No Home for the Holidays (8 page)

On shaky knees, she stood up and called Colton's ex-partner, Robbie. He could get the FBI involved. They needed to find Colton—alive. Her heart rate fluttered as she hit the numbers. Please let him be alive.

“Robert…”

“Robbie, this is Chloe Sullivan.”

There was a moment of shocked silence.

“You've got a lot of people looking for you.”

“I don't really care. Colton's in trouble.”

“What do you mean?”

“He didn't come back to the motel last night. I haven't heard from him since I sent him the location of the restaurant where…” She stopped. Could she say his name out loud? “Where Ramon Rivera was. Something must have gone wrong.”

“Colton can take care of himself.” The words were encouraging, but his tone didn't match.

“I know something's wrong. We have to find him. What should I do?”

“Let me handle it from this end. Colton wanted to keep you safe. That was the most important thing to him. He said you were sure that someone in the L.A. office is helping Rivera and he agreed with you.”

Her heart pounded, just hearing the man's name scared her.

“I did some of my own investigating. Colton didn't break your confidence. I'll call the L.A. office and tell them what's going on. They should be able to get a warrant to search Rivera's house based on your testimony.”

“Then hurry. They need to find Colton…before it's too late.”

“Only one problem.”

“What's that?”

“The judge will either need to talk to you directly or one of the agents will have to talk with you and then vouch for you with the judge. Either way, you'll have to talk to an agent—come out of hiding.”

“I don't care. Just do it before it's too late for Colton.”

~*~

“Where is Chloe Sullivan?” Ramon Rivera stood in front of Colton. He held a gun in his hand, but it wasn't pointing at Colton—yet. “I will kill you if you don't tell me. Or you can tell me and you'll be a rich man. Very rich.”

Colton's hands were cuffed to the rails of the chair he sat on.

Goons stood on both sides of him.

He closed his eyes and prayed for the strength to keep Chloe safe.

The two men guarding him were quite different. The huge one seemed excited, energized by what was happening. The other one looked a little green around the gills.

Maybe Colton could convince him to do the right thing if he had the opportunity. He had to stall for time.

Ramon punched Colton in the stomach. “I don't play games. Tell me where she is and you get to live, preacher. Your life for Chloe. Sounds like a great deal to me.”

“Yeah, right.” Colton's stomach throbbed from the blow. “The minute I tell you where she is, you'll kill me anyway.”

“No, I won't. I'll give you the money and let you go. Really.”

The actor said it with so much sincerity, Colton could almost believe his lies. Almost. “Yeah, the same way we had a deal with the money.”

“I had a deal with John Smith, preacher. Not with you. Lucky for me, John's a fan. Even though you stole his treasure, he was kind enough to warn me that you might show up. You should never have come to California with her.”

“You really think she's here? In California. Chloe's terrified of you. She's safe and sound far away from here—and from you.”

A flicker of doubt showed in the actor's eyes. Ramon shook his head. “I don't believe you. She's close by. I'm sure of it. You're going to tell me where she is or I'm going to kill you.” He aimed the gun at Colton.

“Do what you gotta do.” Colton forced his voice and his gaze to remain calm.
God, I know You've got my back. Your will be done.
“Killing me won't help you find Chloe.”

Ramon brought the gun to Colton's temple. “Maybe not. But you're really getting on my nerves. Besides, I won't be any worse off if I do kill you. And you'll be out of my life.”

Colton closed his eyes.

“What's wrong with you?” Frustration spewed from Ramon's mouth. “I have a gun to your head. Tell me where she is.”

Colton met Rivera's gaze. “I'm not afraid to die. God is with me.”

“You're nuts.” His voice shook with anger. “Nobody wants to die.”

“God is with me.”

“Stop saying that.” He lifted the gun and hit Colton in the temple.

Stars floated before Colton's eyes.

A phone rang.

Ramon moved away from him. “Yeah.” He listened for a moment. “Thanks for the heads up.” He turned to the goons. “We need to move him. Now.”

“Why? What's going on, Mr. Rivera?”

“Got a problem, do we?” Colton couldn't help grinning.

“You're the only one with a problem.” Ramon lifted the gun and slammed it into Colton's head again.

Instead of stars, darkness took his breath away in a burst of pain.

17

Someone knocked on the door.

Chloe's pulse raced. Her mouth was dry with fear, but she pushed it away. This was for Colton. After turning the deadbolt, she opened it a crack. The chain lock was still engaged. “Yes?”

A man stood in front of the door. “I'm Agent Buckley, ma'am.”

“Let me see your ID.”

He slid the ID through the opening of the door.

Chloe stared hard. It seemed legitimate enough. Looking back at the man, he matched the picture on the ID. One more test. “What do you want?”

“I have orders to take you to headquarters, ma'am.”

“Why?”

“They didn't tell me, ma'am. Just that you were needed there.”

Undoing the latch, she prayed she was doing the right thing. The judge wanted to talk to her. Which was fine, if it meant they'd start looking for Colton. “Come in.”

The agent walked in.

She picked up her purse. Maybe she should call Robbie, so he'd know what was going on. “Let me make one phone call before we go.”

“They told me they really are in a hurry. Something about a warrant.” He shrugged. “But whatever you want is fine with me. If you need to make a phone call, they'll just have to wait. It's up to you.”

Five minutes might mean the difference between life and death for Colton.

“Let's go.” She walked out.

Agent Buckley held the car door for her, then slammed it shut. They drove in silence as he headed out of town.

Her stomach fluttered. “I thought we were going downtown.”

“The judge wanted to see you at his house.” He turned and smiled. “Easier for him and faster for us.”

Hadn't he said they were going to headquarters back in the hotel room? She was sure he'd say that. Probably no big deal, just a slip of the tongue.

“Never thought I'd see the day when you'd come back.”

Her pulse spiked. “You know me?”

“I guess I could pretend I didn't. But your face is pretty well-known around here. It's very brave of you to come back. From what I've heard, you're a lot safer hidden than out in the open like this.”

He sure knew more about her than he'd acted back at the motel. But many people in the movie industry loved to gossip. Maybe he wasn't a real agent.

Somehow Ramon had found her.

A spike of panic caused her to physically flinch.

Colton had quoted a Bible verse for her. Be strong and courageous.

This driver's badge was real. Everything was fine. She could do this. They had to get that search warrant so they could find Colton.

The streets of L.A. were still clogged with cars. It had never bothered her before. But after three years of being away, her hand clenched the door handle.

“Relax. I've never had an accident yet.”

“Yet.” She smiled and took a deep breath. “I'd forgotten how crazy the traffic is in this town.”

“And it never seems to get any better.”

“That's for sure.” She closed her eyes, praying for Colton's safety. A strange feeling overwhelmed her senses. She needed to get out of the car. Right now. Don't panic. It's just nerves. “I'm surprised the judge wanted me to come to his house.”

“It's Saturday.”

Foreboding swamped her whole body.

~*~

Colton regained consciousness, but didn't open his eyes. Something wrong…he floated back to the darkness. Awareness came back as the darkness receded. Needed to…Colton tried to move his feet but they were stuck. Needed to…what?

Chloe. Get back to Chloe. The memories slammed into him. Chloe. Ramon. The garage. The phone call. Who had called Ramon? He'd said thanks for the heads up.

Was the FBI looking for him?

He'd been gone a long time.

Chloe had probably called Robbie. Chloe—so beautiful.

Colton squeezed his eyes shut. He had to find a way out. Had to keep sweet, beautiful Chloe safe.
Sorry, Chloe. I failed you just the way I failed Catherine.
It was unlikely Chloe would get home for Christmas. Even more unlikely that he'd be alive to see Christmas at all.

He didn't mind celebrating Christmas with the birthday boy Himself…and with Catherine. His sweet Catherine. Dead because of him.

An undercover assignment gone wrong—horribly wrong. Somehow they'd found his house. When he'd walked in for a short lunchtime visit, there they'd stood. With a knife to Catherine's throat. She'd screamed out for him to run, but he'd stayed. In the end, the bad guys were dead, but so was his Catherine. Injured, he'd laid down by Catherine and waited to die.

But God had other plans for him.

When he was released from the hospital he'd resigned from the FBI.

His heart was filled with anger and hatred. Life held no peace or joy for him. For months, he refused to talk or even see his family or friends. But with God's help, he'd survived the darkness wanting only to serve God.

And now here he was amongst the hatred and ugliness again. And he'd failed yet again. He slipped back to the darkness.

A woman stood there—in spite of his eyes being closed. He could only see the back of her. She turned around. Catherine. Must be the drugs. He opened his eyes. She was still there. Definitely the drugs.

“You're not real. I'm hallucinating.”

“Maybe.” She smiled at him. “Stop thinking you failed. You didn't. And you won't fail Chloe—unless you give up. Be strong and courageous. Isn't that what you told her?”

“There's nothing I can do.”

“The Lord is with you. Remember Philippians—I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You are not alone, Colton. God is with you always. A righteous man gets up seven times.”

“Or seventy.” It had been one of their favorite verses to encourage each other when the going got tough.

She turned from him.

“Don't go, Catherine. Don't leave me. I love you. I need you.”

“Our time together is over. For now.” She turned toward him. “You are so brave, but so afraid of giving your heart to another. Don't be afraid, my dear, sweet Colton. Love makes life worth living.” The fog closed in, and she disappeared.

Alone. No Catherine. No Ramon or his goons.

His gaze moved to the walls. Logs—a cabin? He was facing a sliding glass door. Lots of trees were visible. The area surrounding the mansion was different than these woods.

They had moved him.

His agent mind started working.

The phone call must have been someone warning Ramon that the FBI was coming to search his house.

Chloe must have called Robbie or the FBI. Probably Robbie. She was terrified of the LA office of the FBI. She'd believed someone in the LA office was helping Ramon Rivera. Obviously, she'd been right.

Why hadn't Rivera killed him? Because they wanted Chloe. And he was the map to finding her.

Colton closed his eyes, praying for strength to not betray her. As long as she stayed in that hotel room, she'd be safe—as long as he kept his mouth shut.

~*~

Agent Buckley turned down a tree-lined road. “I can see why the judge didn't want to come downtown. He sure lives out in the country.”

“Yeah, I wouldn't want to make this drive every day.”

Her stomach twisted. The scenery was familiar. Ramon had brought her out to a cabin a few times. It wasn't one of his showy vacation homes. This place was for privacy. She was sure this was the way to his cabin.

Panic seeped in.

The agent was staring at her.

Something stopped her from speaking. As long as he thought she was cooperating, she might have a chance of getting away. She touched the phone in her pocket. She'd call Robbie as soon as she could.

The car was approaching a stop sign.

Her hand moved to the door handle.

She jumped out of the car and ran for the woods. The agent began screaming, but she kept moving. She zigged and zagged until she had no idea where she was. Finally, she stopped to call Robbie.

He'd help her—them.

She pulled out her cellphone as she sat down.

“Hey, Chloe. Long time no see.” Ramon stepped out of the woods. Their eyes met and he smiled. “So, how've you been?”

~*~

Colton opened his eyes.

Catherine's message had been clear. Don't give up. Trust God.

He'd told Chloe the same thing. Anything was possible, and that life was all about choices. He needed to make a choice—something to shift the odds in his favor.

He sat on a kitchen chair handcuffed to the rails. His feet were tied with a rope that went around the chair legs. Colton rocked back and forth on the chair until he managed to stand up. Inch by inch, he hopped his way to the kitchen. Sweat dripped into his eyes from the effort. He finally made it to the counter.

A wooden knife block was filled with knives.

He smashed the back of the chair against the counter. Finally, the wood splintered. A few more smashes and his hands were free. He still had the cuffs on but wasn't connected to the chair any longer. He chose a large butcher knife. A few moments later, his feet were free. He kept the butcher knife.