Page 50 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
If Bryce thought he was wound tight before, that was nothing compared to the new layer of tension the man’s arrival added. Frank had listed his name as a possible dirty cop, and Bryce decided his friend had been right to do so.
Captain Colson sure was keeping tabs on things. And, of course, he would to a certain extent, but to Bryce, he wasoverlyinterested. Was he worried about what Jade might uncover in her search for Frank’s killer? If that was the case, then it was very possible the man was responsible for all of the attempts on Jade’s life. Was he also responsible for protecting drug dealers who were making and selling their poison? For putting this precious family in danger? He hoped he kept his thoughts hidden from his face, but he didn’t plan to let the man out of his sight for as long as he was in close proximity to Jade. His hold tightened around Mia, and she snuggled closer with a little sigh.
“Captain Colson,” Jade said. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
He raised a brow. “Surprised? I still get out of the office occasionally. I heard the call go out over the radio. I’m glad to see you’re okay.”
“Thanks to my dad and Bryce.”
Bryce shifted Mia to the crook of his left arm and shook the captain’s outstretched hand.
“Looks like someone has it in for you, Hollis,” the captain said.
“No kidding.”
“You know why?”
She went still, then sighed. “I have a couple of theories. I don’t know if they’re even close to being right, though.”
“Care to share?”
“I can do that, but I’d prefer not to do it here.”
“All right. My office sometime tomorrow if you feel up to it?”
“Yes, sir.”
He nodded. “You and your family have someplace to stay? I don’t think it’s safe to remain here. Not with someone so determined to get to you.”
She coughed and took a swig of water from the bottle Bryce had slipped into her hand. “I agree. My aunt lives in Boone. I think they’ll head to her place. My dad’s already been on the phone, getting the horses taken care of. Thankfully, my parents’ home wasn’t damaged, so I plan to stay here.”
“Hopefully, it won’t take them long to finish the investigation, and we’ll know how this fire started.” The captain’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “Nathan McDonald is on his way.”
“The fire marshal?”
“I gave him a heads-up on my way over here. With everything going on, there’s no way I believe this was an accident.”
“No,” she said. “It wasn’t. My front door was jammed somehow.” She paused. “And there were two mini-explosions.”
Bryce blinked. “Explosions?”
“One in the kitchen and one outside my front door.”
“I can understand the one outside your door, but how would anyone get inside to plant a bomb without being seen?” the captain asked.
“Good question,” Jade said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a clue. My ladder was missing, too.”
“Ladder?”
“It’s a rope ladder I kept in my closet in case I had to get out from the second floor. Like tonight. I don’t think Mia knew it was there, but it’s possible she could have moved it. She, or one of the twins, but I highly doubt it. Whoever broke into my place must have done it while I was out either last night or today sometime, because I feel sure I would have noticed them. I didn’t see any sign of forced entry when I got home tonight. And my door wasn’t jammed. That came after I went inside for the night. Absolutely nothing triggered any kind of alarm that someone had been in my place.” She shrugged. “I just don’t know.”
“Did anyone find Officer Kane?” Bryce asked.
“Out cold, sir. Found him beside his patrol car with a goose egg on the side of his head and a two-by-four beside him. Paramedics are transporting him to the hospital now. Overheard them say something about a possible fractured skull, but thought he would most likely be okay in time.”
“Unbelievable,” the man muttered. “All right, thanks. Let’s get Mr. and Mrs. Hollis and the kids escorted to wherever they’re going tonight.”
Bryce turned Mia over to Mr. Hollis, then kept an eye on everyone in the vicinity of Jade. “I think you should go with your family,” he told her.
