Free The Christmas Bell Tolls by Robin Caroll

He remembered the shopping trip vividly. “Even the saleslady commented
that they must be for a special occasion.”
    Eva nodded, too.
“You said you just bought them?”
    “This
weekend.”
    Agent Lacey
gripped his wrist. “Chances are , Savannah’s abductor
was in that store at the time you were. Otherwise, she wouldn’t know which
exact pair of shoes your daughter wanted so badly.”
    Eva took the
photograph and stared at it. “These fit her feet, too, so I’d guess that she
was close enough to you and Savy to know what size you bought.”
    Chills followed
bursts of tingling up and down his back. The hairs on the back of his neck
stood at attention. That the woman who took his baby had been so close to
them…to him, and his warning sense hadn’t gone off…just how good of an agent
was he? An abductor stood no more than feet from his baby girl, already
plotting taking her from him, and he never felt even the slightest bit uneasy.
    “I need to go to
the store.” He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud until Eva nodded.
    Agent Lacey shook
her head. “Call SAC Wilson and he’ll send someone to check it out.”
    Darren carefully
placed Savannah’s shoes back in her closet. “You and I both know he won’t be
able to get any information without a warrant.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s
almost ten now. He won’t get a judge out of bed and a warrant signed before the
store closes.”
    “The mall has
extended holiday hours. They’re open until eleven tonight.” Eva’s expression
reflected the hope filling his chest.
    “He’ll never get a
warrant in time.” Darren rested his hands on Agent Lacey’s shoulders. “As a
profiler, you know how critical timing can be.”
    “I’ll go.” Eva
interrupted and he wanted to hug her. “Leo Wilson can’t tell me I can’t go to
the mall.”
    “You’re not
authorized to question anyone,” Agent Lacey said, but her tone held no malice.
She stepped out of Darren’s reach.
    Eva smiled and
held up the badge she still wore. “Actually, I am.”
    “I appreciate you,
I do, but you’ve been removed from the case, Eva,” he said softly, dejection
nearly suffocating him. “If you do anything that Wilson even thinks borders on
interfering, he’ll report you. You’ll get in big trouble.”
    “So? I don’t care.
Finding Savannah and bringing her home is what’s more important, Darren.”
    Now he wanted to
kiss her. Had she always been so attentive to his daughter and he just missed
it? Was he doing what Rafe had accused him of: sabotaging any chance at love
and happily ever after?
    “Okay. If you two
are going, you’d better sneak out while SAC Wilson is gone.” Agent Lacey
smiled. “Just try to be back before he returns.”

Eight
     
    Despite the below
freezing temperature outside, the heat in the cabin of Eva’s car sizzled.
    “Thank you again
for doing this.” Darren stared out the front windshield into the darkness. “I
can’t tell you how much.”
    “Don’t be
ridiculous. Of course. This is Savannah. I love her,
too.”
    Darren didn’t
respond. Eva couldn’t tell if he was lost in thought, or just uncomfortable
with her. She risked a quick glance at him.
    “I didn’t know,”
he finally whispered.
    “What?”
    “I didn’t know you
love her.”
    She snorted as she
turned into the mall’s parking lot. “Don’t be stupid, Darren. Of course I love
her. What did you think I was doing when we’d go places together?” She caught
his expression as she whipped into an empty parking space.
    Her heart
tightened as she realized what he didn’t say meant. “Oh, you thought I was just
humoring her to stay in your good graces?” She slammed the car into park and
turned off the engine. “I thought you knew me better, Darren Timmons.”
    “I’m sorry, Eva. I
just…I don’t…I thought…”
    She shook her head
against his words, against the hurt resurfacing. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s
just go see what we can find out.” Eva