Yuletide Abduction by Virginia Vaughan

Author:Virginia Vaughan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

Nervous excitement lit through Elise as she waited for the confrontation about to take place across the street. She watched a group of local police officers all dressed in their SWAT gear move into position to storm Peter Larkin’s home. Beside her, Chief Mills supervised the operation while Josh paced anxiously behind her. She knew he longed to be the one bursting into that house ready to strike.

She shared his desire. Had it not been for her injured leg, she might have insisted on being part of the team. Instead, she satisfied herself with coming in afterward. She was allowing Chief Mills to lead this operation. All she’d asked was that she could be a part of it. He’d reluctantly agreed, and she knew it was only because he was hoping to avoid a full-scale FBI presence in town. She didn’t bother telling him that wouldn’t happen.

“His car is parked in the driveway. He’s in there,” one of the officers voiced into the mic. That surprised Elise. Why would he be at home? He had to have known Brooke had alerted her. She’d been screaming into the phone for Elise to help.

Elise pushed away that terrible, helpless memory. She hadn’t been able to prevent Brooke’s abduction, but she would find her and have her home for Christmas and bring her assailant to justice.

Another officer peeked inside and relayed what he saw. “I have visual. He’s inside. He’s asleep in the recliner. No one else appears to be in the room.”

Again Elise was struck with the oddity of Larkin’s behavior. How could he be kicking back in his recliner after just abducting a girl not more than an hour ago? Josh moved to stand beside her, his arms stiffly folded across his chest. Anxiety poured off him and Elise longed to place her arms around him and try to reassure him, but she was too conscious of the presence of Chief Mills. Such an intimate gesture would surely be noticed and might affect how others saw her as a professional.

The lead officer gave the signal, and Elise heard the sound of the door being kicked open then the officers spilling into the house.

“What’s going on?” Larkin demanded. “What are you doing?”

Chief Mills waited until he got the word that the house was clear before he allowed them to cross the street.

The head SWAT officer approached them. “The rest of the house is empty. No sign of the girl.”

Larkin, who was already in cuffs and being walked to a police cruiser, glared at her and Josh. “You’re making a mistake,” he insisted. “I haven’t done anything.”

That lit the fire under Elise, who moved toward him. “You were following her. I was on the phone with her. She told me it was you. I heard her screaming for help.”

“No, no. I haven’t done anything. I wouldn’t hurt Candace.”

“This isn’t just about Candace anymore. You abducted Brooke Martin. Now tell me where she is.”

Larkin looked her square in the eye and seemed surprised by her accusation.

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