Read Online The Christmas Clue by Delores Fossen - Free Book Online
Authors: Delores Fossen
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no perkiness in her voice now, and she had her attention back on the SUV. “I never met her. She was away in Europe during the short time that Dominic and I were together. But I’ve been doing a lot of research about her. She’s not like Dominic, and I’m sure she loves Molly.”
Okay, that was a good subject. “Does Annette love Molly enough to just hand her over to her real father?”
“You mean if you contact her, will she willingly relinquish custody to you?” She lifted her shoulder and paused, her forehead bunched up. “Maybe.”
The answer surprised him more than a little. He’d expected Cass to take the stance that she and only she could help him rescue his daughter.
“But Dominic might not let Annette give up Molly,” Matt continued.
Cass shrugged again. “Dominic is…territorial. And manipulative. If he learns that Molly’s father is a federal agent, he’ll likely try to use her to get whatever he wants from you and the Justice Department.”
Matt had already come to that conclusion. He only hoped that Dominic wouldn’t make that connection before they could get on the estate.
“You’ll get your daughter,” she said. “Because you’re good at what you do. Because you don’t fail.”
“I’ve been failing most of my life,” he heard himself say. And he groaned. Hell’s frickin’ bells. What was it about this woman that made him want to kiss her and then pour out his heart?
“You failed at something?” She used the same tone he’d used for his smart-mouth, baking-cookies remark. A tone that set his teeth on edge.
So, he told her the truth.
“Yeah. I failed. I grew up in a run-down apartment with a neo-hippy single mom who didn’t believe in steady employment or parenting. When I was eight, she was murdered by a homeless lunatic who thought she was trying to steal his shopping cart filled with trash. Because no relative would take me, I was sent to foster care and screwed up my life in just about every way possible.”
“You couldn’t have screwed up that much. After all, you’re a federal agent.”
“Juvenile records are sealed,” he pointed out. Because he needed something to do, he switched places with her and kept watch on the SUV. “I also had a mentor, someone who cared enough to make sure that I not only qualified for the agency, but that I succeeded.”
And that mentor was none other than his present boss, Gideon Tate.
“So you got a second chance,” Cass said as a matter of fact. “That’s what I want. A chance to prove I’m innocent so I can go home and run the family business that I inherited two years ago when my parents were killed. No more bimbo labels for me. And no more men.” She paused. “No more kisses, either.”
“Agreed,” he said quickly.
“I’m not a multitasking sort of person,” Cass admitted. “And right now the only thing I can concentrate on is getting into Dominic’s estate.”
Matt was about to agree, but movement in the parking lot caught his eye. The passenger door of the SUV opened. He automatically lifted his weapon and braced himself for another attack.
“What’s wrong?” Cass hurried to the window and peeked out the other side of the blinds.
Matt watched as the tall, athletically-built brunette exited the SUV. And he cursed under his breath.
“You know her?” Cass asked.
“Yes. That’s Libby Rayburn, a fellow agent.” She was dressed all in black and was clutching a small handheld device. Matt was betting it wasn’t a Black-Berry. It was probably an infrared thermal scanner.
“What’s she doing here?” Cass wanted to know.
Matt could think of a reason—but it wasn’t a good one. She would obviously have known about the Level Red threat and was there to check on him.
His phone rang, and he checked the caller ID and saw Libby’s name there. “Matt,” he answered.
“Thank God you’re all right.”
Libby sounded genuine enough. Matt hoped she was. He’d worked side by side with her for two
Okay, that was a good subject. “Does Annette love Molly enough to just hand her over to her real father?”
“You mean if you contact her, will she willingly relinquish custody to you?” She lifted her shoulder and paused, her forehead bunched up. “Maybe.”
The answer surprised him more than a little. He’d expected Cass to take the stance that she and only she could help him rescue his daughter.
“But Dominic might not let Annette give up Molly,” Matt continued.
Cass shrugged again. “Dominic is…territorial. And manipulative. If he learns that Molly’s father is a federal agent, he’ll likely try to use her to get whatever he wants from you and the Justice Department.”
Matt had already come to that conclusion. He only hoped that Dominic wouldn’t make that connection before they could get on the estate.
“You’ll get your daughter,” she said. “Because you’re good at what you do. Because you don’t fail.”
“I’ve been failing most of my life,” he heard himself say. And he groaned. Hell’s frickin’ bells. What was it about this woman that made him want to kiss her and then pour out his heart?
“You failed at something?” She used the same tone he’d used for his smart-mouth, baking-cookies remark. A tone that set his teeth on edge.
So, he told her the truth.
“Yeah. I failed. I grew up in a run-down apartment with a neo-hippy single mom who didn’t believe in steady employment or parenting. When I was eight, she was murdered by a homeless lunatic who thought she was trying to steal his shopping cart filled with trash. Because no relative would take me, I was sent to foster care and screwed up my life in just about every way possible.”
“You couldn’t have screwed up that much. After all, you’re a federal agent.”
“Juvenile records are sealed,” he pointed out. Because he needed something to do, he switched places with her and kept watch on the SUV. “I also had a mentor, someone who cared enough to make sure that I not only qualified for the agency, but that I succeeded.”
And that mentor was none other than his present boss, Gideon Tate.
“So you got a second chance,” Cass said as a matter of fact. “That’s what I want. A chance to prove I’m innocent so I can go home and run the family business that I inherited two years ago when my parents were killed. No more bimbo labels for me. And no more men.” She paused. “No more kisses, either.”
“Agreed,” he said quickly.
“I’m not a multitasking sort of person,” Cass admitted. “And right now the only thing I can concentrate on is getting into Dominic’s estate.”
Matt was about to agree, but movement in the parking lot caught his eye. The passenger door of the SUV opened. He automatically lifted his weapon and braced himself for another attack.
“What’s wrong?” Cass hurried to the window and peeked out the other side of the blinds.
Matt watched as the tall, athletically-built brunette exited the SUV. And he cursed under his breath.
“You know her?” Cass asked.
“Yes. That’s Libby Rayburn, a fellow agent.” She was dressed all in black and was clutching a small handheld device. Matt was betting it wasn’t a Black-Berry. It was probably an infrared thermal scanner.
“What’s she doing here?” Cass wanted to know.
Matt could think of a reason—but it wasn’t a good one. She would obviously have known about the Level Red threat and was there to check on him.
His phone rang, and he checked the caller ID and saw Libby’s name there. “Matt,” he answered.
“Thank God you’re all right.”
Libby sounded genuine enough. Matt hoped she was. He’d worked side by side with her for two
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