Read Online Yuletide Defender by Sandra Robbins - Free Book Online Page B

there and found your purse inside.”
    She took the purse from him and clutched it to her body. “Thanks for bringing it over.”
    He inclined his head toward her. “You’d better check it out and see what’s missing.”
    â€œOkay.” She hurried back to her chair behind her desk and opened the purse.
    Matt slid into the chair across from her. “We kept a list of everything we found inside. We need you to tell us what was stolen.”
    Rachel did a quick inventory and glanced up at Matt. “My cash is gone, but it was only about thirty dollars. My credit card is missing, but I called and reported it stolen this afternoon. Thank goodness my cell phone and driver’s license are here. The only other thing I can’t find is the necklace my mother gave me when I graduated from college. The clasp was broken and I was going to take it to the jeweler on my lunch hour. I sure do hate to lose that.”
    Matt nodded. “What does it look like?”
    â€œIt’s a sterling silver cross set with diamonds and hangs on an eighteen-inch chain. It always reminded me of my mother and sister. I’ll miss not having it around my neck.”
    Sadness flickered in Matt’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ll put out a description to all the pawnshops in town. We might get lucky and be able to return it to you.”
    Rachel smiled. “I appreciate that. My sister, Cara, will be so upset when she finds out it was stolen.”
    â€œIs it an expensive necklace?”
    Rachel shook her head. “Not really. It’s the sentiment behind it that makes it special. Every time Cara saw it she would tell everybody that it was a sign that I went to college. I suppose it was special to her because deep in her heart she realized she could never do that.”
    Matt tilted his head and frowned. “Your sister couldn’t go to college? Why?”
    Rachel took a deep breath and wondered how Matt would respond when she told him. “Well, you see, she couldn’t go because Cara has mental and physical disabilities.”
    Matt’s eyes grew large. “She’s a mentally challenged child?”
    Rachel laughed. “Yes, but she’s not a child anymore. She’s ten years younger than I am, but she’s my best friend.”
    â€œIt must be nice having a sister. I’m an only child.”
    Rachel took a deep breath and stood. “I have to admit, when I was younger I sometimes wished I could be an only child, but I wouldn’t give up Cara for anything.”
    Matt’s solemn stare made her wonder what he thought about the revelation about her sister. If he was anything like the guys she’d known in the past, he would find some excuse to hurry off. She waited for him to rise and tell her something had come up and he wouldn’t be able to take her to the ballet Saturday night.
    Matt stared at her a moment longer before he glanced at his watch. “I didn’t know it was getting so late. Are you hungry? We could go grab something to eat before it’s time to meet your source. How about it?”
    Rachel’s heart soared. “I’d like that.”
    He glanced at his watch. “I need to go back to the station and finish up some loose ends there. How about we meet in an hour?”
    A chime from Rachel’s computer alerted her that an email had just arrived. She frowned. “That’s from my editor. He always finds something else for me to do just before it’s time for me to leave. Let me see what he wants. This may take some time.”
    Matt pulled a notepad and pen from his pocket, scribbled something on it and pushed the paper across her desk. “This is my cell phone number. Call me when you get ready to leave and I’ll meet you in front of the police station.” He hesitated. “That is, unless you’d prefer I drive.”
    She laughed and stood up. “It’s the least I can do. Especially