Coffee’s fine.”
She nodded. “I didn’t know you were back in town,” she said as she reached for two mugs. Did his brother know he was back?
“I just drove in.”
His husky voice sounded even deeper with age—sexier, if possible. And more dangerous.
He would ask questions just as the police had. Questions she didn’t want to answer. Questions she’d avoided for years.
But the past had nothing to do with Ruby’s kidnapping so why should she open up that wound?
Answering those questions would mean breaking the bond of silence she’d entered into almost a decade ago. A bond she’d agreed to against her will, but one she had accepted in order to protect her family, herself and Ruby.
She filled their mugs and offered him cream and sugar, but he took his black. Warming her hands with the cup, she led him into the den. The Christmas tree lights twinkled, the unopened gifts reminding her how empty the house was without Ruby, how desolate Christmas would be if her sister didn’t come home.
Wind ripped harshly through the eaves of the old house, rattling windowpanes and shutters, adding to her chill. She motioned for him to sit down.
“I read about Ruby’s disappearance,” Gage said. “And I wanted to offer my services.”
“I don’t have much money,” Leah said, lowering her gaze to stare into her mug. “You know Dad died when I was sixteen. He worked as a landscape artist but had no savings to speak of. And Mom was a receptionist at a local insurance company. What little insurance money there was had to go to Mom’s hospital bills.”
“I was sorry to hear about her death,” Gage said, although he hadn’t known Leah’s family very well. “Don’t worry about the money. Solving your case and finding your sister will be good publicity for my firm.”
Anger seeped through her. “This is not about publicity,” she said. “It’s about finding Ruby, Gage.”
His jaw tightened, those dark fathomless eyes raking over her. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that money is not an issue here. Finding your sister will be my priority.”
She searched his face. “Why should you care? You haven’t lived in Sanctuary for years.”
He took a sip of coffee. “I had my reasons for staying away.”
She glanced up and saw the strain on his face. She knew he and his brother had had issues and that he hadn’t had a happy home life. The McDermont family had taken him in and Jerry had resented him.
But all the girls in high school had been in love with Gage. He was brooding, the kind of bad boy that every girl wanted. The kind who stood up for the kids who were bullied because he had no fear for himself.
“I still don’t understand why you came back,” Leah said.
He leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees, studying her. “Did you read about the thirteen-year-old boy who got killed last week in Raleigh?”
She nodded.
“That was my case.” His voice dropped an octave. “He died on my watch, and I lashed out at the guy who did it. He deserved it but the chief suggested I take some time off.”
She sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry. That poor boy.”
He gave a clipped nod. “That’s why I decided to start my own agency, Guardian Angel Investigations. I get to play by my own rules. If you let me, I’ll do everything I can to find your sister. And I’ll see that whoever kidnapped her pays.”
She bit her lip, so tempted. She needed help.
But Gage? Why him?
“Is there some reason you don’t want me investigating, Leah?” Gage asked. “Is there something you’re trying to hide?”
Leah stiffened. Why would he ask her such a thing?
“Leah?”
“Of course not,” she said. “What are you implying?”
“I just want you to be honest with me. There may be something you haven’t shared that might lead us to your sister.”
“I told the police everything. But maybe I shouldn’t have called them.” She stood and crossed to the Christmas tree, toying with a reindeer Ruby had made out of clothespins. “The note warned me not to.” Emotion choked her voice. “If Ruby gets hurt or…worse, it will be my fault.”
RUBY HUGGED HER Matilda doll to her chest, tears trickling down her cheeks. She wanted to go home, back to her mama’s house, back to Leah.
But the man with the mask said that Leah didn’t want her anymore.
A sob wrenched her throat and she rolled to her side on the hard cot, coughing at the musky smell. It was dark and cold way up here in the attic. The man had brought her here and left her all alone.
There weren’t any kids to play with, no toys, no swing set, no tree house or bicycles.
No Christmas tree….
Just a few crayons and paper, and she’d almost used them all up.
She looked into the doll’s eyes, her chest hurting as she thought of home and how far away it seemed. Would she ever see her four-poster bed again? The unicorn spread? The pillow her mommy had made for her?
Her sister?
Would she be home for Christmas? How would Santa ever find her here?
Chapter Three
Gage scrutinized Leah, from her facial expressions and body language to the intonations of her voice, looking for a clue to indicate she was lying.
But her tears and those luminous, sad green eyes instantly tied him in knots. So did the smell of freshly baked cookies, as if she had made a batch to welcome her sister home.
He understood her terror as well as her guilt.
And even with anguish lining her features, she was the most beautiful woman he’d seen in a long time.
But he couldn’t allow himself to focus on that. This was just a case and Leah meant nothing to him.
Besides, he’d detected her moment of hesitation when he’d asked her if she was hiding something.
A moment that had confirmed his fear.
Whether or not it had anything to do with Ruby’s disappearance was another story.
But he suddenly wanted to unravel the secrets she had—especially why she didn’t want him here.
And why she’d avoided him in high school after she’d blown him off and hooked up with his brother.
“Leah, you can’t blame yourself. Most of the time it’s best for families to contact the police.”
“But what if this man hurts Ruby because of me?”
“It won’t do any good to second-guess yourself now. Why don’t you go over everything with me and we’ll see if the police might have missed something?”
She blinked back tears and nodded. “All right. If you think you can help. I’ll do anything to find her, Gage.”
If he’d thought she had anything to do with Ruby’s disappearance, he didn’t think so now. Her pain was too raw.
“I’d like to review all the information about the investigation. But first, why don’t you show me Ruby’s room.”
Again, guilt and worry strained her face, but she moved as if on autopilot to Ruby’s bedroom.
“She’s in my old room,” Leah said, gesturing at the lavender walls and stuffed animals