Murder Under The Mistletoe

FOUR

“I thought I saw someone through the window, and I wanted to make sure you were all right,” Rob said.

Tyler tensed, and his “something’s hinky” senses went wild. Rob had been watching the house? Why?

Needing to establish his cover sooner rather than later, Tyler stepped out from behind the door. The man standing on the other side of the door was average in height and build with blond hair. He wore corduroy pants and a thick jean jacket over a black turtleneck and he leaned heavily on a cane.

Horrible scars twisted the flesh of his hands and one side of his face. Empathy crimped Tyler’s gut. He’d read in the dossier about the tragedy the man had suffered, but seeing the evidence... Tyler could only imagine the agony Rob had endured, both physically and emotionally. Enough to need illegal drugs to dull the pain?

“Robbie!” Colin reentered the kitchen at a run and charged at them. Afraid the boy would bowl Rob over—he appeared unsteady on his cane—Tyler snagged Colin with one arm and lifted him to settle him on his hip. Glancing over his shoulder, Tyler saw Nathanial slip out the front door on Blake’s heels.

“Mr. Tyler, this is Mr. Robbie. He takes care of the Christmas Village.” Colin patted Tyler’s chest, having no idea of the turmoil he was causing inside Tyler. Holding the boy in his arms as if he were the child’s parent made Tyler’s heart ache in ways he’d never experienced. “Mr. Tyler’s a friend of—”

“Mine,” Heather interjected, cutting off her son’s words. “My new business partner, to be exact.”

Appreciating Heather’s quick thinking, Tyler held out his hand to the other man. “Hello, Rob. I’m Tyler.”

The man’s shrewd gaze bounced between Tyler and Heather and back again. After a long moment, Rob grasped Tyler’s hand. “Tyler, nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“Partner?” Rob released Tyler’s hand to stare at Heather.

A slight grimace pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Uh, yes.”

They hadn’t had time to come up with a proper explanation, so Tyler had to wing it. “I’m here to help Heather at this difficult time. More in a business advisory capacity than an operational partner.”

“Ah.” Obviously troubled, Rob slanted one brow upward at Heather. “I’m glad to see you’re all right. Since you have company, I’ll make myself scarce. When you’re ready, I’ll be in the village.”

“Me, too!” Colin cried, launching himself toward Rob. Tyler held on fast.

“We will go to the village after you’re dressed.” Heather lifted Colin out of Tyler’s arms and set the boy’s feet on the floor. As soon as he touched down, he darted off, running through the kitchen. The echo of his feet pounding up the stairs rang through the house.

Rob’s deep chuckle drew Tyler’s attention.

“That child never walks. He always runs.” Rob shifted on his cane with a wince.

“So I’ve noticed,” Tyler confessed.

“We’ll come help in the village a little later,” Heather told Rob.

He nodded and turned to leave, but he drew up short at the sight of Blake and Nathanial standing side by side at the end of the walkway.

Tyler had to admit they made a daunting pair. Big and brawny, the two men blocked the path. Tyler cut Heather a pointed look.

Understanding widened her eyes, and she nodded. “I forgot to mention,” she said, drawing Rob’s attention back to her. “I hired two more hands since we’re short-staffed.” She motioned to the two men. “This is Blake and Nathanial.”

Nathanial stepped forward and gave Rob a charming smile. “Hello. I’m Nathanial. It’s nice to be working with you.”

Rob shook his hand without comment.

Blake remained stoic as he shook Rob’s hand. “Blake.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Rob murmured.

“Rob, would you show the men to the empty cabin?” Heather asked. “And then introduce them to Don.” To Tyler she said, “He’s our unofficial foreman now that Seth is gone.” Her voice broke as she said her brother’s name. Tyler felt the stab of her grief like a sharp-tipped knife to the chest.

Rob nodded. “Of course. This way.” He hobbled away from the house.

Blake saluted Tyler. He inclined his head, acknowledging the agent’s communication. Their undercover operation was under way.

Shutting the door, Tyler said, “I’ll join the guys later.”

“The cabin’s barely big enough for two,” she said. “I was thinking you’d be more comfortable in the carriage house. It’s where we keep the sleigh. There’s an upstairs apartment with running water and a kitchenette.”

He’d seen the detached garage last night. Staying there would allow him to be close enough to quickly reach her and Colin if they needed him. “That would work.”

Colin rushed back to the kitchen and skidded to a stop beside Tyler. “Where’s Rob?”

Colin had pulled on a pair of sweatpants that were inside out and backward with the tag sticking out like a flag. He’d missed a few buttons on the plaid flannel shirt, no doubt in too much of a hurry to be careful. Tyler pressed his lips together to keep from smiling.

Heather bent down to talk to him. “He’s showing Blake and Nathanial to their cabin.”

“But we were going to decorate and change the lightbulbs at the village,” Colin complained.

“And we will. Later.” Heather rose and began clearing the table. She moved with fluid grace like a dancer. Tyler wondered if she had some training. She carried herself with an elegance that fascinated him.

Colin tugged on Tyler’s hand, drawing his attention away from Heather.

“Are you coming to the village with us?” Colin craned his neck to look up at Tyler.

Swallowing back the tenderness swamping him at having the boy’s hand clutching his, Tyler said, “We should help your mother clean up.”

“Okay.” Colin let go of his hand to grab a plate and then danced away from the dining table.

“Carefully,” Heather called just as the clatter of the plate hitting the sink mocked her warning. She cringed.

“Sorry.” Colin raced back to Tyler’s side. “I cleaned up. Can we go now? I want to help decorate.”

“There’s more to do, honey,” Heather said to Colin.

Needing to appease his curiosity, Tyler finally asked, “What’s the Christmas Village?”

Heather smiled at Tyler as she washed a dish. “Exactly what it sounds like. We have a gift shop, bakery, a toy shop, a model train depot and, of course, Santa’s house.”

“And the nativity! With baby Jesus and real animals,” Colin piped up as he stood on a chair to reach the empty bacon plate.

Tyler rushed to steady the chair before it tipped over. “Well, I definitely want to see this place.”

There was a lot about this farm he couldn’t wait to see. But, he reminded himself not for the first time, he wasn’t here on a social visit. He needed to stay focused on the objective. Protect Heather and her son while finding Seth’s killer and stopping the drug flow in and out of the farm. And that big Christmas Village meant lots of places to hide a journal.

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