Page 26 of Rescuing Sara

Much later that night.

“We’re not going to The Main Place tomorrow,” Patrick said flatly. “It’s too open, too dangerous and too many people.”

They’d spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with their own tasks– Danni writing her articles while Patrick and Kristopher worked on developing a fitness training program for new BP members before going to try it out in the Safehouse gym. Then they’d all started a spreadsheet, documenting whatthey’d learned since Wednesday and the various “players”, as Kristopher called them.

“We need to keep up with every scrap of info we find,” Kristopher had said. “No matter how small it might seem.”

But when Danni broached the subject of going to The Main Place to look for “Silas the almost Amish boy”, the atmosphere of camaraderie changed. Patrick was dead set against it.

“It’s a bad idea,” he said. “In case you didn’t hear, though I’d be surprised if you hadn’t–Griff and Elaine were attacked there just last month. Someone opened fire on them and it’s a miracle they or the police officers there as backups, or anyone else weren’t killed.” He did not mention a suspect in the case was slightly injured.

“So how are we supposed to find Silas and talk to him about Sara?” Danni challenged.

“We send the police.” Patrick tried to keep the condescension from his voice. “That’s what they’re paid to do. They can probably find him more quickly than we could and with a lot less risk.”

“But what if–just imagine–what if Silas were part of a kidnapping ring that took Sara?” Danni countered. “What if he were part of The Cadre? ‘Cause we’re at least agreed, aren’t we, that Sara was taken? If the police went, they’d tip off Silas and whoever might be working with him.”

“Oh, Lord,” Patrick moaned. “Mac warned me about your imagination.”

His description brought a scowl to her pretty face. “I’ll get him for that later,” she promised. “But hear me out. If the police showed up, even in plain clothing and started asking questions about Sara, it would alert Silas and others that they suspected them. And besides, what better way to find young girls by hiding in plain sight as a vendor at a popular spot? Maybe that’s where Sara was first seen by the captors.”

“And you didn’t expect those attacks on you when you were ‘in plain sight’,” Patrick argued, knowing he was losing the argument. “If you want to do something useful tomorrow, ask Stanley Harris if you can interview his granddaughter via Zoom for your article. That will keep you both safe. And that’s my job, Danni. To keep you safe, not lead you into harm’s way!”

“We have the photo of the hat’s receipt to show Silas we’re on the up and up!” Danni continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “My imagination aside, what if Silas is too scared to talk to the police? Sergeant Miller and Captain Haggerty are probably too busy with other cases to send someone to find Silas and talk to him and could be a waste of their time and resources!”

“Ah, could I make a suggestion?” Kristopher spoke from his chair in the corner. He’d retreated there when the discussion got heated.

“What?” The shouts came from both of them. Then Danni blushed and Patrick brushed a hand over his head. “Sorry,” they both said.

“I’m not here to be just your chauffeur,” Kristopher said evenly. “Any more than you were on your last mission, Patrick. I’m your back-up eyes and bodyguard as needed.”

“And I’ve appreciated having you here,” Patrick said quickly. “Aside from all the jokes about your cooking.”

“Me too.” Danni’s soft voice was apologetic.

“So, let’s do this,” Kristopher suggested. “We’ll go to The Main Place tomorrow, find Silas and come straight back here. I’ll stay in the background and believe me, no one will know I’m watching out for you and no will notice me. No one ever does. I’ll bet if Silas and his family are regulars, they’ll have the same spot for their booth or table, so they’ll be easy enough to find. Ask him a few questions, and we’re straight back here. No stops at other vendors’ booths, no shopping. Thirty minutes at the most.”

“I can do that,” Danni said. “I don’t want to shop. I just want to learn what this boy might know about Sara.”

“I still don’t like it,” Patrick insisted. “There are likely to be lots of people around. Anything could happen.”And I did a piss poor job of protecting you in front of St. Nicholas.

“Safety in number with all those people?” Kristopher suggested.

“Mrs. M. said he’s likely to be there on Friday and what if his family doesn’t go on Saturdays?” Danni asked. “And there are never vendors set up there on Sundays. This might be our only chance to find Silas and talk to him.”

“His family might be almost done with their sales before Christmas,” Kristopher continued to support Danni’s request.

“There, you see?” Danni said. “Wehaveto go tomorrow even though it could be dangerous. We can’t afford to miss this chance. Please, Patrick?”

Her pleading wove its way into Patrick’s heart, and he had to remind himself what a roller coaster ride of emotions this woman had experienced since the first of the week. With the exception of the women in uniform who had served and fought beside him, no other woman he’d ever known could have gone through a week like this and not be a complete emotional wreck. Danni Blake wasn’t trained for this, but she was sure putting up one hell of a fight to keep it together. He had to respect and admire that. Hedidrespect and admire that.

As he was coming to recognize the stirrings of longing she aroused in him. Intelligence, humor, beauty and a certain kind of cockiness made Danni Blake a very desirable package. A package he would like to slowly unwrap and untie and inspect.

He would especially like to explore her freckles. Patrick loved freckles.

“Alright, we’ll go,” he said at last and was alarmed by the surge of desire washing over him at the happiness shining in her eyes. “But no dawdling while we’re there, understand?”

“Dawdling?” Laughter hovered around her mouth and for one insane moment he thought of kissing her.“Dawdling?”

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