Page 48 of Christmas with the Boy Next Door

“I remember,” he told his friend. The urgency in Tommy’s voice caused the hair on the back of Jack’s neck to stand up.

“They decided to go over there today, and not only was the dude not home, but his neighbor said he went out of town for a few days.”

Jack swallowed and his mind raced. “Did they say where he was going?”

“Nothing specific, and remember this is just hearsay, but the guy thought he might be heading to visit his family for Christmas in ‘some small town or something.’ So, if I were you, I’d keep my head on a swivel. If you’re right about him and Holden knowing you suspect their involvement, he might come after you.”

Jack went to the kitchen window with a few purposeful strides, and as he peered into Robin’s house, his blood ran cold. “Tommy?”

“Yeah?”

“I gotta go. Holden’s at Robin’s house right now.”

“Go, but keep me posted.”

Jack agreed and ended the call as he bolted from the house. Then he zipped across their shared side yard and took her porch steps two at a time. But just as he lifted his hand to try the doorknob, he froze.

Holden hadn’t been doing anything but talking to Robin when he’d seen them through the window. He was sure of it. They’d been standing on opposite sides of the kitchen island, and as Jack replayed the image in his mind, he realized they looked like they were discussing the weather or something equally benign. If he ran in guns blazing—metaphorically, as he was unarmed—that’d be a rookie move.

He was no rookie.

Straightening his suit jacket and tie, he took a steadying breath and knocked on the door. His heart pounded rapidly in his ears while he waited, but in no time at all, Robin appeared with a casual smile. “Jack, hey.”

“Robin. Are you and Abby ready for the ball?”

Robin stepped back, and Jack performed an Oscar-worthy show of surprise when he caught Holden’s eye. “Oh, hey, man.”

Holden nodded, looking calm but wary. “Jack.”

Stepping inside, he strode forward and shook his coworker’s hand. “Lookin’ sharp. You’re not here to steal my date for the ball, are you?” His tone was light, but he hadn’t bothered to hide the subtle warning he knew Holden could likely read in his eyes. Or feel in the firmness of his handshake. The point had to be made whether or not he planned to keep this civil.

Holden stared back at him for a second before shaking his head with a soft chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I just wanted to ask Robin a few questions about that case you and I opened back up. You got here just in time.”

Since Holden had given Jack the box of evidence and told him to “have at it” without offering an ounce of further support, hearing him speak as though it was a team effort in front of Robin set his teeth on edge.

He looked around the room, noting that Abby was absent. Before he could ask, Robin hooked her thumb toward her daughter’s door. “She’s reading in her room.”

Jack nodded and relaxed slightly. He didn’t have all the pieces to this puzzle, but he knew Holden and CJ Snitker had something to do with Matthew’s death. Was Holden here to hurt Robin or Abby? Probably not. It’d be too obvious, wouldn’t it? But it put him at ease to hear Abby was safe in her room and see with his own eyes that Robin was equally unharmed. Especially after learning that CJ’s whereabouts were currently unknown yet highly suspect.

Jack gestured to the table. “Let’s have a seat and talk.”

“Actually, do you mind if I go finish up my hair? I don’t want to be late for the ball. Jack, I’ve told you everything I know, so you can tell Holden, right?” Robin blinked innocently at both men, and Jack refrained from questioning her. She must have a good reason for leaving the room, so he wouldn’t be the reason she couldn’t.

“Sure,” Jack said, nodding at Holden. “Plus, it’ll give us a chance to discuss the case on our own for a minute.”

“Great, thanks.” Robin left without giving Holden a chance to respond, ducked into her room for a second, then came right back out with her hair brush and some kind of curling wand in her hand before slipping into Abby’s room and closing the door.

If Jack knew Robin, she’d likely go in there and do her hair as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She trusted him to handle Holden so she could make sure her daughter wasn’t worried about any of this, and he’d do whatever he had to in order to make sure her trust wasn’t misplaced.

Holden had watched Robin’s actions with his lips pulled into a grim line, so Jack stepped closer to the table. “Have a seat. Can I get you some water or anything?”

“Pretty cozy with a fellow officer’s widow. You know that’s a little weird, right?”

Jack pulled out a chair and unbuttoned the top button of his suit jacket before he sat down, eager to appear at ease despite having the sudden urge to throttle the guy. “I know that depending on the circumstances, it can be.”

Holden smirked and took a seat across from Jack. “If you say so.”

“What questions did you plan to ask Robin? You know as well as I do we haven’t been working this case together.”

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