The Christmas Rescue by Laura Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

He used work as an excuse to retreat to his room, where he began an Internet search on Greg Landrum. Thankfully, Kayla had a wireless router for Internet access for her guests.
    She invited him to join them for dinner and he warily agreed, trying to come up with some way to avoid giving Brianna the wrong idea.
    But when he went down to the kitchen, he found Kayla and Ellen were alone. “Where’s Brianna?” he asked.
    â€œShe was invited over to her friend’s house for a sleep over,” Kayla admitted. “I thought it might be best, just in case this guy decides to come back tonight.”
    Rafe hesitated, abruptly doubting the wisdom of his plan. “Maybe you should both leave, too. You could stay at Ellen’s place. I plan to keep the security system off so I can catch this guy in the act.” And what he really hoped was to have a few minutes alone with the guy to find out what in the world he was searching for.
    â€œDon’t worry about us,” Ellen said in a feisty tone. “We’ll be fine, right, Kayla?”
    Kayla nodded. “We’ll keep our doors locked, don’t worry. I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep much, but I’m staying.”
    Rafe couldn’t think of an argument that would encourage the women to leave, so he fell silent. Kayla served a big pan of lasagna for dinner and made-from-scratch garlic bread. He took a bite and the tangy sauce melted in his mouth. He’d never tasted anything so good.
    â€œYou’re an excellent cook, Kayla.”
    â€œThanks.” She flushed at his praise and then glanced guiltily at her mother-in-law. “Ellen taught me a lot. And it’s nice to have friends to cook for, rather than strangers.” The subtle loneliness underlying her tone wasn’t lost on him. He knew only too well how difficult it was to spend evenings alone.
    â€œSpeaking of strangers, I haven’t found much on your guest, Greg Landrum,” he said, quickly changing the subject to a safer topic. “You told me the address on his driver’s license was from Chicago, right?”
    She nodded. “Yes. Why?”
    â€œI can’t seem to find him anywhere, that’s all.” He stood to help her clear away the dishes, but Ellen shooed him away, taking over the task herself. “I’m going to keep looking. Everyone leaves some sort of electronic trail in today’s world.”
    â€œGo on then, we can clean up here,” she said. “I have some sewing that needs to get finished tonight, anyway.”
    â€œI thought you gave up doing alterations?” Ellen asked over her shoulder.
    â€œNo, why would I? Helps pay the bills in the gap between guests.”
    He stared at her for a moment, hating the thought of Kayla struggling to make ends meet. Doing alterations couldn’t possibly pay much. She’d mentioned her bed-and-breakfast business was slow, but he hadn’t realized just how serious she’d been.
    Was she in danger of losing her business? He hoped not.
    â€œGood night, then. Don’t forget to lock your doors. And keep your cell phones close at hand.” He was glad Kayla’s private living space was tucked in the back of the house, far from the guest rooms.
    He wished there was something he could do to minimize the danger.
    â€œWe will. Good night, Rafe.”
    He spent several hours working on his laptop, still not coming up with much on Greg Landrum, although he did find that the guy owned a computer software business in a small suburb outside Chicago.
    The information was somewhat reassuring. Greg Landrum did exist, but without a picture, he couldn’t be sure that he’d found the right guy. He wanted proof that the man who’d rented a room from Kayla was really Greg Landrum.
    When his eyes blurred from the strain of reading his computer, he stretched out on the bed, lightly dozing. The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow.
    A soft thud woke him.