then took her elbow and guided her toward the back door. “Come on, let's get you out of here.”

Officer Garrett went through the door first then
motioned for Lauren to join him on the porch. She stepped out and then, as hurriedly as her twisted ankle would allow, followed the officer down the stairs, across the small expanse of lawn to the back fence.

“You'll have to squeeze through,” he said as he pried several wooden slats away from the rails.

Biting her lip, she asked, “What will the neighbors think?”

“They've been sent out to dinner, compliments of the Cannon Beach Police Department.”

“Nice, but you're destroying the fence slats.”

He waved away her concern. “They can easily be nailed back on.”

Ducking beneath the middle rail, she squeezed through the opening. The Ace bandage wrapped around her foot snagged on the bottom rail and she tripped, going down on her hands and knees.

Tennis shoes appeared in her line of vision and hands reached for her.

She sucked in a breath as Sean helped her to stand. In the waning light of the day, his handsome face showed concern.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Just clumsy,” she replied, feeling heat creep up her neck.

“We should get moving,” Officer Garrett prompted.

Sean looped his arm around Lauren's waist and half carried her across the neighbors' mushy lawn toward the gate that led to the street. Sean's truck stood at the curb. The three of them piled into the cab with Lauren in the middle as Sean drove to the bed-and-breakfast. When he pulled the truck to a stop, Lauren's gaze was drawn to the white utility van on the corner. It looked
just like the one that had shown up the other day. She glanced at the dashboard clock. It was after five. The workday had ended.

She touched Sean's hand before he climbed out of the truck. “Seems a little late in the day for the repair guy to be working, don't you think?”

Officer Garrett opened the passenger door. “You two stay put. I'll go check it out.” He climbed out, shutting the door behind him.

With his hand on his gun, the officer approached the van from the driver's side. He peered through the window. Apparently there was no one in the front seat. He rounded the front end and disappeared from view.

The passenger side door of Sean's truck jerked open. Lauren let out a startled yelp as someone slid onto the seat next to her. Something hard pressed into her ribs. She froze.

“Drive, or I shoot her now,” a familiar, deep voice barked.

Lauren gaped at the man dressed in blue coveralls with a navy cap pulled low over his dark, menacing eyes.

Adrian.

The world tilted as the blood drained from Lauren's brain. He hadn't taken the bait. And now they were at his mercy.

H
eart pounding with fear for Lauren, Sean started the truck and pressed on the gas. “Where are we going?”

“Head to Highway 101 and go south,” Posar said, leaning forward to stare at Sean as he removed his hat and peeled away a fake beard.

Sean tried to stifle his reaction to the horrible scars marring the right side of Posar's face. The twisted and puckered skin made his eye bulge in a grotesque way. His ear, now visible without the cap, was nothing more than a hole in his head.

The muffled shouts of Officer Garrett drew Sean's gaze to the rearview mirror. The officer was running after them. Gripping the steering wheel tight, Sean said, “You'll never get away with this.”

The man chuckled, a sinister sound that reverberated through the cab of the truck. “We'll see.”

Sean glanced at Lauren. She appeared to be in shock. Her face had gone pasty white, her breathing shallow as she stared straight ahead.

Posar slid his arm around Lauren, his gloved hand clamping on her shoulder. “Miss me?” Posar said. She whimpered and leaned toward Sean.

Anger mushroomed in Sean's veins. “Leave her alone.”

Keeping his hold on her, Posar waved a nasty-looking gun at him. “You mind yourself there, jogger man. I'm the one with the gun and I'll do as I please.”

Their lives were in the hands of a madman. A shudder of dread coursed through Sean. Only God could protect them. He sent up a silent plea for God's protection, because Sean couldn't protect them any more than he could have saved the boy in his counsel. There was nothing he could do.

No, wait. He dropped one hand from the steering wheel and put his fingers to Lauren's side and felt for the wire, following it until he reached the small battery transmitter-box taped at her waistband. Yes! It was still there.

Sean chanced a risky glance to his hand where it exposed the little black box. Shouldn't there be a light indicating it was active?

He met Lauren's frantic gaze.

“Two hands on the wheel, jogger man. Safer that way,” Adrian said.

Sean found the power switch and flipped it before replacing his hand on the steering wheel. He hoped he'd just activated the device.

Roughly thirteen excruciating miles later, a parking lot just off the highway became visible in the glow of the truck's headlights. No cars were present.

“This is good,” Posar said to Sean. “Pull over.”

“Cape Falcon. Why here?”

“Because I said so.”

Sean did as commanded, praying the wire would still transmit even though they were far from Cannon Beach.
But in case it didn't, his mind ran through possible plans of escape. He was going to have to try to take the gun from Posar. That would be the only way to get Lauren out of this. He brought the truck to a halt. Posar slid out the passenger door and yanked Lauren out with him.

Still holding the gun on her, he said, “You, too.”

Sean climbed from the truck and rounded the front.

“Start walking.” Posar gestured with the gun toward a trailhead barely discernible among the giant spruce trees and salal plants covering the forested ground.

“We can't negotiate the trail to the cliffs in the dark,” Sean said, hoping Jarvis heard.

“Doesn't make much difference to me if I kill you now or later.” When Sean didn't move, Posar aimed the gun at his chest. “Your decision.”

Sean met Lauren's terrified gaze. He had to stay alive long enough to help Lauren escape. He wasn't going to let this monster kill the woman he loved.

He sucked in a quick breath. He did love her. And would willingly die trying to save her. Failure was not an option.

“Fine. We'll head up the trail.” Sean turned and set out in the dark.

 

Posar pushed Lauren ahead of him. She stumbled as her bum foot hit an uneven patch in the crude hiking trail. His hand bit into her arm as he steadied her.

“Walk,” he barked.

“I'm trying, but I can't see where to step,” she replied through gritted teeth.

Pain shot up her leg. Fear beat against her temples. They'd been hiking for a while along a forested ridge.
The sounds of the highway had long faded to be replaced with the noises of small birds and nocturnal animals foraging for food in the underbrush. The temperature had dropped significantly, making her limbs stiff with cold. Damp, salt-scented wind added to the chill. The roar of the crashing ocean grew louder.

Up ahead, she could see Sean's silhouette, a dark shadow in the inky night. He kept glancing back. Though she doubted he could see her face clearly, she tried to be brave for him but tears of terror and pain still slipped from her eyes. She prayed to God to keep him safe.

“Veer to your right,” Adrian called out.

Sean headed in that direction. She and Adrian followed.

They came out of the forest into a clearing. The moon's light revealed the sharply distinct edge of a cliff.

Sean stopped and turned to face them.

Adrian pushed Lauren toward Sean. Startled, she cried out as she fell, coming down hard on her already bruised knees. Pain exploded when nerve endings sizzled at the impact.

Sean moved swiftly to her side.

“Stop!” Adrian shouted.

Without acknowledging him, Sean squatted beside her. In a low whisper, he said, “Follow my lead.” Louder, he asked, “Can you stand?”

Anxious yet encouraged that he had something planned, she nodded. “Yes.”

With his help, she managed to get back on her feet.

With his arm around her waist, Sean faced Adrian. “What now? You shoot us?”

At Sean's gentle nudge, she slowly moved away from the cliff.

“Oh, no. That would be too easy, too quick,” Adrian gloated. “Step away from her.”

“No. You want her, you'll either have to shoot me or come through me to get her,” Sean said, his voice hard and determined.

Lauren swallowed back the bile that rose as alarm bubbled in her gut. They were slowly inching their way farther from the edge.

Adrian moved closer. “Don't you think I'm tempted to just shoot you and be done with it? You've caused me enough trouble already. If it weren't for you, I'd have had her days ago!”

Continuing to inch their way back toward the forest, Lauren taunted, “You're a monster who deserves to be locked up for the rest of your life.”

Adrian sneered. “Prison walls can't keep me. I'll just burn them down again. And again. And again. And again.” His deep, guttural laughter revealed more about his insanity than his words.

“Detective Jarvis will hunt you down,” she said.

“Not if I get him first,” Adrian stated. Now his back faced the cliffs. “Stop moving. I know what you're trying to do but you won't get away. I'll drop you both before you take two steps.”

Sean gave her side a quick squeeze before removing his arm from around her. She didn't know what he planned to do. She wanted to grab his hand and keep him from trying anything foolish. But he stepped away from her.

“You're nothing but a coward,” Sean taunted as he
moved farther away from Lauren. “Put the gun down and let's see who drops who.”

“Good try, but I don't think so. My mama didn't raise a fool. I know I couldn't beat you in a fist fight, but I'm smarter than you are, pretty boy. And I have the advantage.” He raised the gun.

“No!” Lauren shouted.

“Run!” Sean commanded.

Adrian swung the gun in her direction.

She froze. Sean launched himself at Adrian, knocking him back. They grappled for the gun. Sean was bigger and stronger, but Adrian had a wildness that could have only been fueled by madness. Sean drove Adrian toward the cliff's edge as they struggled for control over the weapon. Lauren's heart slammed against her chest in painful beats.

“Oh, please, dear Jesus, protect Sean.”

The sharp, loud retort of the gun firing echoed inside Lauren's head. She watched in horror as blood spread across Sean's shoulder, and yet he didn't give up struggling to push Adrian toward the edge.

Adrian slammed his fist into Sean's wound. Sean grunted and seemed to deflate slightly. The momentum of the fight turned and Adrian began to push Sean toward the cliff. Fear and love for Sean galvanized Lauren into action. She couldn't just stand there while Adrian killed the man she loved. She ran as fast as her injured foot would allow and collided with Adrian. Caught by surprise, he staggered back, precariously close to the cliff's edge, his feet slipping on loosened earth and rocks. The gun he'd wrenched control of swung toward her.

With a primal growl, Sean rammed his shoulder into Adrian's gut, sending him stumbling sideways. Adrian
cursed and attempted to turn toward Sean, but lost his footing on the uneven ground. Arms flailing, he tried to regain his balance, but couldn't.

Lauren watched in shock as he went tumbling over the cliff's edge. His scream echoed through the inky night—and then all was silent.

For a long moment, Lauren stared at the spot where Adrian had been. Then her gaze fell on Sean, who'd fallen to his knees. She dropped to his side. “You're going to be okay,” she said, her voice breaking with a sob.

“I did it,” he said in a weak voice. “I saved you.”

“Yes. Yes, you did.”

Sean smiled before slumping over. He'd passed out. Frantic, Lauren shook him. “Wake up. Wake up.”

How was she going to get him out of here?

A crashing sound coming from the forest sent new fear sliding through her. Would she now have to contend with some other sort of monstrous beast?

Then Jarvis and several other officers charged into the clearing, flashlights blazing and guns drawn. Blinking, barely believing what she was seeing, Lauren said, “How…? How can you be here?”

Jarvis knelt beside her. “The wire. We heard everything once it was switched back on. Plus, it has a tracking device.”

In all the chaos of the last few hours, she'd forgotten. She clutched his arm. “Sean's been shot. We need to get him to the hospital.”

“I know.” He took her elbow and pulled her away from him. “Let the EMTs take care of him.”

Lauren nodded as two uniformed emergency personnel moved in to tend to Sean. They bandaged his wound
and lifted him onto a litter before carrying him out of the clearing.

“Where's Posar?” Jarvis asked.

She looked to the cliff. “He's gone.”

Jarvis left her side to peer over the edge of the cliff. When he returned, he put his arm around her and steered her toward the trail. “Let's get out of here.”

 

Sean lay in the hospital bed, staring at the porous, stuccoed ceiling. He could make out the faint strands of a Christmas carol playing on a radio somewhere outside the room.

His shoulder was on fire again but he didn't want to ask for more pain medication because it made him loopy and sleepy. Aunt Mary had said Lauren had kept a vigil while he was in surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his shoulder and was now waiting to come in. He wanted, no
needed,
to be fully awake and coherent when she arrived.

Now that the threat to her life was gone, was she preparing to return to California? She'd once said there were too many memories there, but was that still true? If she didn't leave, would she stay in Cannon Beach? Were there too many memories here as well?

Was she coming to say goodbye?

Anguish seared his heart.

He didn't want her to leave. He wanted her to stay. With him.

Was the need to confess his feelings selfish? Would it be better to hold back? Didn't she deserve the truth?

Did he deserve to have a chance with her?

He was afraid the answer to that question was no. He didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve happiness.

His eyes slid closed as tears threatened to escape.

A whisper of movement alerted him that he was no longer alone. He opened his eyes and focused on Lauren's beautiful face. She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up.

“I didn't mean to disturb you, but I'm glad you're awake,” she said in a rush. A blush pinkened her cheeks.

“You didn't wake me.” He held out his hand on his uninjured side. “I've been waiting for you.”

She grasped his hand and held on tight. Her eyes shifted to his bandaged shoulder. “Does it hurt terribly?”

He let out a short laugh. “Yeah. Like crazy.”

“I'm sorry. You were so brave.” Tears filled her pretty eyes. “This shouldn't have happened to you.”

Frustration spiked his pulse. “It wasn't your fault. You have to stop owning Posar's actions.”

“But I brought that monster into your life.”

She also brought love. And salvaged his relationship with God. He squeezed her hand. “Stop it. I wouldn't change one thing, because otherwise I would never have met you.”

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “Really?”

How could she not know how he felt? One of his grandfather's sayings floated through his mind,
In for a penny, in for a pound.
“Yes, really. I love you, Lauren. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you.”

“You love me?”

She said it as if she had trouble believing him. He wished he could take her into his arms and kiss her until she believed him. His injury wouldn't allow that, so he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her
knuckles. The long sleeve of her bright green sweatshirt rode up, giving a peak of the grafted skin beneath. “I do. But I know I don't deserve you. I don't deserve such happiness.”

With her free hand, she tugged the sleeve down. “No. It's me who doesn't deserve you. I'm so ugly. My scars are so ugly.”

The vulnerability in her expression tore at his heart. He touched a finger to her lips “I don't ever want to hear you say that again. You are beautiful. Inside and outside. And I'm humbled by your bravery of overcoming your past.”