Colton 911: Family Under Fire

“But you have security cameras, right? You know the date and time of the purchase and which register was used. I’d like to see those images.”

“Of course.” Denmore turned to a table at the side of his desk. On it, four monitors displayed split screen images of the interior and exterior of the store. “The security office have a clearer view of what’s going on, but this is the back-up system in case anything goes wrong.”

Typing the time and date and a reference number into the keypad attached to the system, Denmore waited for one of the screens to load the information he required. After a moment or two, it switched to a single screen view of a register. There were two people waiting to make their purchases and Everett leaned closer to get a better view.

“This woman has several items, but she could have bought the gift card at the same time.”

Denmore shook his head. “No. The gift card was a single purchase.”

Everett pointed. “So it must be this person. He or she has no other items.”

He or she. It was impossible to tell. The figure at the desk wore dark, shapeless clothing and a jacket with the hood pulled up. Judging by the people and items around, it could have been a small man, or an average-sized woman.

“The timing shows that was the person who bought the gift card,” Denmore confirmed.

“Do you have any other images of him moving around the store?”

Denmore pressed more buttons, following the figure away from the cash desk, at which point he promptly disappeared into the crowd. When the manager tried to find the guy prior to his arrival at the desk, he was equally unlucky.

“Sorry. I can get security to keep trying and let you know if they find anything.”

Clearly there was no point in pursuing the matter further at that time. Everett thanked Denmore for his time and left his contact details, then made his way back through the festive scene and onto the street outside.

“Can I go now?” He’d almost forgotten about Joe.

“I need to take a look at that package.”

A few minutes later, he had offloaded the box from Joe’s van. Although the information from Denmore had put his mind at rest, a vague doubt remained. Carrying the package into an open space, he placed it on the ground and untied the ribbons. As he eased off the lid, his mind repeated the same question.

Even if this was a gift from a well-wisher, how did that person know where to find Kennedy?

There was no satisfactory answer. Could Sean and Delilah have discussed the details of their will with someone other than their lawyer, possibly Georgia? Since they hadn’t shared that information with Everett or Alyssa, the people most closely affected, it seemed unlikely. Even if that was the case, what were the chances of that person knowing when Kennedy’s new living arrangements would begin?

If we didn’t know, how could anyone else have known?

Could someone in Child Services have leaked the information? It was a possibility, but why would anyone do that?

Add in the fact that Everett living at a temporary address… No, whoever had sent this gift to Kennedy had worked hard to find her. And it didn’t feel comfortable.

“See. It’s a bear. Just like the guy said.” Joe was starting to get on his nerves.

It wasn’t just any bear. It was a giant, candy-pink, fluffy bear holding a cushion that read I Love You. Everett placed the lid back on the box and walked away.

“Hey,” Joe called after him. “What do you want me to do with this?”

“Donate it to your favorite charity.”

Chapter 3 (#u2e305b02-291d-5923-9577-ad86fd96c323)

When he arrived back at the apartment, Everett found his brother on his knees assembling a crib while Alyssa unloaded baby clothes from a box. From one of many. His confused brain took an inventory of what had once been his living space. “What the—?”

“Kennedy’s stuff arrived.” Alyssa appeared way too calm for someone who was speaking to him from behind a wall of boxes.

Before he could reply, Casey got to his feet. “All done. Where do you want this?”

“Well, there isn’t really space in the smaller bedroom.” Alyssa cast a wary look in Everett’s direction.

“I see.” He wanted to adopt an outraged pose, but there was barely enough room to breathe let alone throw out his chest. “So, as well as this room being taken over by baby items, I’m also being kicked out of my bedroom. Maybe I should sleep in my car from now on?”

He knew he was being unfair but how much more was this day going to throw at him? A baby, an ex-girlfriend—and not just any ex-girlfriend. No, Alyssa was the one he’d never quite managed to get over…and then there was that mysterious delivery. Now his rented apartment, never the most organized space, looked like a natural disaster had struck it.

All of those things were bad enough, but none of them were the worst. Like a knot tightening in his chest, there was also the knowledge that he couldn’t protect Alyssa from his fears. He would have to watch some of the light go out of those beautiful eyes as he told her about the teddy bear.

Aware of his twin’s gaze on his profile, he turned his head. The look in Casey’s eyes said it all. Don’t be a jerk.

“You guys have a lot to discuss. You don’t need me getting in the way.” Casey headed toward the door, turning back to look at Everett before he left. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

The message was clear. Tonight he was getting a reprieve. On the following day, his brother would want to know everything.

“I thought we could order pizza?” Alyssa said when Casey had gone. “It’s getting late. And we can’t eat out.”

She indicated the sleeping figure on the sofa. Kennedy was sprawled on her back, snoring softly. Alyssa had placed the cushions from the other sofa in a line on the floor next to her. Something about the action both touched and frightened him. Concern for the baby’s safety was an instinct that came naturally to her. He’d never have thought of this particular gesture.

I have so much to learn.

“I get it now. That’s why Sean did this. No more beers after a long day. If the guys from work are going for seafood or pasta or Thai, I’ll have to pass. I can’t stay up all night watching movies, or go for an early morning run. And…” He clapped a hand to his forehead in mock despair. “I’ll have to get a family car.”

Alyssa regarded him with amusement. “You think your former best friend is controlling your life from beyond the grave?”

“I wouldn’t put it past the guy.” He drew his cell phone from his pocket. “Pizza Paradise has my regular order. How about you? Still sticking with the boredom special? Goat cheese and red onion?”

“You remembered?”

“Four years is a long time.” It was true. Although he wasn’t sure whether he was talking about the four years they’d been together, or the four years since they’d split up. One of those stretches always seemed much longer than the other. “And we did eat a lot of pizza.”

“Yeah.” Her smile still had the power to warm his whole body. “The same as always for me. And I checked your refrigerator.” Her little shudder took him back in time. “Add some diet soda to the order, please.”

He placed the order, and, when he ended the call, Alyssa had switched into serious mode. “There’s something I need to speak to you about.”

“I was being a jerk. I’ll move my stuff into the small bedroom after we’ve eaten.”

“Thank you. But that’s not what I was going to say.” She waved a hand to indicate the boxes. “Patty Griffiths said they only brought the basics. The rest of Kennedy’s belongings are at the house her parents owned.”

“Well, that’s where they can stay. We can’t fit anything else in here.”

“Exactly. Everett, look at all of this.” She held out a framed picture to him as she spoke. “Look how much they loved their little girl. I just can’t believe that Sean would have chosen to leave Kennedy all alone by killing himself and Delilah.”

Everett stacked Kennedy’s boxes neatly along one wall, which meant they could place the pizza on the coffee table. While they ate, Alyssa sat on the sofa next to Kennedy and Everett piled cushions on the floor and sprawled at her feet. It was a moment of normality in a day that had taken unreal to a whole new level. She still didn’t know why he’d taken off so abruptly, or why he’d asked Casey to come over. She figured he would tell her in his own time, and already knew she wasn’t going to like the explanation.