Her Mistletoe Protector (4 page)

“Why not? I could try talking to her,” Rachel said impulsively. “We’re both ex-Carusos and I can use that connection to feel her out.”

He wasn’t sure he liked the idea, but couldn’t come up with anything better so he reluctantly nodded. “All right. I’ll park on the street, in front of the neighbor’s house. If anything seems off, you need to get out of there right away.”

“I will.” She hesitated for a moment before reaching for the door handle. Extremely bright lights bloomed in his rearview mirror as a car headed straight for them.

“Wait!” Nick shouted, reaching out to grab her arm. She paused, half in and half out of the car, so he yanked her back inside at the same time gunfire echoed through the night.

FOUR

“G
et down!” he yelled, stomping on the gas and peeling away from the curb. He kept a hold on Rachel while she managed to get her legs tucked inside the car. He let go long enough to take a sharp right-hand turn, which caused the half-open passenger-side door to slam shut.

“What’s going on?” Rachel asked.

“Stay down,” he barked. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he could see the vehicle was keeping pace behind them. He could tell by the high yet narrow set to the headlights that it was a Jeep.

He had to figure out a way to lose it and fast.

“Why is he shooting at us?” Rachel gasped, her eyes wide with fear.

He shook his head, unable to answer as he concentrated on losing the gunman. He took several more turns, dodging around various vehicles in his way. Thankfully, traffic was relatively light this far outside the city, or escaping the shooter would have been impossible.

When there was a gap in traffic, he jerked the steering wheel to the left, taking the car up and over the curb, making an illegal U-turn. It wasn’t easy keeping his eyes on the road while watching the Jeep behind him. The other car didn’t make the turn right away, which was reassuring.

He immediately took another right-hand turn, putting even more distance between them. When he found an on-ramp for the interstate, he took it and pushed the speed limit as hard as he dared until he found the next exit. On that road, he switched directions, heading left.

Fifteen minutes later, he was convinced he’d lost the Jeep. “Are you all right?” he asked, as Rachel eased upright and reached for her seat belt. “He didn’t hit you, did he?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, patting her arms and legs as if she wasn’t entirely sure. “Did you get the license plate number? Do you think that was Joey’s kidnapper?”

“I didn’t get the plate number because I was blinded by his high-beam lights.” He tried to figure out what had just happened. The whole event was weird. “Don’t you think it’s odd that he took a shot at us, but didn’t keep firing? And that he didn’t target anything important?”

“What do you mean nothing important? He almost hit us!” Rachel protested.

“Not even close,” he argued mildly. “We were practically sitting ducks and he didn’t hit either of us, or any significant parts of the car, like the gas tank or wheels. It’s almost as if he wanted to scare us more than kill us.”

“So it must have been Joey’s kidnapper!” Rachel’s tone had a note of excitement. “He didn’t want to kill us, because he still wants the money.”

“Maybe,” he agreed, although the scenario didn’t quite feel right. This entire case wasn’t like anything he’d experienced before. He knew crooks, had investigated them for years and they always had a reason for what they did.

Only this time, nothing made sense.

He took the next exit off the freeway, slowing his speed to the posted limit.

“We have to go back there,” Rachel said urgently, interrupting his train of thought. “To see if we can find Joey. We must have been close if they were so desperate to scare us away.”

“Rachel, calm down for a minute and think this through. How did they find us outside of Margie Caruso’s house in the first place? I made sure no one followed us when we left Morales’s apartment building.”

“I don’t know, maybe it was all just a big coincidence? Morales could be working for Margie Caruso, and maybe he just pulled up as we got there.”

“I don’t think so.” Nick hated to burst her bubble, but she wasn’t thinking rationally. He pulled off onto the side of the road and turned in his seat to face her. “Even if he saw us there, how could he know we were the ones in the car?”

“Maybe he recognized your car from the crash site?”

“I came in from the south and you said he went north,” he reminded her gently. “Rachel, they have your cell phone number. They sent you a text, threatening to kill Joey if you called the police. Don’t you see? The only thing that makes sense is that they’ve tracked us through the GPS in your cell phone.”

* * *

Rachel swallowed hard as she stared down at her cell phone. Was Nick right? Had they really tracked them through her phone? She wasn’t a techno-geek so she had no clue how to even do something like that.

But she knew the possibility existed.

And if Nick’s hunch was correct, then Joey’s kidnapper already knew she wasn’t alone.

Fear swelled in her throat, choking her as tiny red dots swam before her eyes.

“Breathe,” Nick commanded, giving her shoulder a shake.

She didn’t even realize she was holding her breath. She took a shaky gasp of air and lifted her tortured gaze to his. “They’re always going to know where we are, aren’t they? We’re never going to be able to escape.”

“Not unless we ditch your phone,” he said grimly.

She clenched the phone so hard she was surprised she didn’t break it in half. “No. No way. This is the only connection I have to Joey. This is the number they’re going to use in order to contact me for the ransom demand. I’m not giving it up, Nick. I’m not!
I can’t!
”

He stared at her for a long moment before releasing a heavy sigh. “Okay, if you’re not getting rid of it, then we need to figure out our next steps. Because the kidnappers are going to be able to find us, no matter what we do or where we go.”

“What if we buy a new phone, but keep the same number?” she asked suddenly. “Wouldn’t that work? I mean, the GPS is linked to the device, not to the actual phone number...right?”

Perking up, Nick flashed her a smile. “You’re brilliant, Rachel. That’s exactly right. Now we have options.”

“Do you think the stores are still open?” she asked.

“There are plenty of twenty-four-hour superstores. Here, use my smartphone to find the nearest one....”

“Okay.” She took the phone and used the search engine to find the closest superstore. “There’s one about seven miles away,” she told him.

“Perfect.”

They arrived at the superstore and quickly made their way over to the electronics section. She stayed back as Nick purchased the phone, along with a car charger, explaining to the clerk how they wanted to keep the same number.

“We can do that,” the clerk said. “But it can sometimes take up to twelve hours to get the number transferred over.”

“Twelve hours?” she echoed in shock.

The clerk shrugged. “It might be quicker, but I can’t say for sure when.”

Nick’s expression was grim but he purchased the new phone and car charger, paying for a full year so that there wasn’t any way to trace the contract fee. He gave her the phone and she stared down at it.

Twelve hours. She had to hang on to her old phone and evade the kidnappers for the next twelve hours.

And they were no closer to finding Joey.

She wanted to scream in frustration but forced herself to take several deep breaths to fight off her rising panic instead. She had to believe the kidnappers would keep Joey alive in order to get the payout. They had to.

She followed Nick to the car. When he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, back onto the road, she plugged the new phone into the charger and then glanced at him. “Where are we going?”

He shrugged. “I think it’s better to stay in the car and keep moving for now. We’d only be sitting ducks in a motel.”

She couldn’t argue his logic. “Would you be willing to split up so one of us could go and check out Margie’s house? I need to know for sure Joey’s not in there.”

Nick was silent for so long she thought he was ignoring her. “Rachel, you’re not a cop...so no, I’m not willing to split up. Let’s just worry about staying alive tonight, okay? Unless you’re having second thoughts about going to the FBI?”

She shivered. “No, I’m not having second thoughts. I heard what you told your boss about dirty cops at the local and federal level. I can’t risk losing my son, Nick. I just can’t.”

He sighed. “I know what I said, but I can’t help wondering if God isn’t trying to tell us something the way these obstacles keep getting thrown in our way.”

She was a little uncomfortable by his reference to God, but just the thought of calling in the police made her sick. “Your boss is willing to give us some time, so why are you still pushing the authorities on me?” When he opened his mouth to protest, she held up her hand. “I trust you, Nick, and I don’t have much choice but to trust your boss, too. But I can’t take the chance of trusting the wrong person. It could end up costing my little boy his life.”

Truthfully, it was hard enough to trust Nick. But the fact that he’d been so angry with her for not giving him details about Anthony’s involvement with the Mafia a year ago had gone a long way in convincing her that he was one of the good guys.

However, that didn’t mean she wanted to open the circle of trust to include anyone else. Not unless there was no other choice.

Nick pulled into a mall parking lot, and she wasn’t surprised when he positioned the car in a way that they’d be able to escape in a hurry if need be. She shivered a little, burying her face in the collar of the dark sweatshirt beneath her jacket. Her jean-clad legs were cold, and she rubbed her hands on her thighs to try and warm up.

“I have a blanket in the trunk,” Nick said gruffly, before sliding out of the driver’s seat. He returned a few minutes later with a wool blanket. “Why don’t you stretch out in the backseat?”

“I won’t be able to sleep,” she protested. “Besides, we should take turns keeping watch.”

“I’ll keep watch first while you try to get some rest.” His tone indicated there was no point in arguing.

Resigned, she opened the passenger door, pausing for a moment as she realized there was a bullet hole near the bottom of the window. The reminder of being used for target practice made her shiver again. Clutching the blanket, she climbed into the backseat and huddled down, grateful for the added warmth from Nick’s blanket. She vowed to give him the blanket when it was her turn to keep watch.

The backseat was hardly comfortable, but that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t sleep. Images of Joey kept flashing through her mind, haunting her to the point where she almost couldn’t stand it another moment.

“Nick?” she said softly, breaking the silence. “You don’t think the kidnappers will hurt Joey, do you?”

“Try not to torture yourself thinking the worst, Rachel.”

“I’m not trying to torture myself, but every time I close my eyes I picture that man grabbing Joey and slinging him over his shoulder. Don’t you see? I’m the one who told Joey to get out of the car and run. It’s my fault he was kidnapped.”

There was a long pause, then Nick said, “Rachel, it’s not your fault. I’m sure he would have gotten Joey even if you hadn’t told him to run.”

“Stop trying to placate me,” she said sharply.

There was another brief silence. “Look, Rachel, I don’t know if you believe in God, but if you do, praying can help you get through this.”

She remembered how Nick had prayed before eating their fast-food dinner. Maybe he believed but she wasn’t sure she did. “My parents weren’t very religious. When I was growing up the only time we went to church was at Christmas and Easter.” She hadn’t thought about church or God in a long time. “I’m not sure I believe there really is a God, or that He cares anything about me or Joey.”

“There is.” Nick’s voice exuded confidence. “And He does care about you and Joey. If you keep an open mind and an open heart, you’ll be rewarded.”

“Rewarded?” She couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her tone. “I hardly think having my son kidnapped is anything close to rewarding.”

“You’re twisting my words, Rachel,” he said quietly. “I meant that God can help you through difficult times.”

“There’s nothing more difficult than having your child in danger.” She fought the rising anger. Who was he to preach to her at a time like this? Her son was missing and he wanted her to pray?

“I do know a little about what you’re going through, Rachel. Two years ago, I lost my wife and my daughter in a terrible car crash. I nearly went crazy during the hours they were missing, before they were found dead in the bottom of a ravine. And trust me, I wouldn’t have made it through those dark days without God’s strength and the power of prayer.”

His blunt statement surprised her and caused her to feel ashamed. Why was she taking her anger out on Nick? None of this was his fault. Clearly, he knew what it was like to lose someone he loved. Losing his wife and a daughter had to have been horrible. But prayer? She wasn’t sure she was buying that idea.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d prayed, if ever. And she wasn’t sure that prayer alone would make her feel better about losing her son.

She wouldn’t survive if Joey died. Everything inside her would die right along with him.

“I’ve been praying for Joey’s safety,” Nick went on in a low voice. “And I want you to know, I’ll keep on praying for Joey and for you.”

Tears pricked her eyes and her throat swelled, making it hard to speak. Knowing that he would pray for her son brought a surprising level of comfort. And she suddenly realized that he was right. She did need to keep an open mind. Because if Nick’s prayers could really help, she would gladly take them. She would take anything she could get if it meant keeping Joey safe.

She cleared her throat, trying to hide the evidence of her tears. “Thank you, Nick. And I’m sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t know you lost your wife and daughter. I guess you really do know what I’m going through.”

“For a long time I wanted to join them up in heaven,” he admitted. “But God chose another path for me, so I’ve decided to dedicate my life to putting bad guys away and leading a Christian life, until God calls me home to be with my family.”

She wasn’t sure what to say in response to that, since truthfully, his plan sounded a bit lonely. Although who was she to argue about being alone? She wasn’t interested in having a relationship again, either, especially not while she was raising her son. She was too afraid to trust her instincts about men after the way she’d messed up with Anthony.

Was Nick subtly warning her that he wasn’t interested in being anything more than friends? If so, she was happy to oblige.