Deadly Christmas Read online

  “You’re right,” Mandy agreed. She pointed to the jewelry store sign. “This store belongs to their new client.”

  “Oh, well, double crap,” Ally groaned. “This is going to totally suck when they get here.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Seven

  “Park there,” James instructed, pointing toward a fire lane.

  Jake arched an eyebrow and ignored his boss’s order, instead opting for a spot five slots down. He killed the engine and pocketed the keys before climbing out of his truck.

  James was irked as they strode toward the mall door. “Is there a reason you couldn’t park where I told you to park?”

  “It’s illegal and I didn’t want my truck towed.”

  “Who cares about that?” James challenged.

  “I care,” Jake replied. “I’d like to have something to drive Ally home in. I know you’re freaked, but we also know they’re okay. Let’s not have some sort of … meltdown … if we don’t have to, okay?”

  “I am not having a meltdown!”

  “You and Ally have more in common than you want to admit,” Jake said, forcing a smile for a pair of women exiting the mall. They talked in excited whispers as they looked the two men up and down.

  For his part, James completely ignored their existence. “I am not like Ally. That’s the most obnoxious thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “You both have a tendency to focus on the negative – almost myopically so.”

  “Whatever.”

  “You also do that when challenged about meltdowns,” Jake added.

  “I’ve been home for exactly two days and my wife is already in trouble,” James snapped. “I’m allowed to get worked up!”

  “I didn’t say you weren’t,” Jake said. “This is Mandy we’re talking about, though. You should be used to it by now.”

  James scowled. “If I’m like Ally, does that mean you’re like Mandy?”

  “No one is like Mandy,” Jake replied, scanning the mall as they entered the main drag. He hated shopping, but he let Ally talk him into it on occasion. The idea of walking into this one so close to Christmas was daunting, especially when you don’t like crowds. “I think the jewelry store is down by that ell over there.”

  “What do you mean no one is like Mandy?” James challenged.

  Jake stilled his hurried pace. “I didn’t mean anything bad, so calm whatever impulse just reared its ugly head,” he said, his voice calm. “All I meant was that Mandy is completely unique. That’s a good thing. Ally is completely unique, too, and I love it.”

  “You just said Ally and I were alike.”

  “I just said you and Ally had a lot of the same tendencies,” Jake corrected. “You’re siblings. It’s to be expected. Mandy is an only child and lives life like she doesn’t care what anyone thinks. We should all be more like Mandy.”

  James relaxed, if only marginally. “My baby is perfect,” he muttered as they started moving back toward the store.

  “You and Ally are both loyal to a fault, too,” Jake said, smirking as James cast him a dark look. “Ally once wanted to scratch some guy’s eyes out because he made fun of my boots. I believe she said I was perfect at the time, too.”

  “Yeah, well, in your case love is blind,” James countered.

  Sensing the crisis had passed, Jake grinned. “I think love is blind in everyone’s case. Come on. You’re not going to chill until you actually see the blonde in question.”

  “Are you telling me you’re not worried about Ally?”

  “Not in the least,” Jake replied, internally sighing when he caught sight of the jewelry store. “She’s very competent and can take care of herself. She doesn’t need constant monitoring.”

  “I don’t constantly monitor,” James said. “I … .” He moved toward Mandy the second he saw her, the argument with Jake abandoned. “Mandy?”

  Mandy turned at the sound of his voice and hurried to him, offering him a quick hug. “I’m fine. No one touched me.”

  Jake merely shook his head as he moved in Ally’s direction. She was talking to two police officers – probably giving her statement – and he was hopeful the reenactment wouldn’t take too long because he had plans for his brunette angel when they got home.

  Ally lifted her eyes to his as he neared, and the look on her face was enough to make Jake’s heart stutter.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “This is so not my fault!”

  ALLY was a nervous wreck when Jake approached. She rubbed her hands together worriedly as the police officers pelted her with questions. She didn’t mean to blurt out the assertion of her innocence before Jake even got a chance to hug her, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She was impulsive that way.

  “What do you mean it’s not your fault?” James asked, his arm draped over Mandy’s shoulder as he pressed her head to his chest. Ally didn’t think he even realized what he was doing any longer when he did that. It was unconscious. He calmed her by letting his heart be their anchor. It was kind of cute. Well, it would be cuter if it wasn’t happening when she was about to be in a load of trouble.

  Jake’s eyes darkened as he pulled her in for a brief hug. His body was stiff when he released her. “What did you do?”

  Ally didn’t get a chance to respond. Officer Don Dorsey – or Officer Beer Gut, as she liked to mentally refer to him – did it for her. “It seems Ms. Hardy was carrying a concealed weapon in her purse and she tasered the man who was trying to rob this establishment.”

  Jake furrowed his brow. That was a lot of information to take in without digesting it. “So, wait, the store was being robbed when you guys walked in?”

  “We didn’t see him at first,” Mandy interjected. “He was hiding behind that big security … thing.” James rubbed his hand down the back of her head, silently encouraging her to continue. “It wasn’t until we saw the other customers and how … white … they were that we realized what was going on.”

  “And you tasered him?” Jake asked Ally, confused.

  “It wasn’t even a full charge,” Ally said. “I turned it on and he was being a dick so … well … he had it coming.”

  Jake swallowed the mad urge to laugh as he rubbed his forehead. “Did you give him any warning before you tasered him?”

  “No, she did not,” Officer Beer Gut answered for Ally. “All of the customers in the store said she just whipped it out and pressed it to his arm.”

  “It’s not like he died,” Ally muttered.

  Jake slipped his arm over Ally’s shoulders and pulled her closer to him. “I’m not sure what the problem is,” he said. “The guy was robbing the store.”

  “And he had a gun,” Mandy added.

  “You tasered a guy holding a gun?” Jake asked, his heart rolling at the thought of an accidental discharge.

  “I told you he was being a dick,” Ally said. “There was no way I could let that pass.”

  “Not that I think tasering the guy was the right way to go – mostly because I would prefer my sister and wife take a safer route in situations like this – but I don’t understand why you guys seem to be up in arms about this,” James said. “She tasered a criminal. It’s not like she tasered an innocent civilian.”

  “And it was only a partial charge,” Ally said, disappointment practically rolling through her. “He didn’t even fall down.”

  James snorted before he realized what he was doing and then plastered an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry. I … it was just the way she said it. She was so sad.”

  “What did happen?” Jake asked, rubbing soothing circles on the back of Ally’s neck.

  “Apparently the individual in question jumped when touched by the taser and then ran out of the store,” the police officer replied.

  “It was more like he limped,” Mandy corrected. “His one side wasn’t working so his other side had to do all the heavy lifting. He looked like a Neanderthal.” She imitated the walk for everyone’s benefit. />
  This time James exploded with laughter. He couldn’t help himself. Of all the outcomes he worried about during the drive to the mall, this was the last one he expected. “I honestly don’t see the problem here,” he said once he collected himself. “They stopped a robber before he hurt anyone. I don’t see why you’re so upset.”

  “Well, sir, the reason we’re so upset is because we always try to stress to people that they give up their purses and jewelry to armed robbers instead of putting themselves at risk,” the cop replied, nonplussed. “It appears your wife flat out refused to give this man her jewelry and that’s when your sister got involved. I’m sure you can understand our concern.”

  James narrowed his eyes and focused on Mandy, his amusement completely gone. “You did what?”

  “I told you he was going to be ticked off,” Mandy muttered, her eyes latching onto Ally.

  For her part, Ally merely shrugged. “I still maintain the guy got what he deserved and I’m not even a little bit sorry.”

  “You’re going to be sorry,” Jake hissed.

  Ally rolled her eyes. “I told you we should have found a way to keep these guys out of it.”

  TWO HOURS later – after a bevy of promises from Jake and James that Ally and Mandy had learned their lesson and would never do anything of the sort again – the two couples sat in a booth at Olive Garden waiting for their drinks to be delivered.

  James and Jake talked to the police but were refusing to talk to the women in their lives once they departed the mall. Mandy had the grace to be abashed. Ally? Not so much.

  “I can’t believe you two are being such babies,” Ally muttered. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I would do it the same way again.”

  “Why do you think we’re angry with you?” James asked, speaking for the first time since he’d given his dinner order to the waitress.

  “I think you like it,” Ally shot back.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I think you both get off being big, strong protectors of your weak females and you don’t like that we took care of ourselves,” Ally said. “Admit it.”

  “What I don’t like is my wife putting herself in danger for jewelry that can be replaced,” James snapped.

  “It can’t be replaced, though,” Mandy said, her voice small.

  James glanced down at her. They were sitting close – although not touching – on one side of the booth while Jake and Ally mirrored them across the table. “What do you mean it couldn’t be replaced? All jewelry can be replaced. You, wife, cannot.”

  “He wanted my necklace and wedding rings,” Mandy said, her voice gaining a little strength. “I … he can’t have those.”

  James sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Baby, your engagement ring is insured. We can buy a new one if something happens. Even if it wasn’t insured, though, I would rather drop the money for a new ring than try to find a new wife.”

  “But … .”

  James cut her off. “The wedding band itself is simple white gold. And as for the necklace, I know you love it and I’m thankful you do, but it wasn’t really all that expensive,” he said. “I saw the shark and knew you had to have it. That can be replaced, too.”

  “It would never be the same,” Mandy shot back. “You had the necklace engraved and gave it to me on our wedding day. You had the ring engraved, too.”

  “Do you think I can’t get them engraved again?”

  “But they’re … .”

  “They’re what?” James was irritated.

  “They’re symbols of your love, idiot,” Ally answered for her friend. “Mandy loves that ring. She especially loves that necklace because you picked it out and put a heartfelt message on it. You know her well enough to give her something she was going to treasure forever. People don’t want to lose that stuff.”

  James blew out a heavy sigh, frustrated. “I know you love the ring and necklace, baby. I bought them for you because I love you more than anything, though. They’re still just things. They don’t bleed and they don’t die. As sad as you would be to lose either, I can guarantee I would be a whole lot sadder to lose you.”

  Mandy licked her lips, unsure. “I’m sorry. I am. It’s just … it would be like giving up you to give away those two things. I had no problem handing my purse over. I just … I can’t give away my wedding ring.”

  James grabbed the back of his wife’s neck and pulled her closer on the booth, leaning over so only she could hear him. “I understand you love the ring and necklace,” he said. “I love you more. I would hope you love me more than the jewelry.”

  Mandy’s eyes widened. “How can you even say that?”

  “Because if something happens to you because you’re trying to protect that jewelry I will never forgive myself,” James said. “If I lose you, I lose everything. I don’t care about that jewelry. I need you to love me enough to give it up instead of your life. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

  “I guess I never thought about it that way,” Mandy mused.

  James rested his forehead against the side of Mandy’s head. “I am not angry with you,” he said. “I love you. The idea of losing you terrifies me. Please, don’t do anything like this again.”

  Mandy chewed on her bottom lip and wordlessly nodded. James kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry you’re upset,” he said. “I’ll make you feel better when we get home. It’s supposed to storm tonight. We can stay in all day tomorrow and snuggle by the fire. It’s okay, baby.”

  Mandy didn’t speak, instead snuggling into his side as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and shoved a breadstick in front of her.

  “What about me?” Ally asked Jake pointedly. “Are you going to make me feel better when we get home?”

  “I’m going to be eating in a few minutes, Ally,” James warned. “Don’t make me sick.”

  Jake ignored James. “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “I don’t see why you’re angry,” Ally said. “I won. You should be giving me a standing ovation.”

  “I’m not sure I see it that way,” Jake replied. “I keep picturing the horrible things that could have happened when you tasered him.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like the gun accidentally going off and an innocent person being shot,” Jake charged. “Did you think of that, Ally? If someone had been accidentally shot you could’ve gone to jail because of it – and that’s on top of the guilt you would feel and probably never get over.”

  Ally’s smile slipped. “I guess I didn’t think about that.”

  “You never do,” Jake said, reaching for his glass of water.

  “Oh, well, come on,” James prodded. “Let her off the hook.”

  Jake arched an eyebrow. “Seriously? You just spent two hours being mad at Mandy for not handing over jewelry.”

  “And now I’m done with it,” James said. “Ally did what she thought was right in a tense situation. It worked out. There’s no reason to beat her up over it.”

  Jake was dumbfounded. “Right there. You two are exactly alike. You’re secretly proud of what Ally did, aren’t you?”

  James scowled. “I … she saved Mandy and herself. I’m not going to hold that against her.”

  “This family gives me a migraine,” Jake grumbled.

  “Don’t worry,” Ally said, perking back up. “I’ll make you feel better when we get home. I bought a special outfit today and everything.”

  “And there went my appetite,” James muttered.

  Eight

  “Are you still angry?”

  Ally found Jake sitting in the quiet living room about an hour after returning home. The television was off and he was focused on the snow as it fell on the other side of the bay window.

  Jake opened his mouth, unsure how to respond. Finally, he patted the spot next to him on the couch. “Come here a second, angel.”

  Ally stilled. “You’re not going to break up with me, are you?”

  Jake rolled his neck, cracking it as
he fixed her with an incredulous look. “Seriously?”

  “You don’t look like you’re very fond of me at the present moment,” Ally said, her heart rate increasing. “I … .”

  “Come here, Ally,” Jake ordered, sighing as the woman he loved more than anything pathetically shuffled over and sat down next to him. “Stop asking me if I’m going to break up with you. I don’t like it.”

  “I can’t help it,” Ally admitted. “Sometimes you get these looks on your face and I just know you’re sitting there debating about whether or not I’m worth the work you keep having to put into me.”

  “Yeah? Well, that shows how much you know,” Jake replied, tugging her closer to him and frowning when he felt her heart pounding. “Why are you so worked up?”

  “I just told you.”

  “Oh, Ally, this has to stop,” Jake said, grabbing her chin and forcing her gaze to him. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time – even before I admitted to myself that I felt that way. Even after I admitted it to myself, it took me forever to get up the courage to tell you.

  “You’re my forever,” he continued. “I don’t see anyone else in my life. Ever! That means you can’t do something stupid and get hurt, Ally. That means you have to try and stay safe for me. I can’t lose you.”

  For some reason Jake’s words calmed Ally. Mandy was right. She’d been freaking herself out when it was completely unnecessary. Jake loved her. She was certain of that. Everything else would happen when it was supposed to.

  “I didn’t think about him accidentally shooting someone,” Ally said. “I didn’t really think at all. I knew I had the taser in my purse and that Mandy was refusing to give up her jewelry and I just reacted. I’m sorry.”

  “Angel, I don’t need you to be sorry,” Jake said. “I need you to give a few moments of thought before you act occasionally, though. I don’t ever want anyone else in my life. You’re it for me. I know you don’t believe that sometimes.”

  “I … .”

  Jake shushed her. “You just told me that you think I’m debating if you’re worth keeping around,” he said. “Just for the record, I am never thinking about that. You’re worth every headache and potential heart attack. I still don’t want you hurt.”