Chapter Twenty-Three #3
His operations manager wore a pair of antlers as she communicated with an officer on patrol. His sergeant bit off the head of a Santa-shaped cookie while he wrote a report. Two of his officers sat and argued over the ranking of Christmas movies.
Gideon walked over to the board, jabbed a finger on Dustin’s photo.
“Dustin Dubecki is the prime suspect in the murder of his mother, Theresa Lester.”
“Jesus fuck.” Hawk swallowed cookie. “His mom?”
“Beaten and strangled, December seventeen, her body discovered last night. He fled in her vehicle. A dark gray 2025 Mercedes C-Class sedan. Note it down. Current stolen plate, Ohio plate, Charles, Union, Henry, five, three, eight, one. Updates on that if and when we get them.”
“Do we believe he’s headed here?” Kim asked.
“Unknown. We don’t know if he’s armed, but he’s sure as hell dangerous. Staties are issuing a BOLO. The Ohio cops are working on making that nationwide.”
He gave them what he had—not nearly enough. Then turned to his operations manager.
“Olivia, brief any officers on patrol or off duty.”
“On that, Chief.”
“It takes a solid thirty-seven hours to drive from Ohio to Riverbend, if he’s coming here. The most direct route would’ve taken him through Chicago, and they got hit hard with a snowstorm that would’ve slowed him down or stopped him for at least a day, more likely two.
“Hawk, reach out to Chicago PD, see if there’s any reports of stolen plates at long-term at O’Hare.
Check Indianapolis airport, too. He could’ve stopped there.
He may hit the airports in the bigger cities and switch the Ohio plates again.
If you can push it, see if they’ll send someone to look for the Ohio plate at the airports. ”
“I’ll push it.”
“He’s going to run into more snow, if headed west, in Iowa, crossing Nebraska, Colorado, likely Utah. He needs to sleep, eat, piss. If he opts for back roads, it’ll take him more time yet. I want everyone alert, starting now. If you spot him or the vehicle, call for backup.”
“Chief.” Olivia pulled off her antlers. “Ye and Harley responded to a domestic disturbance. Shots fired. Officer down. Harley’s wounded, suspect inside the house holding his wife and two kids hostage.”
“Gear up. Let’s move. Kim, I need you to go keep an eye on Arden’s place.”
“Absolutely.”
“She doesn’t know the situation. I’ll talk to her when I can.”
In under two minutes, he sped, lights and siren, toward Green Valley Road. And he thought: What a fucking day.
At five, Arden carried cookies and more into her sister’s house and greeted her insanely excited nieces.
“I was hoping to get here a little sooner, give you a hand.” She peeled out of her coat. “But I hoped Gideon would make it to my place before I left.”
“Where is he? He’s coming, right?”
“Yes, but it’s cop stuff so I don’t know when.”
She hauled up Lexy as the girl babbled about Santa, reindeer, presents.
Zoey shoved at her hair. “Good, that’s good. He’s coming. I really need to talk to you a minute. Joe called a little while ago, and—”
“Oh, he’s coming, isn’t he? I could’ve picked him up on my way. I didn’t think of it. Yes, baby, I want to see all the presents, and I have one Christmas Eve present each for you and Maddy you can have tonight.”
“I get a princess castle from Santa tomorrow!”
“Oh, wouldn’t that be fun!”
“I’ve got her.” Jen swooped in as Maddy tried to climb up Arden’s leg. She settled the girl on her hip.
Zorro rushed wagging to the door.
“Lexy, hush for one minute. Arden…” Zoey trailed off at the knock. “Oh well. Brace yourself. Joe’s bringing some surprise guests.”
Jen threw a bolstering smile over her shoulder as she went to answer.
“Who?”
Zoey tried a smile of her own, but it came across a little fearful. “Gideon’s parents.”
“His—what?”
“Sorry, it all happened so fast, and I’m a little terrified.”
They came bearing gifts.
Scarlett Dash looked like a movie star. In those first stunned seconds Arden realized the woman simply couldn’t help it. She’d dressed casually, dark pants, a winter-white sweater, her butter-blond hair long and loose. And still she just radiated glamour.
Liam Riley, in jeans, a navy V-neck over a collared shirt, hit tall, dark, and handsome on the nose.
“Hello!” Scarlett’s voice was warm cream over warm fudge. “Merry Christmas! You must be Jen, and this is … Maddy?”
“Yes, please come in. Doug! Come help Zoey’s guests with their coats.”
“Thank you so much for letting us invade your Christmas Eve. Zoey? We’ve heard so much about all of you! You have a beautiful home. We’re so grateful you’ve opened it to us.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
“I know we put you on the spot, but I just love surprises.” Turning to Arden, she flashed a smile that would have melted a glacier. “Surprise! It’s wonderful to meet you, Arden.”
So saying, she enfolded Arden in a hug, a quietly exotic scent, and unexpected warmth. “Liam, come meet Arden.”
“Working toward it. It’s a pleasure to meet you. All of you. And apologies for the ambush. Dad told us Gideon’s tied up at work, so it looks like we’ll ambush him, too.”
Boone stood, a little glazed-eyed but smiling. “Why don’t I get everyone a drink?”
“Boone, thanks for having us. I’d love a drink.”
“Santa’s coming.”
Scarlett beamed at Lexy. “I know! I can hardly wait.” Without fanfare, she plucked the girl from a speechless Arden. “Maybe you could help me put some presents under the tree. I think there’s one with your name on it.”
“Boone, I’m Liam. Why don’t I give you a hand with those drinks? It’s one of my specialties.”
Joe grinned at everyone, then lifted his shoulders. “I didn’t know they were coming until they got here. Gideon won’t know what hit him.”
There, Arden thought, he had company.
“Sorry.” Zoey gave Arden’s hand a squeeze. “There wasn’t time to warn you. Here, tonight’s festive drink. Christmas champagne cocktail.”
“It’s pretty. Oh my God.”
“Pomegranate. And yes, oh my God. Okay, Boone’s on drinks. I need to set out some appetizers. So—”
Scarlett whisked back. “Oh, thank you, Boone,” she said as he brought her the cocktail. “Doesn’t this look lovely? Your girls are just adorable, Zoey. They sure love your mom and dad.”
“We all do. We’re really informal tonight. I’m going to set some food out—where the dogs won’t be tempted.”
“Elvis is obviously happy to have a friend. He’s a handsome dog, Arden. Is he … singing?”
“Yes. He’s happy.”
“Who isn’t on Christmas Eve? I wonder if I could have just a minute.”
With that, she slid an arm around Arden’s waist, guided her—a silk-draped bulldozer—toward the fireplace with its forest of stockings.
“A home tells you a lot about the people who live in it. This one’s warm, welcoming, fun, and friendly.”
Don’t babble, Arden ordered herself. Please don’t babble.
“Zoey, Boone, and the girls are exactly that.”
“Gideon and Joe like them very much. I hope you’re not upset Gideon’s working late.”
“He wouldn’t be Gideon if he didn’t do what needs doing.”
“That’s exactly right.” Scarlett took a sip of her cocktail, and her eyes, a pure crystal blue, sparkled. “Well, this is as lovely as it looks. So.” She beamed that smile again. “I can be pushy. I’m very good at being charming about it.”
Across the room, Maddy let out a laugh that rolled and rolled and rolled, and had Scarlett glancing back with delight.
“But if I weren’t pushy, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you. I understand Joe and Gideon have plans for Christmas dinner with you, your family, some friends at your home. Liam and I wouldn’t dream of interfering there.”
Oh yeah, Arden thought, that amused expression? Like mother, like son. Not just Scarlett Dash, but Gideon’s mother.
“You don’t have to push. I’d love you to come. We’d all love you to come.”
“I knew I’d like you.”
“Did you?”
“I did. When Joe first mentioned you—it takes careful and strategic pushing to get anything out of Gideon—I read your book. Your first. I enjoyed it. Then, with a little of that careful and strategic pushing, I knew you made Gideon happy.”
She sipped again. “If there’s one thing I love more than Liam, more than Joe—and I adore Joe.”
“Who doesn’t?”
“True. More than my work, and that’s as much a part of me as my eyes.
It’s my children. I knew Gideon would be content here, in Riverbend, with Joe, but contentment isn’t what a mother wants their children to settle for.
So I knew I’d like you. And since I do, I hope Gideon brings you more than contentment. ”
“He makes me happy.”
“He’ll frustrate the hell out of you at times.”
“No.” Relaxed now, amused now, Arden drank. “Really?”
That earned a laugh. “He’s like me there. His father? Despite being an exacting director, is easier. More like Joe in that he’s never met a stranger. Gideon and Grace—his sister—tend to be more cautious. We want the lay of the land before we step onto it.”
“Cautious isn’t the word that sprang to mind when you came in.”
“I already liked you, and by association your family. And I’ve kept you from them long enough. Just one piece of advice? Here’s that pushy part of me again. Stand your ground when it matters to you. It may piss him off, but he’ll respect it.”
“I can’t help otherwise. It may or may not be the way I was built, but it definitely was the way I was raised.”
“Good. Now I’m going to go charm your aunt and uncle.”
“They’re big fans.”
“Yeah? Well then, I have to plow that road.”