Page 60 of Last Chance Christmas

She laughed. “My, my. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you this surly. You’re usually one of the most chill and upbeat people I know. You must really like her.”

Anthony lost all words. There was no comeback to throw Penny off the scent. She was right.

“What’s not to like? But here I am, letting a serial killer try to nab her. What’s wrong with this scenario?”

Penny laughed.

“It’s not funny,” Anthony growled.

“Sure it is. The great Anthony Thomas has finally fallen. And for the record, you have my wholehearted approval. Della is tough, but she’s one of the good ones. I think you two would be perfect together.”

“We’re just working together. We haven’t even been on a date.”

“You’ve never asked her out? She’s probably the one single woman in Last Chance you haven’t.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, it is. When I first moved here, Andi warned me all about you and Bryce specifically. Of course, I didn’t listen and I fell for Bryce anyway. However, everyone knows that you, my friend, only date a woman for a few months, then you’re on to someone new. So if you try to pull that on Della, you’re going to have to deal with me.”

“Can we just focus on keeping the woman safe and out of Jason Vaynes’s hands for now?”

“Yup. You’re a goner.”

He wasn’t even going to answer that.

“You’re following too closely,” Penny said. “Back off a little.”

“I can hardly see with this rain. I’m not letting her out of my sight.”

“She’s almost to her house. We can go past it and backtrack on the next street over. Jude is watching over there. If we take his spot, he can use the neighbor’s house like she said.”

Anthony hated being this far from Della, even though they had her on an open phone call, just muted. They could hear the upbeat Kelly Clarkson song she was listening to on the car radio. She parked in the short driveway in front of a yellow cottage-style home and killed the engine. Anthony drove past her and kept going.

“See anything?” he asked Penny.

“Nothing.” She looked down at her phone. “Jude is moving into place.”

Good, because this was when Della was most vulnerable. Moments of transition were the hardest to protect. Anthony should probably thank God for the awful weather, which could only deter Vaynes. He wouldn’t be able to stay outside watching for any length of time. And Anthony would have to trust that Jude and his buddy were vigilant enough that Vaynes didn’t sneak past them.

“Maybe I should do a quick sweep of the house before she?—”

“She’s fine.” Penny nudged him with her elbow. “We’re listening. We’re tracking her.”

Right. Anthony sped up and turned left. He turned again when he found the narrow alley Della used to access the detached garage. The squad car blocked the alley, but he and Penny would have enough room to get out if needed. It gave them a mostly clear view of Della’s backyard.

“So now we sit and do nothing.” Anthony grabbed his pack of gum. At least he could keep his mouth busy.

“Nothing but wait for a serial killer to show up.” Penny sounded way too chipper for this.

Anthony said nothing. He turned the volume up on the phone they were listening on.

Over the next few hours, darkness crept in. By five o’clock, the sky was black, and the temperatures had dropped enough to turn the freezing rain to thick snow. Anthony had to keep the car running to keep the windshield wipers on. There was no movement except a random alley cat dodging the snowflakes, looking for shelter.

Finally, Della spoke to them over the phone.

“I should be glad he didn’t show, but I’m only getting more impatient. Are you seeing anything?”

Penny took the phone off mute. “Nothing.”