Deadly Christmas Duty. Virginia Vaughan

afternoon with his kids to the news of the bombing at his office.

      He rushed to her side. “Melinda, are you okay? I heard about the bomb.”

      “I’m fine,” she assured him. “This is Noah Cason. He was there when I found the bomb. He saved my life.”

      Jay reached for Noah’s hand and shook it briskly. “Thank you for what you did. I commend you. I’m glad no one was hurt. The police are saying the rest of the building was empty.”

      “I tried to check all the rooms,” Noah told him. “I didn’t see or hear anyone else there.”

      “What are we going to do now?” Melinda asked him.

      “I spoke with Judge Nicholson. He’s going to postpone our cases for two weeks. That should give us time to put them back together. I’m also having someone go through to see what evidence we had present at our office. If I’m right, we had fourteen active cases with evidence stored at our building. We’ll know more once we’re finished going through the rubble. For now, go home and hug your kid. We’ll deal with all this tomorrow.”

      “Jay, have you heard from Dawn Littlefield?”

      “Your assistant, Dawn? No. Why?”

      “I haven’t heard from her since she went to lunch. I’m sure she’s heard about the bomb by now.”

      “I expect so. It’s been all over the news.”

      “I just wish she would contact me.”

      “You don’t think she was inside, do you? As far as I know, the fire marshal said no bodies have been found.”

      “No.” Melinda felt silly for expecting Dawn to call her, but she thought she would have at least called to make sure Melinda was all right. It seemed out of character for her to be so aloof after such an occurrence. Of course, she didn’t have a phone any more. Maybe Dawn had tried but couldn’t get through. Melinda would try to phone her again later. I think you’re right. I’m ready to take Ramey home and get some rest.”

      “That’s a good idea. I’ll let you know when we’ve established a new place to work.”

      “My cell phone was destroyed in the blast. I’ll have to buy a new one tomorrow.”

      “No problem. If you don’t hear from me, I’ll leave a message for you here at the station.”

      “Okay.”

      She let Noah lead her outside as he walked to the car, carrying her son in his arms. Noah was good with Ramey, and she felt like she knew him after all the times she’d listened to Nikki rave about him. But now she wondered at herself. She’d allowed this man into her life and into Ramey’s life without hesitation or even checking him out. She’d trusted him completely after the way he’d jumped in to save her. But what did she really know about Noah Cason? And, most important, could she trust him?

      Noah dropped Melinda and Ramey at their house and made certain all her locks were secured before he said good-night. He’d enjoyed spending time with Ramey, who seemed like a good kid with a happy disposition, but he was glad when her interview was over and he could drop them at home for the night so he could drive by his sister’s house. It was dark now and the lights were on inside. He parked and strolled past the house, observing every detail as surely as he was scouting out a target. In fact, he was. His target was inside at this very moment.

      He could see the man between the curtains going about his evening, eating in front of the television, while Noah’s sister was out there somewhere in the darkness, alone and discarded. The idea that her supposedly loving husband was lounging on the sofa while watching some sporting event burned him.

      Melinda had assured him there had been search parties and community efforts made to find Nikki, but it hadn’t been enough. His sister was still missing.

      He had no illusions that she would be found alive. Too much time had passed for that, and he’d seen too much during his career to believe that she could have survived this long. Rage bit him, but he tamped back every instinct inside him to bust through that door and beat the truth from his brother-in-law. He hated that he still had the urges for violence, but he supposed it was in his DNA. His parents had been violent people, and he’d inherited their disposition. In his youth he’d embraced those instincts, taking out his frustrations on anyone who’d wronged him. But he’d always felt terrible afterward.

      The SEALs had taught him to control that anger and filter it to help people, and it had been a service he’d enjoyed and was good at. He was still good at it even though he’d left the navy for private contract work with the Security Operations Abroad company. Now he used his skills to protect covert CIA operatives abroad. The pay was better, but he’d begun to miss the missions that had made a difference. Every time he’d been called to action in the SEALs, it was for a greater purpose. He’d begun to wonder why God had led him there, away from the SEALs and into private work.

      He’d gotten his answer three months ago when the US embassy three miles from the covert CIA base where he was working was overrun by locals bent on death and destruction. He and the other SOA operators assigned there had taken action, rescuing eight American citizens from a brutal attack. But they’d also lost two teammates. He’d been in briefings about the incident when the news about Nikki had finally gotten to him.

      He didn’t understand how a God he’d placed his love and faith in all those years ago could continue to allow such evil to win. Evil men like his brother-in-law, and the embassy attackers whose only aim had been to kill Americans, then continue to prosper and grow and be rewarded for their efforts. His own government was even sending aid to the very country who’d attacked them and crucifying Noah and his team for their response that night.

      He was proud of his teammate Rizzo for his courage in speaking up and telling his story to the press, and he’d heard just as he’d arrived in town that Quinn, another teammate, was joining him in opening up about the attack and their SOA unit’s response to it. They’d been told to stand down that night by their supervisor, but how could they? How could anyone sit back and watch others get slaughtered without at least trying to help?

      Noah spotted a black SUV with police markings stop in front of Wayne’s house. He saw Chief Peterson climb out and meet Wayne with a friendly handshake before walking into the house.

      He couldn’t help but wonder how well the police department had done their jobs, given that the chief of police was good friends with Wayne. Had they done a thorough search? Had they checked all the boxes in the investigation? Given the determination he’d seen in Melinda’s face, he thought she would have made certain they did. At least Nikki had one person in this town on her side.

      Daytonville reminded him of the place he and Nikki had grown up in, where the residents had turned their backs on the abuse the Casons had dished out to their children. His sister was innocent, the one innocent in their entire family. All she’d ever wanted was a normal, happy life, but this monster she’d married had ended her dreams. By all that was right and good, he wouldn’t allow this evil to win. He would fight it until Wayne Lassiter paid the price for what he’d done to Nikki.