Jane Godman - Colton 911 - Family Under Fire

“Yes.” Denmore went to his desktop computer and tapped on a few keys. After a moment or two, he leaned closer to the screen. “This item was ordered and paid for online three days ago.” He looked up. “It’s a teddy bear. The largest and most expensive soft toy we stock.”

“Is there any possibility it could have been tampered with during the packing process?” He wanted to be absolutely sure it would be safe to open that box.

Denmore pursed his lips. “I can’t give a hundred-percent guarantee, but I can offer you something that comes close.” He pointed to his screen, showing Everett a spreadsheet. “From the moment an order is placed to when it leaves the store, each person who handles the item records the date and time on the system. I can’t see any issues with this one.”

Everett released the pent-up breath that had been tightening his chest. In one sense, the confirmation that the delivery had come from Hoyles’ was good news. It meant the package was unlikely to contain anything sinister. On the other hand, it provided him with only half an answer. And it raised a whole lot of unwelcome questions.

“Okay. Now I need to know who placed the order.”

“Client confidentiality is important to us. We don’t usually give out this sort of information. But if a crime has been committed…” Denmore typed in a few details, a frown crossing his features as the screen changed. “I’m afraid it won’t be possible to give you any information about the sender.”

“What do you mean?” Everett moved closer, checking out the information on the screen.

“The toy was purchased using a prepaid gift card.”

Everett took a moment to consider that information. There could be any number of reasons why someone might want to remain anonymous when making a purchase. They may feel unsafe, threatened by identity fraud, or want to shield their credit-card data from hackers. They might even wish to keep the purchase private from family members.

Or they might pose a specific threat to a little girl called Kennedy Dodd.

“And there is no way of tracing who purchased the gift card?”

“None.” Denmore made a helpless gesture. “This one was purchased for cash on the day the bear was ordered.”

“But you have security cameras, right? You know the date and time of the purchase and which register was used. I’d like to see those images.”

“Of course.” Denmore turned to a table at the side of his desk. On it, four monitors displayed split screen images of the interior and exterior of the store. “The security office have a clearer view of what’s going on, but this is the back-up system in case anything goes wrong.”

Typing the time and date and a reference number into the keypad attached to the system, Denmore waited for one of the screens to load the information he required. After a moment or two, it switched to a single screen view of a register. There were two people waiting to make their purchases and Everett leaned closer to get a better view.

“This woman has several items, but she could have bought the gift card at the same time.”

Denmore shook his head. “No. The gift card was a single purchase.”

Everett pointed. “So it must be this person. He or she has no other items.”

He or she. It was impossible to tell. The figure at the desk wore dark, shapeless clothing and a jacket with the hood pulled up. Judging by the people and items around, it could have been a small man, or an average-sized woman.

“The timing shows that was the person who bought the gift card,” Denmore confirmed.

“Do you have any other images of him moving around the store?”

Denmore pressed more buttons, following the figure away from the cash desk, at which point he promptly disappeared into the crowd. When the manager tried to find the guy prior to his arrival at the desk, he was equally unlucky.

“Sorry. I can get security to keep trying and let you know if they find anything.”

Clearly there was no point in pursuing the matter further at that time. Everett thanked Denmore for his time and left his contact details, then made his way back through the festive scene and onto the street outside.

“Can I go now?” He’d almost forgotten about Joe.

“I need to take a look at that package.”

A few minutes later, he had offloaded the box from Joe’s van. Although the information from Denmore had put his mind at rest, a vague doubt remained. Carrying the package into an open space, he placed it on the ground and untied the ribbons. As he eased off the lid, his mind repeated the same question.

Even if this was a gift from a well-wisher, how did that person know where to find Kennedy?

There was no satisfactory answer. Could Sean and Delilah have discussed the details of their will with someone other than their lawyer, possibly Georgia? Since they hadn’t shared that information with Everett or Alyssa, the people most closely affected, it seemed unlikely. Even if that was the case, what were the chances of that person knowing when Kennedy’s new living arrangements would begin?

If we didn’t know, how could anyone else have known?

Could someone in Child Services have leaked the information? It was a possibility, but why would anyone do that?

Add in the fact that Everett living at a temporary address… No, whoever had sent this gift to Kennedy had worked hard to find her. And it didn’t feel comfortable.

“See. It’s a bear. Just like the guy said.” Joe was starting to get on his nerves.

It wasn’t just any bear. It was a giant, candy-pink, fluffy bear holding a cushion that read I Love You. Everett placed the lid back on the box and walked away.

“Hey,” Joe called after him. “What do you want me to do with this?”

“Donate it to your favorite charity.”

When he arrived back at the apartment, Everett found his brother on his knees assembling a crib while Alyssa unloaded baby clothes from a box. From one of many . His confused brain took an inventory of what had once been his living space. “What the—?”

“Kennedy’s stuff arrived.” Alyssa appeared way too calm for someone who was speaking to him from behind a wall of boxes.

Before he could reply, Casey got to his feet. “All done. Where do you want this?”

“Well, there isn’t really space in the smaller bedroom.” Alyssa cast a wary look in Everett’s direction.

“I see.” He wanted to adopt an outraged pose, but there was barely enough room to breathe let alone throw out his chest. “So, as well as this room being taken over by baby items, I’m also being kicked out of my bedroom. Maybe I should sleep in my car from now on?”

He knew he was being unfair but how much more was this day going to throw at him? A baby, an ex-girlfriend—and not just any ex-girlfriend. No, Alyssa was the one he’d never quite managed to get over…and then there was that mysterious delivery. Now his rented apartment, never the most organized space, looked like a natural disaster had struck it.

All of those things were bad enough, but none of them were the worst. Like a knot tightening in his chest, there was also the knowledge that he couldn’t protect Alyssa from his fears. He would have to watch some of the light go out of those beautiful eyes as he told her about the teddy bear.

Aware of his twin’s gaze on his profile, he turned his head. The look in Casey’s eyes said it all. Don’t be a jerk.

“You guys have a lot to discuss. You don’t need me getting in the way.” Casey headed toward the door, turning back to look at Everett before he left. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

The message was clear. Tonight he was getting a reprieve. On the following day, his brother would want to know everything.