Free A Semi-Precious Christmas by Jan Elder Page A

she’ll be fine. Besides, she needs some quiet time. She’s had a busy day.”
    Maggie shot her dad a glare, hands on corduroy-clad hips, but permitted Chris to slip on her coat and hat. In a pink hat with earflaps, a cupcake couldn’t have looked any cuter.
    I grabbed my coat and hat, and off we went.

15
    My car coasted to a halt in my driveway. “I’ll just run in, feed the cats, and be out in a jiffy. No need for you and Maggie to get out. I’d hate to wake up sleeping beauty.” I sprinted up the walk and opened the front door. There was a light on in the kitchen. I distinctly remembered turning it out. A rustling noise sounded, followed by a thump. I gasped and whirled around. “Chris!”
    He was by my side in an instant. He pushed me behind him and away from the door. “What? Are you OK? What’s wrong?”
    I swallowed a scream and sucked in air. “There’s someone in the house!”
    The back door slammed and Chris raced inside. Fearless man.
    Footsteps hammered as a man sprinted around the side of the house, Chris in hot pursuit.
    My running car idled in the driveway like an open invitation.
    “No!” I shouted. “Don’t take Maggie!”
    I leapt off the porch and raced toward the car.
    The intruder hopped in and hit reverse, sideswiping my mailbox as he peeled out of the driveway.
    I shrieked, air whooshing out of me.
    Chris managed to bang on the hood of the car before it headed off down the street.
    There was no way we could catch the speeding car, but we ran anyway, halfway down the block.
    Taillights faded in the distance and then disappeared as the car turned a hard left.
    I slid to a halt, panting, hands on knees, shivering.
    Chris slumped next to me, an animalistic groan escaping from his mouth. “Maggie!” he cried. “Oh, dear God, protect her.” He wrapped an arm around me and clutched me so hard I wheezed.
    We stumbled back to the house and sank into kitchen chairs.
    Chris whipped out his cellphone and speed-dialed Locksley, describing the situation. He ended the call and stared past me, his hands flat on the table.
    “Chris, what are we going to do? We have no car. We can’t just sit here.” I blanketed his cold hands with mine, my pulse pounding in my ears.
    He hung his head, his lips moving soundlessly. After a moment’s reverie, his head came up and he transformed. His limp fingers curled into fists. His mouth tightened into a thin, straight line, and his jaw clenched. He straightened his spine and squared his shoulders. “First, we’ll pray. Then, we’re making some phone calls.” His hands gripped mine as he begged for Maggie’s safety and deliverance. Then he ended with, “Lord, I’m scared out of my wits. Maggie is my life. Help us find my little girl!” Air rushed from his lungs as he pulled his phone out. “I’m calling the TV station. Then, I’ll call every single person in my directory who might be able to help.”
    We had a plan.
    I searched frantically for my phone. My blood ran cold. No phone. I must have left it in the car when I’d run into the house. No matter. Chris knew dozens, perhaps, hundreds of people.
    Chris called person after person, relaying the needed information in short, terse sentences, asking each contact to call two friends to spread the word. He also called Amee and Uncle Marty and recruited Amee to come pick us up. Before he was half way down his list, car brakes squealed in my driveway. Amee’s car purred on the pavement.
    Chris and I were out of there and in the car before Amee had time to open her door.
    “Where to?”
    “The kidnapper turned left at the next street. We’ll start there.”
    We would find her. There was no other option.
    ~*~
    An hour later, we’d crisscrossed the town, turning down every street, every alley, and even the occasional cow path. Nothing.
    Chris motioned for Amee to stop the car at the diner with a red neon sign blinking “Open all night.” Christmas Eve. Some people had tough jobs.
    Amee cracked her