Read Online The Christmas Bell Tolls by Robin Caroll - Free Book Online Page A

really
shouldn’t be here.” He threw Darren a hard look.
    “Why
not?” Eva pushed back.
    “Excuse me?”
Wilson looked as if he couldn’t believe she’d addressed him.
    “Why shouldn’t I
be here? I’m not on the case anymore, thanks to you, so why wouldn’t I come to
be with my friend?” She popped her balled hands onto her hips.
    Darren didn’t know
whether to kiss her or kick her out. Instead, he pressed his lips together as
Wilson’s face became stone.
    “I’m sure you
understand why you’re suspect.” Wilson leaned against the back of the high back
chair.
    Eva nodded. “I can
understand why you would need to clear me as a suspect, of course. It’s very
obvious that I was working all day, therefore unable to take Savannah and I’m
certainly not the woman on the video.” She leaned against the back of the
couch. “One would assume that once my whereabouts had been established, I would
no longer be suspect.”
    “Surely you don’t
think it could be beyond the scope that one might be working with a partner?”
Wilson straightened.
    Eva mirrored his
posture. “Is there any evidence to support such a theory? That there is more
than one person involved?”
    Before Wilson
could respond, Agent Lacey rushed into the room. “Hello. I’m Agent Lacey.” She
nodded at Eva.
    “Eva Langston.”
    “Sir?” An agent interrupted, staring at Wilson. “Memphis PD has picked up Barbor and
his sister.”
    Darren’s heart
hesitated.
    “There’s no sign
of the girl,” the agent concluded.
    Wilson nodded, then led the agent from the room.
    “I’m sorry.” Eva’s
throaty whisper was nearly Darren’s undoing.
    He nodded. “I’m
sorry you got pulled from the case. I know you had nothing to do with this. I
told Wilson that.”
    She smiled and
shrugged. “Meh. He doesn’t bother me.” She sobered and
laid a hand on his forearm. “How are you doing, Darren? Really?”
    He motioned for
her to sit. He dropped beside her on the couch. “I’m okay.” He motioned for
Agent Lacey to sit as well. “I’m going on the assumption that whoever took Savy
isn’t intending on hurting her.”
    “And she’s got her
medicine now.” Eva nodded.
    “That supports my
theory,” Agent Lacey said.
    “Because they knew
what she needed.” Darren explained to Eva.
    “It’s more than
that, though,” Eva said.
    “What do you
mean?” Agent Lacey inched to the edge of the chair.
    “Well, not only
the medication, but knew the drug store’s procedure. Knew what day the inhalers
were delivered and where they were left.” Eva shook her head and sucked on her
bottom lip like she did when she mulled over something. “The woman got the exact
medication very quickly, without drawing any attention. The store wasn’t even
aware anything had been taken until they watched the video.”
    “She’d been
observing even the littlest of details for quite some time. It takes several
weeks to figure out the established pattern of store deliveries and such,”
Agent Lacey said. “How long had Savannah been scheduled to attend the party?”
    “A
couple of weeks?” Darren couldn’t remember. He looked at Eva.
    “It’s been planned
for almost a month. Of course, the plans grew from the original idea.”
    Agent Lacey
nodded. “She could have been paying attention for weeks…months even. Gathering details. Waiting for her
chance.”
    “Did you notice
anything unusual in the full-length picture of Savy from the drug store?”
    He stared at Eva.
“What full-length picture?”
    She groaned out
loud. “The agent at the drug store worked with the clerk to try and recall
anything odd. She remembered something about Savy’s shoes being too dressy for
the sweats.” She shook her head. “He asked the other agent to send you a full
length picture of Savy to see if you noticed anything odd. Didn’t you get it?”
    “No.” But he would
correct that right now. He stormed into the kitchen where Wilson hunkered in a
corner with another