Page 25 of Her Frozen Heart

SIX

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Freezing water struck like exploding shrapnel, sending her nervous system into overdrive. The heavy weight attached to her ankles dragged her slowly into the depths of the lake, the water filling her lungs. She pawed at the twine around her ankles, somehow breaking free of the gravity pulling her down. She kicked hard, her arms flailing against the water as she struggled to reach the top. Her fingers brushed against something solid and cold. She dragged her fingernails helplessly against the jagged ice, pounded on it with her fists. Couldn’t anyone hear her, trapped beneath the wall of ice?

The water was going to win, after all.

Warm hands closed around her arm, a deep voice calling her name.

“Nicole, open your eyes. It’s a dream, baby.”

Rory’s voice shattered the ice, and Nikki sat straight up in bed, gasping for air. Cold sweat had soaked through her T-shirt and shorts. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I’m so cold.”

Rory’s strong arms pulled her to his chest, and he jerked the blankets back over her. “Just breathe.” His big hands rubbed her back.

Nikki buried her face against his bare skin, inhaling his familiar scent. He kissed her forehead and tucked the blanket around her so that she was cocooned in warmth.

Nikki refused to close her eyes, afraid the imaginary, crushing weight of the water would never go away. She kept her gaze on the bedroom window, watching as daylight began to peek through the blinds.

Rory finally broke the silence. “You okay?”

“I don’t feel like I’m in the lake anymore.”

He stroked her damp hair. “I can’t believe Lacey didn’t wake up.”

“I screamed?”

“More like gasped and grunted, and you were kicking and throwing your fists. I think you hit the headboard a couple of times.”

“No wonder my right hand hurts.” Now that her fear was gone, embarrassment crept in. She sat up, her clothes sticky and her hair matted from lying against him. “Sorry if I scared you.”

“Don’t apologize.” Rory shifted and turned on the light next to his side of the bed. “Let me see your hand.”

She showed him her right hand. The knuckles were red and sore, but she could move her fingers well enough so Nikki knew she hadn’t broken anything.

Rory traced her hand with his index finger. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but do you think this case is one you should work? It’s already got you way out of sorts.”

“I have to work it,” Nikki said. “It’s not the case, anyway. I think it’s more being on the ice yesterday and remembering what happened last winter.”

“Just promise me that if it gets to be too much, you’ll hand it off to someone else. You’ve got so much emotional stuff on your plate right now, no one would blame you if you stepped back.”

There was no chance in hell she’d step back, and with Liam out of the field, Kesha’s murder would be shifted to an agent in major crime who was probably juggling ten plus cases already. Nikki’s behavioral violent crime unit had been established to assist in cases involving serial and violent criminals, and they were uniquely qualified to work on cases like Kesha’s. After Liam’s injury, Nikki had convinced her boss to recruit two new agents into the fold, but working that into the budget had taken weeks, and they wouldn’t be interviewing potential candidates until early in the new year. But she knew what Rory needed to hear, so she nodded. “I will. Don’t worry about me. What time is it?”

Rory grabbed his phone off the nightstand. “A little after seven. What time does Lacey usually wake up on Christmas morning?”

“Depends,” Nikki said. “She’ll let us know, I promise.”

Less than ten minutes later, Lacey’s squeal of delight brought them both out of bed. Rory yanked on athletic shorts and a T-shirt and ran out to join her, while Nikki grabbed her robe and phone, trying not to think about the dream or what they might see this afternoon.

The morning passed in a blur, with Lacey tearing through her gifts. Nikki loved seeing her little girl so happy, but every second was juxtaposed with what she knew Kesha’s family was enduring. While Rory and Lacey played with the various new toys, Nikki made chocolate chip pancakes and a pot of coffee. Time ticked away quickly, counting down to Lacey’s departure.

Nikki had made sure that Lacey’s things were packed and ready last night, but of course she wanted to take her new doll and the tub of Polly Pocket toys from Santa.

Rory and Lacey played a furious game of Go Fish before he headed to the lake. Lacey surprised Rory by wrapping her arms around his neck and telling him how much she’d miss him before he left to help Miller, and Nikki was pretty certain she’d spotted moisture in Rory’s eyes.

Now, she checked her phone to see how much time they had. She’d sent Lacey to brush her teeth and make sure she had everything before her grandparents arrived. It was almost one p.m., and she’d given Kesha’s boyfriend enough time on Christmas. While Lacey was running around getting last-minute stuff, Nikki fired off a text to Dion.

Hi, Dion, this is Agent Nicole Hunt with the FBI. Kesha’s parents asked me to give you time, and I want to honor that since you’ve been cooperative, but I do need to talk face to face with you as soon as possible so we can make sure our information is accurate.

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