Christmas Conspiracy (Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense) (First Responders, Book 6) by Susan Sleeman

Christmas Conspiracy (Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense) (First Responders, Book 6) by Susan Sleeman

Author:Susan Sleeman
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Thrillers, Religious
ISBN: 9781474064996
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-12-01T12:22:38.403000+00:00


TEN

The sun shone bright the next morning on Jake’s drive to visit Pam’s parents in Tigard. Jake had dropped Pam off at work, with Rachael babysitting Kelly. Jake reluctantly left Rachael under Cash’s watchful eye. It wasn’t that Jake no longer trusted Cash after the peanut incident—that could have happened to anyone—but Jake simply didn’t want to leave her care to anyone else. That should have told him something about the feelings he was developing for her, but he refused to dwell on it.

He parked in front of a small bungalow and climbed out. Two cars sat in the driveway, which didn’t fit with Skyler’s research. She’d said the mother’s shift ended at seven and the dad started at six, meaning only the mother should have been home right now. It was something Jake had been counting on, as in his experience, women were often more forthcoming than men.

He knocked on the door and unclipped his badge from his belt.

Mrs. Baldwin answered. “Can I help you?”

“I’m Deputy Jake Marsh, Mrs. Baldwin,” he said, displaying his badge for her.

She arched a brow and planted her feet. “It’s Pam, isn’t it? You’ve come to tell us she’s finally overdosed.”

“No,” Jake said quickly. “Pam is fine. In fact, she’s more than fine. She’s doing great.” He added the last bit because, surprisingly, he’d developed a fondness for Pam, and he was proud of her success and wished these parents would be, too. Though, to be fair, he hadn’t witnessed her volatile history with drugs as her parents had.

Mrs. Baldwin crossed her arms. “So what is it, then?”

“Do you mind if I come in? I have a few questions for you.”

“Regarding?”

“Pam.”

“I knew it had to be about her. It’s the only time we ever get visits from the cops.” She sounded bitter, but she led him into a small dining room with a round wooden table, where Mr. Baldwin was drinking a cup of coffee, a newspaper folded in front of him. Short and squat, he had a full head of black hair with gray at the temples. He was a few inches shorter, and many inches wider, than the kidnapper as he’d been described.

“This here’s Deputy Marsh,” Mrs. Baldwin said. “It’s something about Pam.”

“Of course it is.” Mr. Baldwin frowned and gestured at a vacant chair.

Jake sat. “My coworker, Detective Skyler Hunter, talked to you yesterday about Pam.”

“That’s right.”

“You said neither of you had heard from or spoken to her in years.”

“Also true,” Mrs. Baldwin said, dropping into a chair by her husband.

“How did you learn about Kelly, then?”

“Got a call from Pam’s social worker,” Mr. Baldwin said. “She needed to verify information on Pam, and she mentioned the baby.” He shook his head.

“Looks like you don’t approve of Kelly.”

He crossed his arms. “I don’t. Not of having a baby out of wedlock, but mostly I don’t think Pam will be a very good mother.”

“Not if her history is any indication,” Mrs. Baldwin added.

“Do you think you’d be better at raising Kelly?”

“Of course we would!” Mrs.



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