Her Christmas Hero (17 page)

“Phil kept saying ‘Shut up, Candy.'”

“Had you seen her before?”

Britt shook her head.

“Think, Britt. I need something. Did you notice anything about the room that was different?”

“I was only there a minute.” She closed her eyes. “The bed was in disarray and on the nightstand were a couple of plastic packets of brownish stuff. A syringe was there, too. And a little square of purple that looked like matches from a bar.”

“Was there any wording on it?”

“Black lines weaved through the purple and there was
e s
something. I didn't stick around to read the rest.”

Quinn scribbled that on the pad. “Do you know of any bars Phil liked to frequent?”

“I thought he liked the country club where he plays golf. But I really never knew him.”

Quinn watched the expression on her face and it twisted his gut. He wanted to give her some reassurance, but again he had no guarantees.

“This should help some.” He tapped the pen on the pad. “Levi's good at taking one clue and uncovering evidence.”

“How much time do we have?”

Quinn lifted his shoulders. “I have someone watching the condo. If he leaves with Dillon, I'll know.” He stared at the pen. “But I don't look for him to make a move until next Friday. He's waiting to see how badly you want to keep your son.” Quinn looked at her when he said the last.

She visibly trembled, her eyes holding his. “I trust you. I wish I had from the start.”

His heart wobbled. “Thank you. This has been a difficult situation. I wanted to tell you about the file, but I was still hanging on to my ethics. Now it doesn't even matter. Philip Sr. has threatened to have me disbarred.”

“Can he do that?”

“Oh, yeah. I left ethics behind the moment I looked into your dark eyes.”

She bit her lip. “I…”

“You don't have to say anything. Let's concentrate on Dillon.”

She picked up the bracelet, which he'd placed on the desk. “I believe this belongs to me.”

He lifted an eyebrow at that. Why did she want it? He hoped it was for the reason he thought.

She reached for her coat. “Now I'm going to go visit Mona and—”

“I've already apprised her of the situation.”

“Oh, good, then I'll just touch base with her.” She picked up her purse and walked from the room with smooth elegant strides, her courage firmly in place. At the door, she said, “I'll wait to hear from you.”

As she left, Quinn ran his hands over his face. He couldn't let her down. That miracle was within his reach. He just had to find it. And that might prove the biggest challenge of his law career.

Quinn knew he had a few days, and each hour counted. His sister called about Christmas, and with everything going on it had completely slipped his mind. He had to give Peyton some details to make her understand. She was outraged at the Rutherfords, but he assured her he was doing his best to rectify the situation. Why he might miss the family Christmas took a lot more explaining.

Finally, he told her he would try to make it. That was the best he could do. When he got off the phone, he went online and ordered gifts for the family, paying the extra postage to have them delivered to Peyton's house fully wrapped by Christmas Eve.

Levi was working on the lead Britt had given them. They finally concluded
e s
stood for an escort service, one that Phil probably frequented often. Levi was working overtime trying to locate the service Phil used.

Quinn spent his time staking out Phil's condo. Levi's side kick, Butch, relieved him so he could catch a few hours sleep, shower and change. Quinn wanted someone watching the place at all times. The moment Phil left with Dillon, he had to know. He wasn't sure about the plan if that happened, but Phil wasn't getting on a plane with Dillon. That Quinn knew for sure.

Levi finally located the escort service with a girl named
Candy. He was having a meeting with her now—as a client. If Quinn was in a laughing mood, he'd find that funny. But Levi would take it as far as he had to to get the information they needed.

It was early in the morning on Christmas Eve and the neighborhood was quiet. All the houses and condos were decorated for the big day, but a lot of people had gone out of town for the holiday. Mostly retired people lived in the exclusive condos, so no children were out in the street playing.

To remain inconspicuous, Quinn had rented a vacant con do across the street. He had to sign a six-month lease to get the place, but the money was a minor issue and it had a perfect view of Phil's. Quinn rented a car so Phil wouldn't recognize his Mercedes parked in the garage. From the master bedroom he could see Phil's driveway. No one seemed to notice him or Butch coming or going. He sat in a straight-backed chair and watched.

A white Corvette drove into Phil's driveway. Jenna Lawson slid out and ran inside, carrying a small suitcase. She didn't knock or use a key, so obviously the door was open. Something was about to happen. Quinn didn't take his eyes off the place. In his peripheral vision he saw a large city bus stop at the end of the street. He hadn't realized the buses ran in this area. Stretching his shoulders, he eased the tired muscles and kept waiting. And waiting for Levi to call.

Sometimes it was hard staying awake, but Quinn forced himself to. The thermos of black coffee helped. He was taking a swig when something caught his eye. He blinked, not believing what he was seeing. Bonnie and Clyde were walking down the sidewalk, straight to Phil's door. Damn it! What were they up to?

He reached for his cell and punched in Britt's number.
“Get over to Phil's right away. Ona's here,” he said, before she could get in a word.

“Damn it!” he cursed, leaping out of the chair and running down the stairs. Ona and Enzo had just blown everything to hell. He didn't know how he was going to explain his presence, but he had no choice but to get them out of there.

He went out the back way, crossed the street farther down and ran like hell toward Phil's. When he was about twenty feet away, Phil opened the door.

“What the hell do you want?”

“I brought my great-grandson a gift for Christmas,” Ona replied.

“And you think I'm going to let you give it to him?”

“Why not? You got somethin' to hide?”

“Go away,” Phil shouted, and moved to close the door. But Ona was ready for him. She pushed past him, using her big purse as a shield. Enzo was on her heels.

“Get out of my house,” Phil shouted. “Or I'm calling the cops.”

Quinn rushed in and all eyes turned to him.

“Lookie, Enzo, Mr. Hotshot has arrived.”

“Get them out of here,” Phil growled. Quinn noticed he had on a robe and pajamas.

“I'm not going anywhere until I see my great-grandson,” Ona threatened, clutching a bag in one hand and her purse in the other.

“You know,” Enzo said to Phil, “I have connections to the mob, and with one phone call I can have you taken out like yesterday's rotten garbage.”

“You're a senile old man with one foot in the grave,” Phil told him.

Enzo swung his cane and hit him on his kneecap, wood
hitting bone with a sharp crack. Phil grabbed his leg, screaming, “You son of a bitch. You son of a bitch!”

Quinn felt as if he was in a comedy skit, especially when Jenna came running in wearing a short, silky, black negligee. “What's going on in here?” She glanced around. “Phil, who are these people?”

“Call the cops,” Phil moaned, holding his leg.

“I don't think you want to do that,” Quinn said, trying to calm things down.

Undeterred by Phil's threat, Ona gave Jenna the once-over and said, “Lookie, Enzo, here's a stripper for you.”

“I'm not a stripper,” Jenna declared hotly, trying to cover her breasts, which were spilling out of her gown.

“Sure look like one, honey.”

“Nah, Ona, she's too skinny,” Enzo piped.

“I'm not skinny!” Jenna turned on him.

Phil straightened, his face dark. “Quinn, you better get them out of here now.”

Before Quinn could move or speak, Britt appeared in the doorway, out of breath. Phil's eyes swung to her and his face cleared. This was what he was waiting for, Quinn thought.

As well as jeans and dress boots, she wore a red knit top covered with a brown corduroy jacket. Her hair was down, framing her beautiful face. Her dark eyes flashed with irritation. She took in the situation with one glance. “Let's go, Onnie, Enzo.”

“Sorry, my pretty, I'm not going anywhere until I see Dillon. I have his Christmas gift.” Ona held up the bag.

Quinn could see Britt was calculating her next move. He could almost read her mind. She had nothing to lose. “Well, then. Let's give it to him.”

“I don't think so,” Phil said in a threatening voice.

Jenna moved closer to him, linking her arm through his. “For heaven sakes, Phil, it's Christmas.”

That put Phil in a difficult situation—look bad in front of his girlfriend or let Britt and Ona see Dillon? But Britt didn't give him time to make up his mind. She took her grandmother's arm and headed for the stairs.

And Phil did nothing.

Silence enveloped the four people standing in the entry. Finally, Enzo looked at Phil. “You got any beer?”

“Go to hell,” Phil snapped, and walked into the living area.

“Guess that means no,” Enzo remarked.

Quinn frowned at the old man, and then wanted to laugh. But it wasn't a day for laughing.

 

B
RITT HUGGED, KISSED AND
touched her little boy. His bubbles of delight melted her heart. “Mommy loves you, Dilly bear.” Britt was grateful for this moment on Christmas Eve with her son.

Onnie pulled a big bag from her purse. “Enough of that. Let's put Dillon in here and get the hell out.”

“What?” Britt stopped bouncing her baby.

“That's what Enzo and me planned. We'd put the baby in here—it's not plastic if that's what you're worried about. We'll go out the back way. That bastard will never know and Dillon will be with us for Christmas.”

Britt gave Dillon a long kiss and placed him in his bed. “We're not putting Dillon in anything. We're not stealing him. That makes us criminals. I'm getting him back the le gal way.” Quinn was right. She had to trust him. Running away with Dillon was not an option. She could clearly see that. “Give Dillon your gift.”

“I didn't bring a gift.” Onnie scrunched up her face. “Aren't you listening? We plan to take him.”

Britt groaned. “What were you going to do about the nanny?”

“That skinny thing? She wouldn't be a problem.”

“Let's go, Onnie.” Britt turned her grandmother toward the door. “This little stunt is over.”

“You're getting more and more like your mother,” Onnie grumbled.

“Thank you.” She stopped at the door and blew Dillon a kiss. He whined and she steeled herself to go. “Mommy will see you soon,” she called, closing the door and trying very hard not to cry.

Debi was in the hall and went back in.

Britt forced herself to walk away, though all she could think was this might be the last time she'd see her son.

Her stomach cramped, but she was trusting Quinn with everything in her.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Quinn and Enzo were still in the foyer. Phil and his girlfriend were sit ting in the living room. When Phil saw her, he got up and came forward. Britt had to force herself to face him.

“I hope you enjoyed your visit, Roslyn, because it will be your last for a while.”

Something in the tone of his voice, or maybe something about her kick-butt grandmother's attitude, had her stepping closer to him. She'd had it. She wasn't going to cry or beg. She was going to fight.

“I thought I really loved you once, but you shattered every illusion I had about love. What type of man would take a child from his mother? Only the very worst kind, and you've proved it over and over again.”

His face blanched and she knew she'd hit a nerve. She could feel Quinn's presence to her right and it gave her the courage to say what she had to. “How you can listen to your own son cry so heartbreakingly for his mother, and
do nothing, is beyond me. I guess it shows where your priorities are. They've never been with Dillon or me. You're only concerned about yourself.”

She drew a quick breath. “And to use your own son as bait to lure me back is beyond contempt.”

“What?” Phil's girlfriend cried, but Britt ignored her.

“I will never come back to you, so do your evil best with threats of keeping Dillon from me. Bribe all the judges you need to, but wherever you go I will find you. I'll call news papers, TV stations, radio stations, and give interviews exposing you as the bastard you are. You will never keep my son. That's a promise.” She turned and walked from the condo with her dignity intact.

Outside, she clung to her grandmother. “You told him, my pretty.” Onnie stroked her hair.

Britt caught Quinn's concerned gaze and she went to him. “Do you have anything?”

“Not yet,” he told her, still blown away by her courage. Phil had looked like a battered fighter brought down by a surprise opponent. “Levi has located the hooker Phil was with the day you found him. I'm hoping to hear something shortly.”

“Call me when you do.” She leaned in close. “Now I have to take Bonnie and Clyde home and once again try to explain this to my mother.”

He wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go. Instead, he reached for her hand, twisting the bracelet she'd put back on. When he felt her cold fingers, he realized just how afraid she was. “You were awesome. Don't lose that strength.”

“It's Christmas Eve,” she murmured in a small voice, and leaned against him. His heart lurched at her sadness.

I love you.
But he couldn't say the words. Not now. The cool December breeze blew against them and he kissed the
top of her head. She sighed and then went to help Ona and Enzo into her car.

He lifted a hand in goodbye and strolled down the walk with a heart as heavy as a bowling ball. Getting to his rent ed condo proved to be tricky. Several people passing by gave him odd glances, so he hurried around the back, slipping in without Phil noticing or anyone calling the cops. Not that Rutherford was looking. Quinn suspected the man had his hands full trying to explain Britt's remark about luring her back. Jenna had not been pleased.

The condo was empty, but Quinn kept food in the refrigerator. He grabbed a soft drink and a bag of nuts and went back to his post. Again everything was quiet.

Quinn pulled out his phone and sent a text message to Levi. It was one word:
hurry.
He didn't understand what was taking so damn long. He stretched and walked around the room, keeping his eyes on Phil's.

The day dragged. The sky grew cloudy and the wind rattled through the large oak outside the window. Quinn could hear a limb brushing against the roof. The swishing sound helped count away the time.

Sitting down again, he thought this was a hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve. And his sister was probably so pissed she was never going to speak to him again. His mother…well, he'd just as soon not think about that.

His cell buzzed and he yanked it out of his pocket. He cursed when he saw the name. Deidre.

He clicked on, knowing she'd keep trying if he didn't. “Hello.”

“Hi, Quinn. Are you busy?”

“Yes.”

“I'm at my dad's and I'm bored out of my mind. Let's go to a nightclub or something.”

She didn't even hear what he'd said. He took a long,
hard breath. “Deidre, please don't call me again. It's over, and you might think about spending some time with your father. It's Christmas Eve.”

There was a long pause. “Are you kidding?”

“No.”

Another long pause, as if she was trying to figure out why he'd made such a suggestion. “Have you found someone else?”

“Yes. Have a Merry Christmas.” He clicked off and slipped the phone into his shirt pocket. He'd found the most wonderful woman, one he'd give his life for. That's why he was sitting in an empty condo staring out a window when he should be celebrating with his family.

Suddenly his whole world was Britt and Dillon.

They were his family.

For the first time he wondered if Britt felt the same way.

 

B
Y MIDAFTERNOON
Q
UINN
grew weary of waiting for something to happen. There was no activity at Phil's. If they were leaving for the holiday, there were no signs.