Read Online Twin Threat Christmas by Rachelle McCalla - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachelle McCalla
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though it had hit something, swerving wildly and stuttering to a stop. “You took out their tire!” Eric announced as Vanessa slid back into her seat. Joy and relief surged through him, as well as admiration for his old friend. The Vanessa he’d known long ago could have easily made that shot, but to make it after eight years of being locked away... She was a survivor, wasn’t she? He’d long ago had a crush on her, but now something more was added to that, a more mature kind of love. He admired her and was proud of her.
“Thank God.” She sighed with relief and buckled her seat belt again.
“Yes, thank God,” Eric echoed, curious now how much she meant the words. Vanessa had been through a horrible ordeal. Had she retained her faith? His had been shaken by her disappearance, though he’d realized after an angry couple of years that if Vanessa was still alive, he needed God to watch over her, and he’d started going to church every week to pray for her.
But for right now, they had so many more pressing things to discuss. With the Land Rover fading quickly from sight, Eric turned his attention to the question that had been burning inside him since the moment Vanessa peeked her head out the office-building door. “You found evidence?”
“On Jeff’s browser history. I brought the computer, plus these pages from his file cabinet.” She held up a sheaf of papers he hadn’t noticed before. “They’re ledgers with source codes. The numbers are big. They demonstrate that a lot of money was involved. Between the two of them, we’ve got enough to show there was a huge crime ring, even identify some of the conspirators. Now, whether we can figure out who was behind it, I don’t know. I think that guy who was with Jeff is his boss, but I don’t know who he is. His voice sounded vaguely familiar. I just can’t place it.”
“I tried to take pictures of them as they went inside.” Eric wished he had something more helpful to tell her. “But it was dark out, and with no flash, who knows if we’ll get anything. They were standing under that security light—”
“It was a very bright security light.” Vanessa sounded wistfully hopeful, but her optimism was distinctly guarded. “Thank you for taking the pictures. Can I see?”
Eric handed her the phone and she scrolled through the pictures. “They’re so blurry. It’s hard to see in the dark. Maybe with a full-size screen, indoors—”
“We can upload them to a computer. I have the download cable in my glove box.”
“Where do we want to do that?” Vanessa made a hiccuping sound.
Eric feared she was already regretting the phone call she’d placed, which might have serious repercussions. Hopefully, her children were safe. For now. But would the authorities allow her to see them again, or would they believe she was a murderer and lock her away? “I’m sorry that we had to call the sheriff’s office.”
Vanessa sniffled, and Eric glanced at her, afraid she was going to break into tears.
But she composed herself. “It’s for the best. I couldn’t keep them safe, alone.” Her voice broke.
“You did an amazing job.”
“If you hadn’t been there—” Vanessa shook her head, as though denying his claim “—I’d be asleep at the cabin with my girls right now, with those men on their way. I’d have no idea.”
Eric reached over and took her hand, felt a connection he’d only dared to hope he might feel. She gave his palm a slight squeeze. Did she feel it, too? He hoped so. Prayed so. Because now that she was back in his life, he didn’t want to let go. “It’s okay. I was there. The authorities are going to get Debbi and the girls out. Everything is going to be okay.”
“Is it?”
Much as he wished he could offer her some proof, Eric didn’t honestly know. How fast would Virgil’s men arrive at the cabin? They had to change a flat tire, but how long would that take? Would the sheriff’s deputies get to Debbi and the girls in
“Thank God.” She sighed with relief and buckled her seat belt again.
“Yes, thank God,” Eric echoed, curious now how much she meant the words. Vanessa had been through a horrible ordeal. Had she retained her faith? His had been shaken by her disappearance, though he’d realized after an angry couple of years that if Vanessa was still alive, he needed God to watch over her, and he’d started going to church every week to pray for her.
But for right now, they had so many more pressing things to discuss. With the Land Rover fading quickly from sight, Eric turned his attention to the question that had been burning inside him since the moment Vanessa peeked her head out the office-building door. “You found evidence?”
“On Jeff’s browser history. I brought the computer, plus these pages from his file cabinet.” She held up a sheaf of papers he hadn’t noticed before. “They’re ledgers with source codes. The numbers are big. They demonstrate that a lot of money was involved. Between the two of them, we’ve got enough to show there was a huge crime ring, even identify some of the conspirators. Now, whether we can figure out who was behind it, I don’t know. I think that guy who was with Jeff is his boss, but I don’t know who he is. His voice sounded vaguely familiar. I just can’t place it.”
“I tried to take pictures of them as they went inside.” Eric wished he had something more helpful to tell her. “But it was dark out, and with no flash, who knows if we’ll get anything. They were standing under that security light—”
“It was a very bright security light.” Vanessa sounded wistfully hopeful, but her optimism was distinctly guarded. “Thank you for taking the pictures. Can I see?”
Eric handed her the phone and she scrolled through the pictures. “They’re so blurry. It’s hard to see in the dark. Maybe with a full-size screen, indoors—”
“We can upload them to a computer. I have the download cable in my glove box.”
“Where do we want to do that?” Vanessa made a hiccuping sound.
Eric feared she was already regretting the phone call she’d placed, which might have serious repercussions. Hopefully, her children were safe. For now. But would the authorities allow her to see them again, or would they believe she was a murderer and lock her away? “I’m sorry that we had to call the sheriff’s office.”
Vanessa sniffled, and Eric glanced at her, afraid she was going to break into tears.
But she composed herself. “It’s for the best. I couldn’t keep them safe, alone.” Her voice broke.
“You did an amazing job.”
“If you hadn’t been there—” Vanessa shook her head, as though denying his claim “—I’d be asleep at the cabin with my girls right now, with those men on their way. I’d have no idea.”
Eric reached over and took her hand, felt a connection he’d only dared to hope he might feel. She gave his palm a slight squeeze. Did she feel it, too? He hoped so. Prayed so. Because now that she was back in his life, he didn’t want to let go. “It’s okay. I was there. The authorities are going to get Debbi and the girls out. Everything is going to be okay.”
“Is it?”
Much as he wished he could offer her some proof, Eric didn’t honestly know. How fast would Virgil’s men arrive at the cabin? They had to change a flat tire, but how long would that take? Would the sheriff’s deputies get to Debbi and the girls in
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