Page 44 of Last Chance Christmas

“I know Tony. He’s a good officer. I’ll look into the case with him and see what I can do to help track down Vaynes.” Penny pushed off the desk she was leaning against.

Bryce stood too. “I’ll take a look around the perimeter. Penny’s right though. Don’t go anywhere by yourself.” He left the office.

Della took a full breath for the first time in days. Maybe she wasn’t quite as alone as she assumed. It certainly felt good to have her coworkers take the threat seriously.

Amelia studied her a second. “Why don’t we go wrap some of those presents? Might as well stay busy.”

Her smile was probably meant to be reassuring. But nothing could make Della forget that Jason Vaynes was on the loose and had her in his crosshairs.

Five

Anthony tried to concentrate on lifting the fingerprint off the locker. “You don’t have to watch over my every move, you know. I’ve done this a few times.” He glanced over his shoulder at Penny Mitchell.

She stood behind him, eyes narrowed as she observed. “Gotta make sure you’re doing it right.”

He knew better than to read anything into that tease in her voice. She was head over heels for Bryce Crawford, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her wedding was coming up soon. Not that he hadn’t done his fair share of flirting with her months ago, when she’d assisted the department with the Sosa case. But she was engaged now. He knew it wouldn’t go anywhere, which made it safe, harmless fun.

No chance of getting hurt again.

“Don’t you have a case? Or someone else to bug?” He lifted the tape off the locker and pressed it onto the white cardboard.

Before she could answer, his radio squawked. “Think we’ve got something.” Sounded like Jessica Ridgeman’s voice. As detective, she was probably running point on a section of the search. A search he should be a part of. “Path east of the river. Footprints and?—”

Anthony turned the volume on his radio off. If it wasn’t attached to his vest, he’d be tempted to chuck it across the room.

“Whoa there, buddy.” Penny spoke as if she were placating a child. “What’s up with that grumpy face? Aren’t you glad they’re on the trail?”

“Of course I’m glad. I hope they catch them.” He shut the lid to the fingerprint case a little too forcefully.

“Then what’s the problem?” The childish banter was gone. It was his friend Penny asking in earnest.

“I should be out there. Tracking those prisoners down. Not…sitting around waiting for something to happen.”

“What you’re doing here is important, Tony. That woman is scared. She’s been through hell.”

“I know, Pen.”

“She doesn’t think you’re taking her seriously. Why is that?”

“When I didn’t see anything on the footage, I was skeptical. And maybe I still am. Stress and anxiety can mess with memory. Make people see things that aren’t there. Even forget things.”

How many times had he lived through it with his mom? All the times she was convinced of aliens or intruders—what did the doctor call it? Psychosis brought on by stress. She’d manufactured stories that had nothing to do with reality because his dad had left.

Della had been through hell. He’d read the file. And knowing the man who’d caused it was now on the loose could trigger all kinds of anxiety. But he still had the sense that there was something she was keeping in the dark.

So maybe originally he’d dismissed it. “But I’m doing my due diligence.” He sealed up the kit. “Fingerprints are ready to be processed. Despite my gut telling me there’s something she’s hiding, I’m investigating this like any other case. And I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”

“I know you won’t. You’re a good man, Tony. Even if you don’t like Christmas.”

“Who told you that?”

“Olivia Tazwell said you’re the only one not doing Secret Santa at the office.”

“You’re gonna get on my case about that too? Don’t you have more important things to do? Plan a wedding. Find a missing person.” He chuckled, desperate to throw off any inquest about his dislike of the holiday.

“Someone’s gotta keep you on your toes.”

Anthony moved to the door and held up the fingerprints. “I’ll have someone from the station pick this up. Where’s Nixon now?”