Page 31 of Cold Threat

Tony sighed dramatically. “You’re right. It’s our burden to bear.”

Ray laughed and walked over to the door, the card and theenvelope grasped in his hand, the napkin keeping his fingers from touching it. “I’ll be back in time for supper.”

“Remember to call me,” Tony said. He trusted his father, but even though he still believed the Strangler’s accomplice was in St. Louis, he couldn’t help but worry.

“I will. I’ll set the alarm before I leave. There are cameras that cover the first two floors. I’ll email you an invitation to tap into them. Download the app onto your phone and you can check them. If there is any movement, inside or outside, the system will alert you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I think River and I are going to call it a day. A little rest before supper sounds great.”

“Good idea,” Ray said.

“And I’ll stay here with Mom and River since you asked me to, but if you don’t call within thirty minutes after you leave, I’ll be in the car and headed to the station. You have my word on that.”

“And he says you’re the stubborn one,” Ray said with a sigh as he left the room.

Tony smiled at River. “Let’s go. If you’re not too tired, we could put onIt’s a Wonderful Lifeand watch it until supper’s ready. I’ll bet Mom could even whip up some of her special hot chocolate.”

“Sounds like heaven,” River said, getting up from her chair.

Even though he’d done everything he could to reassure River, as they walked out of his dad’s office, Tony couldn’t stop feeling as if evil were stirring somewhere close by and that it would soon rear its ugly head.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Ray was true to his word and called Tony when he got to the station. He’d told Beth that there had been a vague threat and made it clear that she needed to make certain their security system was activated. She didn’t seem overly concerned. Ray appeared to have been right when he said she was used to the kinds of situations that unfortunately plagued many in law enforcement.

Sure enough, she made them hot chocolate and joined them to watch the movie. Tony stayed upstairs for a few minutes after River joined Beth in the living room. She assumed it was because he was calling Arnie. When Tony finally joined them, he suggested asking Aimee to come over, but Beth told them she’d gone out with some friends for dinner. Besides, there were at least a couple of inches of snow on the ground. Although it wasn’t very dangerous yet, it could get worse later, and Beth didn’t want her driving in it. River was relieved. Knowing how Aimee felt about her still bothered her. She’d tried to put it out of her mind and concentrate on the profile since that was the reason they were here, but it wasn’t that easy. She wanted to defend herself, but she couldn’t. Aimee was convinced that it was River’s fault they wereon the riverbank that night. She wasn’t angry with Aimee. She understood enough about the human mind to know that people who have experienced trauma can create scenarios they’re certain have actually happened. But they’re false memories built out of fear. Fear is a powerful emotion. Once someone allows it into their mind, it can create havoc. River was convinced that Aimee needed someone to blame for what happened to Tony. His partner was the only logical one. Aimee couldn’t blame her beloved brother.

She and Tony were still both concerned about David Prescott, the man who happened upon Baker’s attack on them that night and called the police. His testimony was crucial to Baker’s conviction, and now he’d disappeared, just like Jacki. Where was he? Had Baker’s accomplice hurt him? Killed him? Or was he so spooked by what happened that he’d gone into hiding? River wasn’t convinced of that. He hadn’t contacted his family, and they were worried sick about him. Jacki’s body had never been found, so if the accomplice had killed Prescott as retribution for helping River and Tony, it was possible they’d never find his body either.

River fought to concentrate on the movie. She loved Jimmy Stewart.It’s a Wonderful Lifewas one of her favorite Christmas movies. It would have been really relaxing, sitting in the St. Clairs’ family room, a fire crackling in the large fireplace, and watching through windows that almost reached the ceiling as the snow came down—if only the snow hadn’t taken on a sinister meaning tonight. River gazed around the beautiful family room. It was tastefully decorated for the holidays, greenery lining the mantel and flickering electric candles woven within the boughs.

The pillows on the large couch were Christmas themed and the hearth held an entire Christmas village with lights shining through the tiny windows. On the floor in front of the hearth, a Christmas train chugged its way along the track with Santa at the wheel and the elves riding along, a bag of toys filling one of the train cars.

The Christmas tree almost reached the ceiling, and the tinygold lights highlighted ornaments that had to have been in the family for years. Each one was clearly special.

They had just reached the part in the movie where Uncle Billy realizes he’s misplaced the deposit for the bank when Ray returned home.

“How about some hot chocolate, honey?” Beth said when he walked into the living room.

“Sounds great,” he said with a smile. “It’s getting colder outside. We’re supposed to dip below twenty degrees tonight. I’d say we’re definitely on our way.”

“You all drink your hot chocolate and relax,” Beth said. “We’ll have dinner after the movie.”

“Are you sure, Mom?” Tony asked. “We can take a break from the movie, eat supper, and then come back. We don’t want to mess up what you have planned.”

Beth smiled at him. “I’ve got chicken and noodles in the crock pot. I’ll just put them on warm. They’ll keep just fine.” She frowned slightly. “Unless anyone’s too hungry to wait.”

Tony laughed. “We’re so full of cookies and hot chocolate, we can definitely wait a bit.”

“I’m sorry,” Beth said, her smile slipping. “Have I overdone it?”

Ray walked over and put his arms around his wife. “You’re creating a lovely Christmas, sweetheart. Besides, everyone puts on a pound or two during the holidays. It’s expected.”

His teasing made her laugh. “I’ll be right back with your hot chocolate.”

“Thanks. Then you sit down and enjoy the movie,” Ray said. “And when it’s over, I’ll warm up the rolls and make the salad, okay? You’ve done enough.”

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