Susan Sleeman - Christmas Conspiracy

“Thank you for your help,” she said.

He gave a clipped nod. “It was a team effort, and we were just doing our jobs.”

His job. A dangerous and difficult job, she suspected. One she could never do, at least not if she hoped to sleep at night.

Scenes of the attempted kidnapping flooded her brain. Her fear. Her anger. Little Kelly, vulnerable. Everything came to her except details of the intruder’s face. That she couldn’t seem to call up from her memory. In the times she’d been awake, she’d tried to recall what he looked like, but only fuzzy images came to mind.

The doctor had told her that the police found an empty vial of ketamine on the floor at the center. Doctors and veterinarians used the drug for conscious sedation. He said as the drug left her system, she might remember the kidnapper in more detail, but the levels of drug in her blood meant she wouldn’t likely recall much of anything after the ketamine had taken hold.

She might not remember the kidnapper’s face, but she would never forget Kelly sleeping peacefully in her crib, danger lurking all around her.

“Is Kelly really okay?” She managed to get the words out through a mouth that felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

Jake smiled. “She’s fine. She’s with her mother.”

A woman stepped around the deputy and displayed a wallet that held a shiny badge. “I’m Detective Skyler Hunter. I’ll be handling this investigation, and if you’re up to it, I have a few questions for you.”

Rachael ran her gaze over the woman. She looked like she was an inch or so taller than Rachael, had red hair and wore khaki pants and a blue blazer. The lapel held a Christmas button that said Jesus Is the Reason for the Season.

Never having been questioned by the police, apprehension settled in Rachael’s stomach, but the concern in the detective’s expression seemed sincere and gave Rachael hope that the questioning wouldn’t be too bad.

“You’re the one who’ll catch this terrible man, then?” Rachael asked.

“I’ll do my very best, yes.”

Rachael eased herself up on her pillows until she reached a sitting position. The room swam, but she battled the dizziness and focused on the detective again. “Not to be rude, but how good is your best?”

“That’s not rude at all. In fact, I get asked that question all the time.” She sounded pleasant enough, but Rachael heard frustration in her voice. “I’ve been a deputy for twelve years and a detective for the last seven of them. My case closure rate is the highest on our team.”

“I’m confused,” Rachael said. “Are you a detective or a deputy?”

“Both, actually. All sworn staff except the sheriff himself are deputies, no matter the rank or position attained in the agency. So, for example, Jake is a sergeant in charge of the First Response Squad, but he’s still a deputy.”

“First Response Squad. That’s the team who came to my rescue.”

Jake nodded. “We’re a team of six and are dispatched on emergency callouts, especially those with a potential hostage situation.”

“Please thank the others on the team for me,” she said.

He nodded. “Detective Hunter serves as a negotiator on the team, but she is a well-qualified detective, too.”

For some reason Rachael trusted his opinion. “Okay, good. Then let’s get those questions out of the way. I want to visit Pam and Kelly, and I need to talk to my staff at the center and call all of my parents.”

“Slow down there.” The detective held up her hands. “Ms. Baldwin is off limits until I take her statement, and we can’t allow you to talk to her.”

Rachael met her gaze. “Why in the world not?”

“When people involved in incidents compare stories, they often alter their own stories to match.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“It’s not a conscious thing,” Jake offered. “But it happens.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll wait to talk to Pam, but I can still get my records from the center to call the parents and my staff.”

“In this age of technology, I’m surprised you don’t keep that information on your phone,” Jake said.

“Some directors may, but I don’t. I care for a hundred and twenty children, and I won’t risk having my phone stolen and the contact information for these families falling into the wrong hands. Besides that, for tax purposes, I keep my business and work activities separate whenever possible. I do keep the contact information on an iPad that I take home every day and use for center business only. Since I came by ambulance from the center, my iPad is still in my office.”

“I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to go to the center,” the detective said. “It’s a crime scene. Only official personnel are allowed inside, and it will remain closed during the initial investigation.”

“Closed?” Rachael asked. “For how long?”

“We won’t know for sure. I can give you a better estimate later in the day.”

“Then it’s even more important for me to get going and find a way to contact the parents. Many of them are low-income and can’t afford to miss even a day of work, and I need to help them find alternative care. I also have to notify my state licensing representative, who will need to complete her own investigation.” Rachael swung her legs over the edge of the bed and nearly tumbled to the floor.

Jake grabbed her arm to steady her. Warmth from his touch rushed up her arm. Shocked at her response, she pulled her arm free.

He met her gaze and held it. “It’s admirable to want to take care of these people, but it’s not wise to leave before the doctor releases you.”

“He’s already given the okay. I’m just waiting for the nurse to take out my IV and bring my papers.” She raised her chin to show her sincerity in helping her families. “The parents must be frantic over what’s happened. Can’t I at least pick up my iPad so I can call them?”

Jake turned to his fellow deputy. “What if, after Ms. Long answers your questions, I accompany her to the center and keep an eye on her while she gathers any information she needs?”

Detective Hunter arched a brow, watching Jake like a hawk. She didn’t look happy with him. “I’ll have to check with our forensic team, but if they’ve processed the office, then that should be fine.”

He turned his focus back to Rachael. “Our questions won’t take long.”

The detective leaned against the wall, appearing casual and at ease, but her eyes were sharp and direct. “You seem especially fond of Kelly. Do you have a connection to her other than as the center director?”

“Connection?” Rachael thought about it as she planted her feet on the floor to test her strength. “I’m fond of all the children at the center. In fact, I take care of some of them at my house when their parents have to work outside the normal center hours. I guess I care for Kelly more often than most, so I might be a bit more protective of her.”

Detective Hunter flashed a knowing look at Jake, who gave an almost imperceptible shrug.

“But today you chose to watch Kelly at the center,” the detective said.

“It just made more sense to have Pam bring Kelly to the center as they live nearby. She’d have to take several buses to get to my house. Plus Pam would have dropped Kelly at my house right when I’d have to leave to open the center.”

“Why don’t you tell us what happened this morning,” he said. “Every detail.”

Rachael would rather not have to rehash all of the details, but she had to do everything she could to make sure they caught this creep. “The day started out crazy. Pam has been late for work a few times because we don’t open until six thirty. So this week, I’ve been opening at six so she can get to work on time. I should mention that my center is licensed by the state, and I am required to operate within my posted hours. So by opening at six, I violated my licensing agreement.”