Virginia Vaughan - Deadly Christmas Duty

“How often do you make her work on the weekends?”

“When we have a big case coming up. The city won’t pay for extra help, but Dawn likes the overtime and they will approve that. Are you suggesting she was the one who placed the bomb in my office?”

“Do you believe she’s capable of something like that?”

“Absolutely not. Why would she do something that might put her out of a job?” She couldn’t believe they were trying to pin this on Dawn when there was a more likely suspect out there. “Why on earth would you suspect her?”

“Calm down, Melinda. We’re not accusing anyone yet, only asking questions. We’re also looking at other suspects, such as people you’ve sent to prison. I have someone tracking down everyone you’ve prosecuted who was recently released. Do you have any enemies that you know of?”

She shifted in her chair, but hesitated in mentioning Sean. Everyone in town didn’t need to know her business. Besides, he was dead and had been for years. “None that I can think of,” she stated.

“What about from before you came to Daytonville? Any old boyfriends who might have a grudge against you?”

She shook her head. There had been no one since Sean. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t, subject her heart to falling in love again. She’d done so with Sean and had been burned by his abuse and betrayal. Instead of being happy when she’d discovered she was pregnant, he’d been furious and demanded she end the pregnancy. His insistence had forced her to make a choice, and she’d chosen to give her child life. In response, Sean had tried to murder them both. How could she ever trust another man again after that?

The chief closed his notebook and stood, indicating the interview was over. “It’s a blessing no one was injured or killed, but this is still a very serious crime. If you think of anyone who comes to mind, let us know right away and we’ll look into him or her. In the meantime, we’ll pull the security tapes and continue canvassing the area.”

“Thank you, Chief.” Melinda walked out of the interview room with a weary feeling growing inside her. Her entire world had been turned upside down today and she didn’t know which direction to turn. She’d known her job could have its dangers, but she’d never witnessed anything more than angry words hurled at her before today.

She stepped into the waiting area and found Noah keeping Ramey occupied with a game of thumb wrestling. She watched Noah let the boy win and smiled as Ramey whooped with laughter.

“Are you done?” Noah asked her, standing to greet her.

“For now. I’m sure there will be more questions later but for now, I just want to go home.”

He picked up Ramey, and they were about to walk out when she spotted her boss, District Attorney Jay McAllister, approach her. He was dressed casually in slacks and tennis shoes instead of his usual business suit and tie, but he looked tired and she imagined he had been pulled from his easygoing Saturday afternoon with his kids to the news of the bombing at his office.

He rushed to her side. “Melinda, are you okay? I heard about the bomb.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “This is Noah Cason. He was there when I found the bomb. He saved my life.”

Jay reached for Noah’s hand and shook it briskly. “Thank you for what you did. I commend you. I’m glad no one was hurt. The police are saying the rest of the building was empty.”

“I tried to check all the rooms,” Noah told him. “I didn’t see or hear anyone else there.”

“What are we going to do now?” Melinda asked him.

“I spoke with Judge Nicholson. He’s going to postpone our cases for two weeks. That should give us time to put them back together. I’m also having someone go through to see what evidence we had present at our office. If I’m right, we had fourteen active cases with evidence stored at our building. We’ll know more once we’re finished going through the rubble. For now, go home and hug your kid. We’ll deal with all this tomorrow.”

“Jay, have you heard from Dawn Littlefield?”

“Your assistant, Dawn? No. Why?”

“I haven’t heard from her since she went to lunch. I’m sure she’s heard about the bomb by now.”

“I expect so. It’s been all over the news.”

“I just wish she would contact me.”

“You don’t think she was inside, do you? As far as I know, the fire marshal said no bodies have been found.”

“No.” Melinda felt silly for expecting Dawn to call her, but she thought she would have at least called to make sure Melinda was all right. It seemed out of character for her to be so aloof after such an occurrence. Of course, she didn’t have a phone any more. Maybe Dawn had tried but couldn’t get through. Melinda would try to phone her again later. I think you’re right. I’m ready to take Ramey home and get some rest.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll let you know when we’ve established a new place to work.”

“My cell phone was destroyed in the blast. I’ll have to buy a new one tomorrow.”

“No problem. If you don’t hear from me, I’ll leave a message for you here at the station.”

“Okay.”

She let Noah lead her outside as he walked to the car, carrying her son in his arms. Noah was good with Ramey, and she felt like she knew him after all the times she’d listened to Nikki rave about him. But now she wondered at herself. She’d allowed this man into her life and into Ramey’s life without hesitation or even checking him out. She’d trusted him completely after the way he’d jumped in to save her. But what did she really know about Noah Cason? And, most important, could she trust him?

Noah dropped Melinda and Ramey at their house and made certain all her locks were secured before he said good-night. He’d enjoyed spending time with Ramey, who seemed like a good kid with a happy disposition, but he was glad when her interview was over and he could drop them at home for the night so he could drive by his sister’s house. It was dark now and the lights were on inside. He parked and strolled past the house, observing every detail as surely as he was scouting out a target. In fact, he was. His target was inside at this very moment.

He could see the man between the curtains going about his evening, eating in front of the television, while Noah’s sister was out there somewhere in the darkness, alone and discarded. The idea that her supposedly loving husband was lounging on the sofa while watching some sporting event burned him.

Melinda had assured him there had been search parties and community efforts made to find Nikki, but it hadn’t been enough. His sister was still missing.

He had no illusions that she would be found alive. Too much time had passed for that, and he’d seen too much during his career to believe that she could have survived this long. Rage bit him, but he tamped back every instinct inside him to bust through that door and beat the truth from his brother-in-law. He hated that he still had the urges for violence, but he supposed it was in his DNA. His parents had been violent people, and he’d inherited their disposition. In his youth he’d embraced those instincts, taking out his frustrations on anyone who’d wronged him. But he’d always felt terrible afterward.

The SEALs had taught him to control that anger and filter it to help people, and it had been a service he’d enjoyed and was good at. He was still good at it even though he’d left the navy for private contract work with the Security Operations Abroad company. Now he used his skills to protect covert CIA operatives abroad. The pay was better, but he’d begun to miss the missions that had made a difference. Every time he’d been called to action in the SEALs, it was for a greater purpose. He’d begun to wonder why God had led him there, away from the SEALs and into private work.