Yuletide Fugitive Threat. Sandra Robbins

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СКАЧАТЬ not the same woman you once knew, Lucas. I can’t do this. Maybe it’s better if I just let Tony Chapman finish what Kyle tried to do many times—kill me.”

      A lock of hair had fallen across her forehead, and he reached up and gently smoothed it back into place. “You don’t mean that.”

      She closed her eyes, and a tear ran down her cheek. “I do. I’m tired and scared, and I just want this to be over.”

      Lucas put his finger tip under her chin and tilted her face up. “Look at me, Mia.” When she didn’t respond, he nudged her again. “Please look at me.”

      Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and swallowed as she stared up into his face. “What?”

      “Do you trust me?” he asked.

      She gave a slight nod. “Yes.”

      “Then you need to do exactly as I say. I’m going to keep you safe from Tony Chapman, but we have to report this to the police. Now, I want you to sit back down on the couch while I call Ryan. When he arrives, you can tell him your story. Then we’ll figure out where we go from here. Okay?”

      After a moment she nodded, and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and stepped back into the hallway to make the call. His brother-in-law answered right away. “Ryan,” Lucas said, “I need to ask a favor of you.”

      “Sure. What is it?”

      “I have a new client who’s in trouble, and she needs to talk to the police but doesn’t want to come to the station. Can you come over to my house?”

      “I can. I’m on my way home now and can stop by, if that’s okay.”

      “That’s great. We’ll see you soon.”

      He ended the call and walked back into the living room where Mia sat on the couch again. “Did you talk with Ryan?”

      “I did. He’s on his way. Would you like something to eat while we’re waiting?”

      She shook her head. “No. I just want to get this over with.”

      Lucas sat down beside her on the sofa. Mia shivered, and she reached for the afghan once more. “Are you cold?” Lucas asked. “Do I need to turn up the thermostat?”

      “No. I think it’s just nerves,” she said as she wrapped the afghan around her.

      There had to be some way to make her relax. He said the only thing he could think of. “Mia, I’m sorry I was curt with you earlier when you asked about my parents. They’re doing well.”

      She turned her head toward him and smiled. “Really? That’s good to know.”

      “In fact, they’re doing great. Dad’s enjoying retirement, but Mom still works part-time as a nurse. We all had dinner together at their house last night.”

      “All?”

      “Yeah. Adam got married about a year and a half ago. His wife, Claire, works as the receptionist at the agency for us. They’re expecting their first child in a few weeks. My sister, Jessica, married Ryan Spencer, the guy we’re waiting for, about six months ago. She works with us, but she was Ryan’s partner before she left the police force.”

      A smile tugged at the corner of Mia’s lips. “That sounds like a wonderful family group.” She hesitated a moment before she spoke again. “And what about you? Is there someone special in your life?”

      Lucas chuckled and shook his head. “If you mean a woman, then the answer is no. If, on the other hand, you meant to say something special, then you must be referring to my motorcycle, and the answer is yes.”

      Her eyes crinkled at the corners the way he remembered as she giggled. “Oh, Lucas, you always could make me laugh.”

      The chiming of the doorbell sounded before he could reply, and he jumped to his feet. “That must be Ryan.”

      When he opened the front door, Ryan hurried into the house. “It’s getting colder by the minute. I hope I don’t get called out on a case tonight. I’m looking forward to spending a quiet night at home.”

      “I’d like to do that myself,” Lucas said, “but I don’t know about that at the moment.”

      Ryan cocked an eyebrow as he shrugged out of his coat. “You said you have a new client? What’s going on?”

      Lucas hesitated a few seconds as Ryan hung his coat on the hall tree. “It’s kind of complicated,” he said.

      Ryan glanced toward the living room and then back to Lucas. “How?”

      Lucas cleared his throat. “Has Jessica ever said anything to you about Mia Lockhart?”

      Ryan nodded. “She’s mentioned her. She was your girlfriend in college. Right?”

      “Yeah. Well, she’s in trouble, and I think the police need to know about it.”

      He led Ryan into the living room where Mia sat on the couch, her hands clasped in her lap. A worried expression covered her face, and her fingers trembled. She glanced from Ryan to Lucas as they entered. Ryan stepped over to the couch and held his hand out.

      She reached up and shook his hand, and he settled on the couch next to her. “Mia, I’m Ryan Spencer, Lucas’s brother-in-law. I’m a detective with the police department. Lucas said you’re in trouble. Do you want to tell me about it?”

      Her gaze darted to Lucas and then back to Ryan as she grasped the edge of the afghan and pulled it up to her neck. “Are you familiar with the Kyle Lockhart murder case?” she asked.

      Ryan nodded. “I am. I know the detectives working the case against Tony Chapman. He must have some friends in high places if they were willing to post such a high bail. It didn’t surprise us when he jumped bail.”

      “Kyle was my husband, but I never met Tony Chapman until after Kyle was killed,” she said.

      Lucas settled back and listened as Mia began to tell her story to Ryan, who made notes on a pad while she talked. From time to time he would ask a question, and she would respond. When she finished, Mia leaned back against the cushions of the sofa as if she was exhausted. Throughout her story, she hadn’t mentioned anything about the abuse she had suffered from her husband. Maybe she thought the police already knew, since it was a matter of public record.

      Ryan glanced over the notes he’d taken before he looked back at Mia. “And you have no idea what Chapman wants from you?”

      “No.” Her eyes grew wide, and the muscles in her throat rippled as she swallowed. “If I knew, I’d give it to him just to get rid of him. But I have no idea what it is.”

      Ryan flipped the notebook closed and inhaled. “It seems that he’s determined to get whatever it is. Lucas did the right thing in getting you to talk to me. The police have been looking for Chapman, and we have some leads we’re checking out. With Lucas on the case, too, hopefully it won’t be long until he’s caught. Until that time you need to be in a safe place. It doesn’t sound like you should go home. Are there any family members you can stay with?”

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