Page 40 of A Moon Lake Christmas Hero

“There shouldn’t be a man asking about Erin.”

“Got you. We’re right behind you,” Bailey said, and they ended the call.

I sped down the road towards Stone Valley, way over the limit, and took the turn toward Alan’s in a haphazardous way.

Every fiber in my body told me to hurry.

At least Erin wasn’t alone.

“Call Alan,” I voice-dialed.

“Hey, James.” Alan picked up at the first ring.

“Where’s Erin?”

“Erin? Why?”

“Where is she?”

“She was just here. Let me go get her.”

I could hear him walk and open a door. “Wha?—”

“Not a step closer.” I could hear the male voice reverberating through my car.

My heart sped up and I held my breath at the same time.

“Alan, it’s okay, just go.” Erin’s voice was tinny, scared, and cracked at the end.

Fuck. I sped up, cursing the gravel under my tires.

Then there was a door opening and closing again.

“Alan, what’s happening?”

“There’s a guy with a knife. He’s got Erin. They just went out the door. Jessie and the kids are on the other side of the hallway.”

I could hear the tenseness in his voice, but also the steely undertone of a man who would do anything to protect his family.

“I’m two seconds from your house. Can you create a diversion?”

“A diversion?”

“Something that makes him look in your direction.”

My mind was racing. I couldn’t let them go, couldn’t let him take Erin, but I couldn’t run him over, as well.

Think. Think. Think.

That’s when I came up to the parking area in front of the house. They were still at the door, not yet at his car.

The snow crunched under our feet as we fell, the cold seeping through my clothes, but I barely noticed it in the heat of the moment.

I screeched to a halt but the car took awhile until it slithered to a stop on the snowy surface. Luckily it stopped positioned perfectly between them and the stranger’s car.

I got out, hopped over the hood, and sprinted toward them.

The guy stopped, wrapped his arm around Erin, and put his knife to her throat. “Stop.”

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