Silent Night Sanctuary

Chapter Three

Gage scrutinized Leah, from her facial expressions and body language to the intonations of her voice, looking for a clue to indicate she was lying.

But her tears and those luminous, sad green eyes instantly tied him in knots. So did the smell of freshly baked cookies, as if she had made a batch to welcome her sister home.

He understood her terror as well as her guilt.

And even with anguish lining her features, she was the most beautiful woman he’d seen in a long time.

But he couldn’t allow himself to focus on that. This was just a case and Leah meant nothing to him.

Besides, he’d detected her moment of hesitation when he’d asked her if she was hiding something.

A moment that had confirmed his fear.

Whether or not it had anything to do with Ruby’s disappearance was another story.

But he suddenly wanted to unravel the secrets she had—especially why she didn’t want him here.

And why she’d avoided him in high school after she’d blown him off and hooked up with his brother.

“Leah, you can’t blame yourself. Most of the time it’s best for families to contact the police.”

“But what if this man hurts Ruby because of me?”

“It won’t do any good to second-guess yourself now. Why don’t you go over everything with me and we’ll see if the police might have missed something?”

She blinked back tears and nodded. “All right. If you think you can help. I’ll do anything to find her, Gage.”

If he’d thought she had anything to do with Ruby’s disappearance, he didn’t think so now. Her pain was too raw.

“I’d like to review all the information about the investigation. But first, why don’t you show me Ruby’s room.”

Again, guilt and worry strained her face, but she moved as if on autopilot to Ruby’s bedroom.

“She’s in my old room,” Leah said, gesturing at the lavender walls and stuffed animals covering the white, four-poster canopied bed.

He noted the unicorn bedspread, the pillowcase hand-embroidered with Ruby’s name. A pair of discarded sneakers lay by the closet door, a lime-green backpack beside them. A hot-pink jacket, fuzzy gloves and hat sat near a toy box overflowing with games and dolls.

Instincts honed from years on the force kicked in, and he knew he had to remain objective and push Leah. There had to be something the police had overlooked.

“Tell me exactly what happened.”

She averted her gaze, walked to the window and looked out as if seeking answers. “I woke up early that morning—it was still dark. The wind was howling but I thought I heard a scream. Maybe it was Ruby…crying out for me to save her.” Her hands rose to her cheeks, wiping at tears. “But I was too late. If only I’d woken up a few minutes earlier.”

“Was her bed still warm when you came in?”

She turned to him, angling her head as if in thought. “I…don’t remember feeling it. I panicked, then called for help. I kept thinking that if the kidnapper was trying to leave town the police could find him before he got too far away.”

“There was no ransom note?”

She shook her head. “Just the note on the bed by the shredded teddy bear warning me not to call the police.”

“And you haven’t received any other calls or messages since?” “No.”

“Do you have any major investments, money tucked away that someone might know about?”

“No, nothing like that.” She gestured at the room. “As you can see, my house is modest.”

He folded his arms. “Can you think of anyone who’d want to hurt you or Ruby?”

“No, no one specific.” She sighed and dragged a hand through her hair. “I’ve already told the police all this.”

“I know, but humor me. Like I said, maybe they missed something. Think about the school where you teach. Any parents—fathers perhaps—that you’ve pissed off?”

Her mouth twisted. “There was a man, a single dad, who got angry with me last month.”

“What happened?”

“His son had some bruises on his chest and legs and I asked him about them, but I think the police questioned him already.”

“What did the man have to say about his son’s bruises?”

“That his little boy is clumsy and accident-prone.”

Gage grimaced. He’d heard that before.

He moved inside the room, examining the space without touching anything. Everything indicated that a happy, normal child lived within these walls but appearances could be deceiving. “Your bedroom is on the opposite side of the house?”

“Yes. But I don’t know how someone got in and took her without me hearing. It’s not a big house. I mean, I thought I heard a scream, but…”

“Well, you said the wind was howling, right? Maybe it covered the noise. Or maybe she knew him.” He gestured at the window. “The window lock was jimmied. That’s how he got in?”

She nodded, pain darkening her eyes. “It was locked when I went to bed, but when I came in, it was open.”

“And the police didn’t find any DNA or fingerprints?”

“They said they didn’t.”

Her wording roused his suspicions “What do you mean, they said they didn’t? Do you have reason to believe the police might be lying?”

She jerked her head up, her eyes wide as if she’d just realized what she’d said. Oftentimes people gave the truth away innocuously.

“Leah? Is there some reason you don’t trust the police or think they didn’t do their jobs?”

She chewed her bottom lip before answering. “Not exactly….”

“What?”

“It’s just that Charlie is the deputy now, and his father always ran everything.” She shrugged. “They don’t tell you much.”

He’d never liked Charlie Driscill himself. Had Charlie run a shoddy investigation?

He studied the child’s room, debating how much to prod Leah. A small table and chairs held a sketch pad and crayons, dolls crowded a baker’s rack and books and puzzles overflowed a bookshelf. “Does your sister have a computer?”

“No, it was a sore subject between us, because she wanted her own laptop in her room, and I wouldn’t allow it.” Her chest rose up and down with a shaky breath. “I know how dangerous it is for kids on the Internet, so I let her use mine but only with supervision.”

She had the right answers and appeared to be caring and protective. “The feds looked at my computer and found nothing,” Leah added.

“Was anything else missing? Any clothes, toys?”

Her eyes darted around nervously. “Her Matilda doll is gone. She might have it with her.”

So the kidnapper hadn’t packed a bag to take with them. “Good. That might prove to be helpful somehow.” At least in tracing her, or, if they found a body, in identifying her. But he refrained from relaying that thought.

She paced, wringing her hands together, then paused and traced her finger over a drawing Ruby had done. It was a childish sketch of a girl and a woman smiling, hands outstretched to each other in a meadow of wildflowers.

The sight of the room was obviously torturing her, so he moved toward the hall. “Let’s go downstairs.”

Relief softened the lines on her face. She was so petite, and fragile looking. Creamy skin, golden hair that fell in soft waves around her heart-shaped face, eyes the palest green he’d ever seen.

But the photo of the little girl burned in his pocket, reminding him to keep this strictly business. Every second counted. He didn’t want another child to end up dead on his watch.

And her comment about the police bugged him. If there was some reason she didn’t trust them, he needed to know what it was. It might prove to be the lead they needed to find Ruby.

LEAH STARED AT Gage’s folded hands as he sat in the club chair in the den.

His hands were large, masculine, callused. A jagged scar crisscrossed his right one, disappearing into the sleeve of his shirt.

She claimed the love seat and held Ruby’s Pippi doll, gently running a finger over its long red braids. The yarn hair was coarse, not like Ruby’s soft red curls.

Where was she right now? What was happening to her?

“All right, Leah. Give me a blow-by-blow of the events leading up to Ruby’s abduction.”

She took a deep breath. “The night before she disappeared I took Ruby to the park. They had a mini-fair with a merry-go-round and cotton candy and games.”

“Did you notice anyone following or watching you and Ruby?”

She bit down on her lip and struggled to think, but she’d been caught up in Ruby’s laughter and chatter, and hadn’t noticed anyone. “No, I…Maybe I should have but I didn’t see anything strange. There were a lot of families there—teenagers, kids laughing, running around, all excited.”

“Did you lose sight of your sister at any time?”

“No, I never left her side. We played some games and rode a few rides.” She paused. “I understand how important it is to watch children closely, and how quickly they can slip away.”

He nodded. “Go on. What did you do then?”

“Ruby wanted a corn dog and cotton candy, and then an ice cream sundae.” She remembered Ruby’s shriek of joy when Leah had finally given in and allowed her the sweets. “Normally I don’t let her have so much junk food, but it was our ‘Fun Friday,’ that’s what we call it, and I caved.” She shrugged helplessly, wondering if they’d ever share another Fun Friday again. Knotting her hands to compose herself, she pressed on. “Unfortunately she got an upset stomach, and went to bed as soon as we arrived home.”

He narrowed his eyes and her heart pounded. “What?” she asked.

“I was just wondering if a stranger could have slipped something in her food at the fair.”

A bead of perspiration trickled down the back of her neck. “I…don’t know. I didn’t see anyone near her food except the vendors.”

He nodded but she had to wonder. If someone had followed them, was it possible? The place had been packed. They’d stopped to play dart balloons and others had squeezed beside Ruby while she’d hung back and given them space. Although she’d kept an eye on Ruby, she could have missed something.

“Leah,” Gage said in a deep voice. “I understand this is difficult, but I need you to finish. Did you go to bed when Ruby did?”

She hesitated, driving her fingers through her hair. “Not right away. I locked up the house and read for a while, then turned in.”

“Did you check on Ruby?”

Her gaze shot to his. “Yes, I always do. She was sleeping peacefully, but she’d kicked off the comforter. I went in and covered her.”

“And the window was closed?”

“Yes.”

“Did you sleep all night?” he asked. “You didn’t hear anything?”

Tears pooled in her eyes. “No, not until the morning.” Her gaze lifted to his. “How could I sleep while someone was breaking in and taking her?”

“It happens, Leah.” His expression softened slightly, and she decided maybe he did have a heart.

“What time did you notice she was missing?”

“I woke up right before dawn when I heard the wind screaming, and I had a bad feeling.” She pressed a hand to her aching chest, drawing in a tortured breath. “I got up and ran to check on Ruby. I wanted to make sure she was tucked in, not freezing.”

“And you saw the open window then?”

She nodded. “Then I saw that Ruby wasn’t in her bed.” Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. “I called her name but she didn’t answer, and I panicked and flipped on the light. Then I saw the bear and the note.”

And sheer terror had ripped through her.

“The police questioned the staff and vendors at the fair, didn’t they?”

She nodded. “No one saw anything.”

And the feds hadn’t turned up anything suspicious on them. They speculated that a vacationer or someone traveling through might have seen her, followed her home and absconded with her in the night. Obviously, whoever had kidnapped her hadn’t drawn anyone’s attention.

“Did you have a gardener or any workers—repairmen, cable guys, anybody like that—in before the kidnapping?”

She massaged her temple. “No. I mow my own lawn, and I don’t remember any strange workers being in the neighborhood. I certainly hadn’t hired any.”

“I know the police already questioned the neighbors, but I’d like to do that myself.” He looked at her, hard. “But first, I have to ask you, Leah. Can you think of anyone else who’d kidnap Ruby? Her father—”

“Our father died before she was born,” Leah said, cutting him off. “You know that, Gage.”

He stared at her for so long that she started to fidget in her seat. “I just thought that maybe your mother had met someone else….”

“Heavens, no. My mother was always faithful to my dad.”

But Leah’s dad wasn’t Ruby’s. Had Gage somehow discovered their secret?

“HOW LONG HAVE YOU been back in Sanctuary?” Gage asked.

She fisted her hands in her lap. “Since my mother died three months ago.”

“Where did you live before that?”

“In a condo in Atlanta. I was teaching there, but decided to move back to my mom’s house. I thought that would make the transition easier for Ruby.”

“How did you feel about giving up your job and moving?”

Anger flared in her eyes. “What are you implying? That I didn’t want Ruby?”

“I’m just asking,” he said brusquely. “You were on a career path, a good-looking single woman, and now your plans are ruined, and you’re saddled with a child to raise.”

She lurched up, eyes blazing with rage. But anguish darkened the depths, as well. “I’m not ‘saddled with a child,’” she said vehemently. “I would do anything for Ruby. I love her with all my heart.”

He wanted to reach out and touch her, calm her. She was trembling so badly that tears spilled down her face again.

“Then come on, Leah.” His voice was razor sharp cutting through her, dredging up the guilt. “I know you’re hiding something. Do you have any enemies? Maybe an old boyfriend or lover who’d want to hurt you by kidnapping your sister?”

LEAH ALMOST LAUGHED out loud. She hadn’t had a boyfriend since high school. And she certainly hadn’t had a lover.

Too much guilt and shame from the past had haunted her. And trust didn’t come easy. Not after what had happened the night of that horrible party eight years ago.

The party she’d attended in hopes of being with Gage. Only he hadn’t shown.

But she didn’t intend to tell Gage about that night. It was the deepest, most painful, humiliating, well-guarded secret of her life. Besides, it had nothing to do with Ruby’s disappearance.

It was in the past and it had to stay there.

Ruby was all that mattered now. She had to get her back safely. And then she’d never let her out of her sight again.

“Leah?” His voice startled her back to the present. “Is there an old boyfriend or lover who might want to hurt you?”

“No, no one.”

“You know something, don’t you?”

She lifted her gaze to his. If she discovered a connection, something concrete to make her believe the past was related to Ruby’s disappearance, she’d break her promise and tell him. But she’d confronted Charlie when Ruby first went missing and he’d assured her no one would gamble with their futures when she’d kept her vow of silence.

“I told you everything I know,” she said, fear making her voice wobble.

A heartbeat of tension passed between them, and her insides churned with worry as he studied her. Then he gave a clipped nod. “The feds put a tap on your phone?”

“Yes, but the kidnapper never called.”

“I’m going to hook into your phone, too, just in case. Then I want to talk to your neighbors.” He hesitated. “Meanwhile, I want you to take a stab at making a list of anyone you can think of that might have a grudge against you. Anyone with a motive to hurt you or Ruby. Think about your school and the locals—maybe a parent or teacher who paid special attention to Ruby—and even people in Atlanta.”

Leah’s heart sank. “But I’ve already been through all this.”

“I know, but you might remember something new, even a small detail that might not have seemed significant at the time. How about a woman or man who’d lost a child recently?”

She felt a rush of adrenaline. “There is a woman who lost her daughter a few months ago, a runaway teen.” Her gaze swung to his, panicked but hopeful. If this woman had Ruby, she wouldn’t harm her. “She always said that Ruby reminded her of her little girl. I didn’t think of it before—I felt sorry for her.”

“Write down her contact information,” Gage said. “I’ll check her out along with that father you mentioned earlier.”

She nodded, anxious for him to take action. How strange, after all this time, that Gage would come to help her. If he brought Ruby back, she’d more than forgive him for abandoning her that night to her awful fate. She’d forgive everything if it meant having Ruby back, safe and sound.

Chapter Four

Gage looked at the names he’d written down. Dr. Donnie Burkham, the man whose son was bruised, and Carmel Foster, the woman whose daughter had run away.

He’d visit them after he canvassed the neighborhood and stopped by the police station to see just how hard Driscill had searched for Ruby. And to find out if there were any registered sex offenders in the area.

He had to consider all possibilities.

Since it was Saturday, he found most of the ten residents on Leah’s street at home. Many of the homeowners were older, empty nesters, and three of the houses were rentals. A Hispanic family occupied one, and a Russian woman with three small children who’d just moved to the area and spoke very little English was renting another one.

The last rental house was empty. The yard was overgrown, the house shrouded in trees. The trash can in back was full, overflowing with pizza boxes and beer cans.

The house backed up to Leah’s property Had someone lived there recently or moved out in a hurry?

He jotted down the rental agency. He’d find out who owned the house, who the last renter was and when he moved out. And whether Driscill had bothered to check it out.

He drove into town, passing the Christmas tree lot sponsored by the local Boy Scout troop, noting the sparkling Christmas lights and decorations in the square. The carriage rides offered a quaint tour, past the stores alight with candles and promises of last-minute holiday gift ideas, and carolers serenading children beside the coffee-house.

On the edge of town, he parked in the gravel lot at the police station, a small, weathered stone building, nearly overrun by untended bushes. Yanking his collar up to ward off the blustery wind, he strode to the door. Brittle grass and pebbles crunched beneath his boots, tree branches swaying violently over his head.

When he opened the door, the scent of strong coffee and stale pastries hit him. He spotted a medium-size paneled room with three desks, one for a receptionist. The other two he assumed were shared by officers.

A pudgy woman with slightly pink hair teased into a bird’s nest on top of her head looked up and smiled. “What can I do for you, mister?”

“My name is Gage McDermont. I need to speak to the sheriff.”

“McDermont?” She popped her gum. “You related to Jerry McDermont?”

He nodded.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” She grinned and extended her hand, bloodred fingernails glittering with yellow stars painted on them. How festive.

“My name’s Carina Burton. I was two years behind you in school, but I remember watching you on the football field. You were the best kicker Sanctuary High ever had.”

He didn’t remember her. Then again, he’d only had eyes for Leah.

And if Jerry had been with her, I wouldn’t have touched her. We definitely had different tastes in women.

Except for Leah.

Damn. He really thought he’d put that behind him.

“Sheriff’s been under the weather,” Carina said, “but Charlie’s here. He’s been in charge about a month now. Running for sheriff in the next election.”

Son of a bitch. Just what the town needed, a Driscill monopoly. He’d tangled with Charlie on the football field and off. The guy played to win and didn’t care if it was a fair fight or not.

In some ways, Gage was just like him.

But he did what he did to seek justice. Driscill just flat out liked to give a beating. And it didn’t matter whether the person deserved it—just depended on Driscill’s mood.

Carina gestured for him to follow her down the narrow hallway to another office.

Driscill glanced up from his desk, a look of wary surprise crossing his face. He’d beefed up some since high school, and his hair was shorter now, receding slightly, but Gage would have recognized his tree-trunk neck and crooked nose anywhere. A mean look still glittered in his eyes.

“Gage McDermont, what in the hell are you doing back in Sanctuary? We having a class reunion someone forgot to tell me about?”

Gage forced a chuckle. “Hardly.” He shot a look across the office. “I have a feeling you know everything that’s going on in this town.”

A cocky grin slid across Driscill’s face. “It’s my job to know.” He patted his gun. “And I take my job seriously. What are you doing here, McDermont? I thought you were some hotshot detective in Raleigh.”

Gage gritted his teeth. He didn’t intend to share the circumstances of his departure from the police department with this moron from his past. “I got tired of playing by the rules and decided to strike out on my own.”