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  When they returned to the kitchen, Michelle hugged her father, then her mother. Ruth also planted a lipstick-laden kiss on her cheek. Jason received a strong-gripped handshake from Frank and the same lipstick kiss from Ruth. Jason discreetly wiped off the lipstick.

  “What can I do to help?” Michelle asked, her gaze sweeping over the pots on the stovetop and the already set dining room table for eight.

  “It’s all done,” Ruth said, wiping her brow.

  “I told you that I would help.”

  Ruth held out her hands. “Well, I wasn’t sure. You were supposed to be here yesterday.”

  Michelle’s voice went up an octave. “Jason had to work.”

  “Well, I didn’t know if he had to work today too.”

  Michelle gave Jason an I-told-you-so look.

  The doorbell chimed.

  Ruth said to Michelle, “You can get the door for me.”

  Michelle went to the front door as everyone sat at the dining room table to visit. She opened the door to find Officer Danny Gibbs, standing in his Loganville Township Police unform, holding a plate of cookies. He was tall, like Jason, but more muscular and athletic. He was more rugged too, with a strong jawline and a scar under his left eye from a fight with a heroin dealer.

  Danny smiled. “Merry Christmas, Shelly.”

  She smiled back. “Merry Christmas, Danny.”

  “My mom asked me to drop off these cookies for your parents, and I need to talk to your dad.”

  “Of course.” She stepped aside and waved him in. “They’re in the dining room.”

  He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He stood perilously close to Michelle and whispered, “You look beautiful.”

  She blushed and stood frozen, catching her breath.

  “New car?”

  Michelle opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  “Must be nice.” Danny walked into the dining room. “Merry Christmas, Frank. Ruthie.”

  “Merry Christmas, Danny,” her parents replied in unison.

  “My mom wanted me to drop off these cookies.”

  “Oh, that’s so nice of her. Please thank her for me,” Ruth said.

  Michelle walked into the dining room, watching her parents dote on Danny.

  Ruth moved her centerpiece to feature the plate of cookies.

  “What’s up, sport?” Danny said, lifting his chin to Jason.

  “Not much,” Jason replied, barely above a whisper.

  Michelle sat next to Jason, her gaze on Danny.

  Danny turned his attention to Frank. “I wanted to talk to you about the girl who disappeared.”

  “Isn’t it awful?” Ruth said, sitting down after displaying the cookies.

  Danny addressed Ruth. “It’s the worst case I’ve seen since Heather Sample disappeared.”

  “Have a seat,” Frank said, gesturing to the table.

  Danny sat across from Frank, removing his hat and setting it on the table.

  Frank leaned forward, his elbows on the tabletop. “Any leads?”

  “We have nothing.” Danny scanned the group. “I would appreciate it if you would keep this between us. A lot of people know this, but still.”

  “Of course,” Ruth said.

  Michelle nodded.

  “The parents don’t even know if she made it home from school or not,” Danny said. “They both work two jobs, so they’re not home when she gets home from school.”

  “That’s terrible,” Ruth interjected. “She’s only six.”

  Danny acknowledged Ruth, then turned his attention back to Frank. “Nobody saw her enter their apartment, and the place was locked. No sign of a struggle. We canvassed the neighbors, but they didn’t see or hear anything.”

  “What about her friends?” Frank asked. “The kids who ride the bus with her and walk home from school with her?”

  “She doesn’t ride the bus. She’s a walker at Loganville Elementary, but she doesn’t have very many friends. She’s only been at Loganville for a few weeks. Nobody remembered seeing her walk home from school.”

  Frank leaned back, rubbing his goatee. “Are there any cameras on the route from school?”

  “There’s a convenience store, but they record over their tapes every night.” Danny blew out a heavy breath. “This girl disappeared without a trace.”

  “Hmm.” Frank thrummed his fingers on the table. “Anyone mention a work truck or a van with a ladder rack?”

  “No. Why?”

  “When I was working the Heather Sample case, one of the witnesses talked about a suspicious van with a ladder rack.” Frank had retired from the Loganville Township Police two years ago.

  Danny drew his eyebrows together. “Why was it suspicious?”

  “The witness said it was parked on the street for hours, but she never saw any workmen. It was a block from where we thought Heather disappeared.”

  “Did you ever find the van?”

  “No.”

  “What’s her name?” Michelle asked.

  Danny turned to Michelle. “Nina Diaz. I think her parents are illegals. They didn’t report her disappearance for almost three days.”

  Frank shook his head. “She might’ve been taken by a coyote. These illegals come here with help from a coyote. Then they owe. If they don’t pay, maybe the coyote snatches their kid. It might be worth asking the parents.”

  Danny nodded. “Good idea. I’ll let Detective Gaines know.”

  “Is the FBI involved?”

  “Two guys from the regional office. Not much help so far, although one of them can speak Spanish.”

  Frank grunted. “They were no help with Heather Sample.”

  Danny hesitated for a second, then said, “There’s another thing that’s strange with this case. The mother. She seems a little off. She’s claiming it was El Diablo.”

  “The devil,” Jason said softly to himself.

  Chapter 4: Christmas Eve

  “I know guys like Danny. He’s an asshole,” Jason said, sitting on Michelle’s bed.

  “He didn’t do anything,” Michelle replied, brushing her brown hair in front of the mirror in her childhood bedroom.

  “He called me sport, and he was practically drooling over you.”

  Michelle turned from the mirror and frowned. “He was not.”

  “Believe what you want to believe.”

  The front door opened, followed by footsteps and excited voices.

  “I think my sister’s here,” Michelle said, setting her hairbrush on the dresser. “You coming?”

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” Jason replied, not making eye contact.

  Michelle left the room, headed for the kitchen. Everyone stood in the kitchen near the counter. Susie chatted with Ruth, and Cody talked to Frank. Becky stood next to Ruth, tugging on her pants.

  “What, honey?” Ruth asked, bending down toward Becky.

  Becky whispered to Ruth.

  “There you are,” Susie said, smiling at her older sister. Susie was a slightly younger and slightly more beautiful version of Michelle. Her straight brown hair hung to her chest. Like Michelle, Susie had striking blue eyes and an athletic build, but she was a few inches taller. She wore heavy makeup, but, like her clothes, both were expensive and well worn.

  Michelle hugged her sister. “Merry Christmas, Susie.”

  When they separated, Susie said, “I have big news. Huge actually.” The spotlight was on Susie. She held up her left hand, showing her large diamond ring. “We’re engaged!”

  “Oh, my Lord,” Ruth said, beaming. “How could I have missed that rock?”

  “Congratulations,” Michelle said.

  Frank shook Cody’s hand. “You do know about her debts, don’t you?”

  “Dad. I pay all my bills, thank you very much,” Susie said, glaring at Frank. “When Becky and I move in with Cody, I’ll be able to save even more.” Susie grabbed Cody’s hand. “Right, baby?”

  “That’s true.” Cody grinned at his fian
cé, his dimples obscured by his manicured beard.

  Becky tugged on Ruth’s pants again. “Ask him.”

  “In a minute, honey,” Ruth replied.

  “When are you two shacking up?” Michelle asked.

  “It’s not shacking up if we’re gonna get married,” Susie replied.

  “Susie’s lease is up in a few months, so probably then,” Cody said, glancing at Susie, as if corroborating their story.

  “We would do it now, but Cody wants to fix up a room for Becky, and he wants to clean out his house to make room for us.” Susie turned to Cody. “Hopefully, now that you’re not working two jobs, that’ll happen sooner.”

  “I’m working on it.” Then Cody addressed the group. “My dad’s getting ready to retire, so I’ve been more involved with the properties. I was burning the candle at both ends, trying to work as an EMT at the same time. I’m a full-time property manager now.”

  “Do you like that better than working as an EMT?” Ruth asked.

  “I love being an EMT, but seeing people in pain has really worn on me over the years, and I knew I would eventually take over for my father.”

  Frank clapped Cody on the back. “I’m sure they’ll miss you at the hospital.”

  Cody had met Susie at the hospital, where she worked as a nurse. Cody was the most eligible bachelor in Loganville. He was two years ahead of Michelle in high school, and her friends had described him as drop-dead gorgeous then. He had aged like a fine wine, filling out his tall frame with athletic, but not bulky muscles, to go with his family’s reputation as the wealthiest in town. Wealth that would soon be his alone. Rumors swirled that his father wasn’t long for this world. Susie had reeled in a whopper.

  Jason walked into the kitchen. Becky goggled at Jason, smiling, and showing her missing front teeth.

  “Hey, Susie. Cody,” Jason said, as he approached the group.

  “They’re engaged,” Michelle said, bringing him up-to-date.

  “Congratulations.” Jason made eye contact with the happy couple. “When’s the big date?”

  Susie’s expression darkened. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

  Michelle thought maybe they had, and Cody hadn’t committed to a date yet.

  Jason seemed oblivious. He bent over and said, “Hey, Becky. Are you looking forward to Christmas?”

  Becky grinned and nodded. Then she tugged on Ruth’s pants again and said, “Ask him.”

  Jason stood upright.

  Ruth said to Jason, “She wants you to take her downstairs to see the presents. She’s afraid to go down to the basement alone.”

  “I can take her down there.” Jason agreed to this quickly, as if he wanted an excuse to get away from the adults.

  “You can look but don’t touch,” Ruth said to Becky. “We’ll open gifts after dinner.”

  Since Michelle and Susie had left the nest, it had been a tradition with their parents to open gifts on Christmas Eve. Frank and Ruthie preferred to sleep in on Christmas Day.

  Becky nodded again. Then she held out her hand to Jason. He took it and walked the six-year-old towhead to the basement to see the pile of presents.

  ***

  Christmas music played through the CD player. Michelle and Ruth cleaned up the trash from the gift exchange. Jason put together Becky’s plastic dollhouse, with her acting as his assistant, asking what piece he needed next, then handing it to him. It would’ve been easier for Jason to grab the pieces himself, but Becky beamed every time he thanked her for being such a good helper.

  Cody and Susie sat on the couch, drinking beers. Frank sat in his recliner, doing the same. A dozen empties were on the coffee table.

  “Did you want to keep her toys here?” Ruth asked Susie. “Otherwise, you’ll have to move them twice.”

  “Just leave them here,” Susie replied. Her speech was slightly slurred.

  “Can I stay here tonight?” Becky asked Ruth.

  “If you want Santa to come, you have to sleep in your own bed,” Susie interjected.

  “But I wanna stay here.” Becky’s voice was whiney.

  “Not tonight, Becky. Maybe tomorrow.”

  Becky crossed her arms over her chest, her face red. “No. I wanna stay here.”

  “I said, not tonight.” Susie stood from the couch, her legs a little wobbly. She addressed her mother. “We should go. Becky’s getting tired. If we stay too much longer, she’ll have a meltdown.”

  “I wanna stay!”

  Michelle turned to Becky, a garbage bag full of wrapping paper in hand. Jason sat on the floor, still assembling the dollhouse, seemingly oblivious to Becky’s distress.

  “Come on, sweet pea. It’s time to go,” Susie said, holding out her hand to Becky.

  “No.”

  “Do you want Santa to come?”

  “No.”

  Susie let out a long breath. “Don’t do this tonight. Come on, sweet pea.”

  “No.”

  “We’ll come back tomorrow.”

  Cody stood from the couch and said, “I’ll go warm up the car.”

  “Good idea,” Susie replied.

  Cody thanked Ruth and Frank and left.

  Jason stood from the completed dollhouse. “We can play tomorrow.”

  “Wanna play now.” Becky went to the dollhouse and started to play, as if she didn’t have to leave.

  Susie kissed her mother on the cheek. “Thank you for everything.”

  “You’re welcome, honey. Are you okay to drive?” Ruth asked.

  “Cody’s driving.”

  Susie gave Frank a hug, while he was still sitting in his recliner, and another hug for Michelle. Susie smelled like alcohol. Then she went back to Becky, who was playing with her dollhouse. Susie held out her hand again. “Let’s go, Becky.”

  Becky ignored her.

  Susie addressed Frank. “Dad, can you carry her to the car? She’s getting too heavy for me.”

  Frank stood from the recliner with a groan and approached Becky. “Come on, munchkin. Time to go home.” Frank scooped her up. Becky screamed and flailed her arms and legs, trying to free herself from his grasp. Becky’s screams echoed through the house, as Frank carried her upstairs and outside to the warming car.

  Chapter 5: Bad Boys and Bad Girls

  Moonlight filtered into her bedroom through the curtains. Michelle lay on her side in her childhood bed, listening to the rhythmic breaths of her husband. He lay on his side too, facing away from her. She thought about how kind he’d been to Becky. She tapped his shoulder. “Are you awake?”

  He groaned.

  She tapped him again. “Are you awake?”

  “I am now,” Jason replied, rolling to his back.

  “I can’t sleep.”

  He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  Michelle snuggled tightly to Jason, her leg and arm draped over his body. She spoke quietly, so her parents across the hall couldn’t hear. “I was just thinking that I love how you are with Becky. My family’s getting wasted, and you’re playing with Becky totally sober. It’s sweet.” She pecked him on the lips.

  Jason spoke barely above a whisper, following Michelle’s cue. “I hope Cody can be a good father to her. It’s no fun to have a steady stream of boyfriends coming by to have sex with your mom.”

  “Susie’s not like that.”

  Jason gave her a look.

  “Not anymore. I think Cody’s the one.”

  “He seems more like the player type than the marrying type.”

  Michelle glowered at Jason. “That’s not true. He might be good-looking, but he’s never been a big partier. His family has more money than God. He certainly didn’t have to work as an EMT for like eight years. He did it because he cares about people.”

  “So you think he’s good-looking?”

  Michelle sat up, grabbed her pillow, and smacked Jason across the face. “That’s what you got out of that?”

  Jason flashed his palms in surrender. “Fine. He’s a g
reat guy, and your sister and Becky will live happily ever after.”

  Michelle snuggled against Jason again. “I sure hope so.”

  “What about Luke? Does he ever come to visit Becky?”

  Luke Miles impregnated Susie when she was nineteen. He was a senior from Texas and the backup quarterback for Penn State at the time. After he graduated, with Susie six months’ pregnant, he left her and went back to Texas to work for his father’s business on an offshore oil rig. Before he left, he signed away his rights to Becky but vowed to send money when he could. Susie received the odd child support check, but that was the only contact they had. Rumor has it that he battled substance abuse.

  “He’s never visited her once,” Michelle said.

  Jason winced. “That’s awful.”

  “I’m so lucky to have you.”

  Jason cocked his head. “Really?”

  “Yes. Really. My sister’s prettier than me, and she’s had a tough time.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “You don’t think she’s prettier than me?”

  “No. I don’t like all the makeup. It’s too much.”

  Michelle raised her eyebrows. “You can tell me the truth.”

  Jason frowned. “You don’t think I’m telling the truth?”

  She winked. “Just checking.” Michelle slid atop Jason and straddled him, her nightgown riding up and showing her cotton underwear. She kissed him openmouthed, their tongues swirling together.

  When their lips parted, Jason asked, “What are you doing?”

  She sat up, still straddling him, a wry smile on her lips. She rubbed her crotch against his, her hands on his thin chest. The old bed squeaked.

  He hardened beneath her. “Your parents will hear,” he whispered.

  She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “We’ll be quiet.” She kissed his ear and tugged on his earlobe with her teeth. Michelle kissed her way down his bare chest, kissing the outline of his penis. She removed his boxer briefs and kissed his exposed erection. Then she took him in her mouth.

  He gasped.

  A creaking came from the hallway. Michelle sat upright, and Jason’s eyes were wide open.

  He looked at the bedroom door and mouthed, “Lock the door.”

  Michelle shook her head, chewing on her bottom lip. The forbidden concoction of having sex in her childhood bed and the possibility of getting caught was too much to resist.