Chapter Twenty-Six
Three days before Christmas, Rick got an unexpected call from Jake.
“I hate to screw up your holidays, since we were already planning on travelling after the first of the year anyway. But when we were able to detain and question one of the men listed in that notebook, he was able to give us a very important update about the trafficking ring in exchange for a deal on his prosecution. The only problem is, we’d have to move fast. Can I speak with Shanna, Rick?”
“She’s right here. I’m putting the phone on speaker.”
Since both Johnny and Grace were already asleep, Shanna and Rick had been watching a movie on TV.
“Shanna? Didn’t you say that Wes traveled with you as far as Lake Superior?” Jake asked. “We’ve got a tip that there’s a ship with human cargo coming in somewhere along the coast. It’s pretty late in the season, and I imagine that this will be the last chance to smuggle these individuals into the States, since the Lakes will soon start icing over.”
“He did, Jake. We always drove. There used to be an abandoned resort that they used, but someone reopened the place for some kind of military training exercises. At this time of year, there’s only one place I can think of that would be even remotely warm enough to house them. I’m not sure that I could point it out on a map, but I know I’d be able to recognize the road signs since I’ve been there more than once. To get there, we drove along a road that led to a town called Eagle River.”
“That’s one of the places that’s marked out on your map, Shanna, isn’t it?” Jake asked.
“It is,” she replied. “But no one would ever be able to find it. Wes said that the place was on private property, anyway. There’s an inlet, that can’t be seen from Lake Superior unless you know exactly where to look. Wes said that everyone has to be brought in by cruiser since there’s nowhere to dock.”
“Are you sure you can remember where it is?” Rick asked, looking concerned.
“I clocked the mileage from the town of Houghton on my watch. I doubt that Wes realized that the watch he gave me had that kind of feature. And if he did, he probably figured that it wouldn’t be something I’d use anyway. It was exactly thirty-two miles.”
“That’s kind of amazing that you’d remember something like that,” Jake admitted, sounding impressed. “Let’s see. I’m looking at the detailed map right now, and there’s a road that heads north right around that mileage marker.”
“There are lots of twists and turns after turning onto that road. Hopefully, I’ll be able to remember the way,” Shanna said.
“So I guess we’re doing this then?” Rick asked.
“We might have to lie in wait, but yes. We’ll go by plane to Houghton and drive on from there. The problem is, there may be someone waiting for their ship to come in, so to speak. We’ll have to figure a way to survey the place without being detected. Something tells me there might be some tighter security there since Wes passed away.”
Shanna pursed her lips. “Yes. You could be right. There might be surveillance. They always seemed to know when I accompanied Wes to each site. One thing I do remember was there was some kind of large clearing outside of the cabin built near the cave.”
“I’m thinking that maybe they’re moving their victims by air. Choppers are used pretty commonly up north for search and rescue because of all the parks and timber,” Jake admitted.
“When would you like us to be ready, Jake? I’ve actually got nearly everything packed for Anya, so I’ll just need to have Grace pick up some extra formula that I can send along with her.”
When Shanna swallowed hard, Rick could see how difficult it was going to be for her to leave the baby, albeit in trustworthy hands, so he wrapped an arm around her. It was going to be tough for him too.
And darn it, they’d have to miss Christmas.
“How about we head out tomorrow night by plane to Houghton? There was something said about the traffickers moving in on Christmas Eve or Christmas day because of less law enforcement supposedly on duty during the holidays,” Jake answered.
“Just let us know what time,” Rick said. “Shanna and I will probably celebrate Christmas tomorrow with Johnny and Anya, so the later, the better.”
“We can work with that,” Jake said, sounding reassuring. “It’s just as important not to get there too soon. So, I thought we’d set out the following morning before first light so we can arrive before daybreak to see the layout. The longer we’re hanging around doing surveillance, the more likely they’ll discover we’re onto them.” Jake heaved a sigh. “And after that, hopefully, we won’t be on the road more than a month. If we find a way to stop the traffickers this time around, it might even be sooner – especially if we can get someone to talk.”
“Okay, Jake. We’ll go along with whatever you think is best,” Rick said.
“Talk tomorrow. My wife will be the one handing over the baby to Anya, by the way, so I promise that she’ll be well taken care of,” Jake said gently.
After their conversation with Jake, Shanna heaved a sigh of relief. “A month isn’t nearly as long as I thought. For some reason, I assumed this might go on for much longer.”
“That could very well be. I think it might depend on what happens with this mission, Shanna. Either way, I got the impression the last time I talked with Jake, that he thinks it might be time for Anya and Eric to know what’s been going on. So, even if we had to go out on the road, Anya would be there for you, I’m sure, when the kids needed to be cared for. We don’t want Grace to remain here longer than she has to. It’s hard for her sometimes, I can tell. I can see the sadness in her eyes, as much as she loves Johnny.”
Shanna nodded. “I can too. I’m sure it’s because she spent most of her married life in Rice Lake. Being back in the area must bring back a lot of terrible memories.”
“What do you say we just have a huge meal delivered tomorrow from the Dragonfly Pointe Inn? That way, the three of us can spend our day with the kids, opening gifts while just enjoying the day.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” she said. “Let’s put the gifts under the tree right now. We’ll have to tell Johnny that Santa came a little early this year.”
Rick grimaced. “Poor Johnny. He’s never really had the chance to believe in Santa because of what he went through before he went to live with Grace.”
Shanna nodded. “I know. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t pretend. Johnny and I both need to forget about the horrors of the past and do what we can to move forward.”
Rick nodded, agreeing.
* * *
When Johnny woke the following morning to see all the presents under the tree, his eyes went wide as saucers. Although they’d spent the previous Christmas together, it had mainly been a celebration to get to know each other better. Now that they’d completely earned Johnny’s trust, Shanna and Rick had definitely gotten into the spirit of the season once the baby had been born. Especially since they only had each other at this point in time.
“Paints,” Johnny said excitedly, opening his first sampling of a case filled with assorted colored tubes of oils. “You’ll show me how to use these Mommy?”
“I will, Johnny,” Shanna said reassuringly. “I have a feeling you might have a knack for it like I did. Although your watercolor technique is sure looking good. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more with you when I was going to have the baby.”
“I know,” Johnny said. “You can’t help it if the smell made you sick.”
Shanna grinned. “Besides. You and Rick got to spend a lot of time fishing. And hopefully, he’ll be able to teach me how to ski too now that Anya’s been born.”
And then Rick walked into the room, wheeling the bicycle he’d just finished putting together for Johnny.
“Oh, wow. Look at that,” Johnny whispered. “Is that for me ?”
“It sure is,” Rick replied. “I thought the two of us might be able to do some riding this summer. Maybe your mommy, too, if she’s up for it.”
The expression on Johnny’s face was so full of wonder as he stood from the floor to check out the bike, Shanna made sure to get some pictures on her new phone.
As Johnny laid his hand on the bike’s handlebars, he held Rick’s gaze. “Rick?”
Rick looked at him quizzically. “Yes, John?”
“Is it alright if I call you Daddy?”
“Of course it is,” Rick said, sounding rather emotional.
Shanna’s eyes filled with tears as Rick scooped Johnny up into his arms, pressing his finger to his nose before giving him a quick hug and resting him back on his feet.
Grace was crying, Shanna noticed, when she gave her a side glance as she rocked the baby, who couldn’t seem to quit staring at the lights on the massive tree that they’d cut and decorated a few weeks earlier.
“Are you okay with that, Grace?” Shanna asked softly.
“Of course, I am. I have a feeling it’s exactly what Wesley would have wanted, my dear, otherwise, he would have never trusted Rick in the first place.”
“Johnny?” Shanna called out. “Before you open the rest of your gifts, why don’t you give your grandmother hers while I hold Anya for a little while.”
“Okay, Mommy,” Johnny said, scrambling back under the tree.
A few hours later, Shanna and Rick started getting ready to depart. They’d already said their goodbyes to Grace, Johnny and the baby, who were all in the family room, getting ready to watch a movie that Grace was allowing Johnny to choose.
Quite unexpectedly, Anya and Rick’s brother had decided to get married, and were having a celebration the day after tomorrow at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. Grace was going to take care of baby Anya during the next two days so that Danielle Loughlin could make arrangements for Anya and Eric’s Christmas Eve wedding reception.
Both Danielle and Shanna had decided that Danielle would pick up the baby the day after tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, so that she could go home as a Christmas surprise with Anya and Eric that evening.
Boy, would they ever be surprised, Shanna had muttered, grimacing as she’d heard Danielle’s plan. But Danielle had reassured her that Eric and Anya spent most of their time at home, even babysitting for Ashley and Brian, Rick’s oldest brother. Plus, Eric and Rick’s parents would be in town, even though they weren’t going to be informed that little Anya was their grandchild until Jake decided it was safe.
Shanna would just have to trust Danielle, when she said that Shanna was doing the right thing. Grace would have her hands full with Johnny, although Rick and Shanna would more than likely be at home occasionally during the next month or two.
“When this is over, we should probably try to find a reliable sitter,” Rick said as they rested their overnight bags and small suitcases near the door since Jake would be picking them up.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” she said, fingering the engraved Dragonfly pendant she wore on a chain around her neck. “I love my gift. I’ll have to remember to remove it in case we have to go scrambling through the caves in the icy snow.”
Rick snorted. “And I love my watch. I’m still wearing it too. It’s funny how we both chose the same engraving.”
“Always in my heart?” Shanna’s smile was tender as Rick bent over, kissing her deeply.
They sighed, noticing the headlights in the driveway before someone honked.
“That must be Jake,” he muttered, reaching for her suitcase.
Opening the door, Shanna stepped outside ahead of Rick as large snowflakes suddenly began tumbling through the air.