Page 28 of Holiday Loss

Although the woman who was about her age was smiling and had a stack of brightly colored Christmas boxes in her arms, Jessica had been a cop long enough to know that trusting her instincts could be the difference between life and death.

If something felt wrong then it was.

“Jana, Merry Christmas,” she said, forcing a smile and acting nonchalant while also trying to move slightly so she blocked entry to the door. Her son was inside and while she had no logical reason to view this woman as a threat, she was going to treat her as such until she proved otherwise.

“Merry Christmas,” the woman returned, crowding forward.

Standing firm, Jessica looked over her shoulder, her gaze searching for the guard who should be out there.

When she couldn’t see him her anxiety amped up.

“May I come in?” Jana asked.

“Actually, we’re waiting on Donovan. I’m surprised you didn't come with him.” Keeping her voice polite, she also made it clear that she knew something was up. The stalker was an ex-employee, that was what Donovan had always believed, what the cops believed, but what if they were wrong?

She’d looked through the evidence. There was nothing concrete—no security footage, no fingerprints, no DNA—to prove the identity of the stalker.

Was it possible that it was actually Donovan’s secretary?

“I won't take long. I just want to drop off these gifts. Donovan asked me to,” Jana added as though that was going to make a difference.

Only it wasn't.

Whatever was going on, she wasn't going to try to figure it out now while her seven-year-old son was there. She was certainly going to be bringing it up with Donovan and the cops working on his case as soon as he got home, though.

“I’ll take them in,” she said, holding out her hands.

Taking a step back, Jana’s smile faltered for a moment before she righted it. “Actually, Donovan said there shouldn’t be any peeking,” she said with a fake-sounding chuckle.

“We have dinner on the stove,” Jessica lied, moments away from just stepping back and closing the door. Maybe she’d even call the cops now, let them sort the whole thing out. The fact that she still couldn’t see the guard was worrying her. Even if he thought Jana was a safe person to let up, he should still be there.

“Mom?” Freddie called out from somewhere behind her.

A split second too late Jessica realized her mistake.

At the sound of her son’s voice, she automatically turned her head toward him.

That was all Jana needed to take advantage.

The next thing she knew she heard the familiar sound of a gun cocking.

Chapter

Twenty

December 23rd

5:19 P.M.

It felt like a lifetime since he’d gotten the text message threatening Jessica.

In reality, it hadn't even been twenty minutes.

Somehow, Donovan had managed to make it across town and to his building. The cops had ordered him to stand down, let them handle things, but he had no intention of sitting out there and waiting.

Not when Jessica and Freddie were upstairs.

There were no guards he could see in the building lobby and that told him everything he needed to know.

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