The Christmas Bell Tolls Read Online Free PDF

friend of my fiancé’s. We
came by to check on him.”
    “You’re a material
witness as well as an employee of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Lab,
correct?” Wilson stared at Maddie.
    She stood a little
straighter, a defense posture. “I am.”
    Wilson sighed.
“You people can not be here. You are bordering on interfering in my
investigation.”
    “We’re here merely
as friends,” Maddie defended.
    “But you are a
material witness. And you,” he turned to Nick, “are an agent and his boss. You
know better.”
    Nick’s jaw
tightened. He took Maddie’s hand. “I’m sorry, Agent Wilson. We’ll leave
immediately.”
    “But—” Maddie
opened her mouth to argue.
    Darren reached out
and hugged her. “It’s okay,” he whispered before letting her go.
    Nick and Maddie
grabbed their coats and were gone.
    Agent Wilson
motioned toward the couch. “May I?”
    “Of
course.” Darren sat across from him.
    “I don’t mean to
be harsh. I know they’re your friends and want to be here for you, but I must
make sure this investigation is executed without incident. I’m sure you
understand.”
    Darren nodded. “I
just want my daughter back.”
    “I’m going to do
my job to the best of my ability to make that happen.” No promises…could be
taken straight out of the FBI manual. “I wanted to update you. The crime scene
unit has completed their scene work.”
    “Did they find
anything?”
    “They’ve taken the
samples back to their lab to test. As soon as they get results, they’ll notify
me immediately.”
    At least Eva was
on the case. She was good. If there was anything to be found, she’d find it.
Darren nodded.
    “I have agents
looking into your list of recent cases. So far, nothing has triggered a deeper
look.”
    He didn’t think
there would be. This didn’t feel like someone he’d sent to prison. “Is it
possible someone else is the target? Abduction but to hurt
not just me, but someone else? Maybe someone I’m close with?”
    Wilson flipped
open a small steno notebook. “Yes, there is quite the list from targets to
choose from. Aside from you there is Maddie Baxter, DNA/serology technician
with the TBI. Nick Hagar, her fiancé and your boss, FBI SAC. Riley Baxter Simpson, an investigative reporter whose husband is the police
commissioner in Hopewell, Louisiana. Remington Wyatt Baxter is a freelance
criminal psychologist who consults for the FBI and her husband, Rafe Baxter,
FBI agent who just happens to be your former partner. Quite the incestuous
little group, wouldn’t you say?”
    Darren fisted and
unfisted his hands. “Look, I’m not real sure what you’re trying to imply, but—”
    “I’m not implying
anything. I’m confirming that there are, in fact, quite a few possible targets
that were at the community center today. I assure you, I have people looking
into each and every one of those angles.”
    He let his hands
fall slack over his knees. “Is there anything promising you can tell me?”
    “We have Amber
alerts out. BOLOs. We’ve saturated the media and
social media with your daughter’s picture and our hotline.”
    All
standard procedures.
    “We’ve got alerts
at the airports, bus stations, and train station. Even the taxi companies are
on the watch.”
    Standard
operating procedures from the agency manual. Kidnapping
101.
    “I’m going to ask
for some items now that you probably wouldn’t think about. Please understand , I’m just doing my best to find your daughter.”
    “Go for it.”
    “Have you noticed
anyone following you over the past weeks?”
    “No.”
    “Seen any strange
vehicles in your neighborhood the last several days?”
    “No.”
    “Agent Timmons,
think harder. I know most agents are aware of their surroundings and like to
think they would automatically notice something amiss, but consider possible
unimportant details. Little things.” Wilson snapped at
one of the new agents hovering in the corner. “This is Agent Cobb. I need you
to