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Christmas Present. You watched A Christmas Carol
with me last December and should know the drill. More
are coming. Since this is an emergency, a few of us
missed the meeting today." Jeremy took Noah's hand in
his. "You got a lot of people who love you. I know
things haven't been right between us lately, but would
you please listen to what we have to say?"
An hour later Derrick Sumner arrived at the front
door, thankfully not on a Harley in full biker gear.
Instead he'd dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, an average
Joe except for the "I'll kick your ass for looking at me
wrong," attitude he never left home without.
"Derrick? What brings you here?"
"Hey, Noah. Those friends of yours pull your head
out of your ass yet?"
"What?" Noah opened the door wider, Sumner
stepping into the living room but refusing Noah's, "Have
a seat."
"No, thanks, I'll stand. I've had my rump parked on a
Harley for the last two days."
Jeremy closed his book with a loud snap. "Um& I'll
be in the kitchen if you need me." He shot out of the
room, imparting a guilty glance over his shoulder.
Noah's hackles rose.
"Which ghost are you?" he asked the cop.
The hard-core lawman chuckled. "Take your pick and
plan for Christmas in July, or rather, August. I hope
your nearest and dearest never get mad at me; they're a
creative bunch. I'd planned to wait until tomorrow, but
Mr. Kincaid convinced me that I need to talk to you
today.
"We've had a break in your B & E case. Turns out the
petty, two-bit pimp ain't our man. Two repeat offenders
Fallen Angel 190
were arrested a couple nights ago, in an incident quite
similar to yours.
"I've always found the night shift clerk down at the
station to be a nosy old busybody, and I wouldn't trade
his curiosity for the world, 'cause he found something
linking that incident to yours. Do you happen to be
missing a gold Saint Christopher medallion that says,
'To Noah from Jeremy' on the back?"
Noah reached up for his missing charm. He thought
he'd simply misplaced it.
"Our guy down in evidence recalled logging in a
similar item before, and dug through the files. Sure
enough, he found you'd checked in one like it. For the
record, is this your property?" He dangled a gold chain
and pendant from his fingers.
Bringing Jeremy's Christmas gift close to read the
inscription, Noah replied, "I do believe it is."
"We still need this as evidence, and I want you to
come down to the station to make a claim and to view a
lineup, see if you recognize the suspects, but I'll make a
note of the proper owner. You can pick it up later. Now,
let me ask you another question. Have you bought
anything expensive lately? TV, computer, stuff like
that?"
"Well, no." Noah wracked his brain. "Jeremy got a
few things for his birthday back in June. Why?"
"Did you happen to throw away any packaging
materials where somebody coulda found them?"
Noah hollered, "Jeremy! What did you do with the
boxes your birthday presents came in?"
Jeremy yelled back, "I broke them down and put
them in the recycling bin, why?"
Noah groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. "That would
be a yes," he said, shaking his head.
Derrick tsssked. "It's these guy's M.O. They check
curbside trash and stake out houses where the owners
have new electronics or other easily pawnable items,
wait 'til the house is empty and break in. Only, you were
home. I don't think they'd planned on witnesses and
Fallen Angel 191
panicked. They've never been arrested for violent crimes
before."
"My truck wasn't here. I had it in the shop that week."
"There ya go, Noah. What we have is a random act of
violence. You were in the wrong place at the wrong
time. Nothing personal."
Noah's mind reeled. He'd been positive he'd been the
target of revenge.
Sumner continued, "And the noise that frightened Mr.
Tate -- the reason he came here at an ungodly hour --
turned out to be trash pickers raiding a Dumpster behind
the bar."
Jeremy reentered the room, a glass of tea in each
hand, setting them on the coffee table. "Come on," he
said, taking Noah by the hand. "I reckon you need a hug.
And if you don't, I do."
Noah accepted the hug, losing himself in the
comforting embrace.
A few gulps and an "Ah& " later, Derrick said, "Don't
forget to come by the station later. Thanks for the tea,
Jeremy. Um& don't bother letting go or nothing." Was
the fearsome Sergeant Sumner actually blushing? "I'll let
myself out."
Noah held tight to Jeremy, wondering who'd be on
his case next. It turned out he didn't have long to wait.
Doc called an hour later.
***
"Noah, would you mind coming over, I need to talk
with you." Doc sat on the edge of his bed, shaken down
to his core. He'd fallen -- again. He needed to have a
serious talk with Noah, and soon. Jeremy's urging made
today the perfect time.
"Sure thing, Doc. You still staying with your friend?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]