Page 30 of This Christmas

Chapter Eight

Joe hadn’t been sleeping very much lately. Besides the nights that he’d sat outside the lighthouse, watching out for Peterson, he’d also spent late hours skimming over the court files and police reports.

The files had started stacking up on his laptop—financial records, background reports, and the growing list of people who’d had the misfortune of crossing paths with Ted Garrison. Every new discovery made the man look worse. Reckless. Entitled. Powerful. Influential. Dangerous.

Besides the lawsuits he’d filed against Ally, he’d filed two dozen more, against past employees, businesses he frequented, such as his old law firm, and even one against the cleaning agency that cleaned his home.

When his phone rang at 2:17 in the morning, he was already half awake. Seeing Ally’s name on the screen, he jolted the rest of the way awake.

“Ally?” He sat up fast, swinging his legs off the side of the hotel bed. “Is everything okay?”

Her voice trembled through the line. “Someone’s in the house,” she whispered.

Every muscle in his body went rigid. “Where are you?”

“In Charlotte’s room. I locked the door. The alarm’s going off downstairs, but, I can hear someone down there. They’re inside.”

He was already grabbing his jeans. “Stay quiet. Don’t hang up. Keep the bedroom door locked.” He jammed his phone between his shoulder and ear as he pulled on his shirt and snatched his keys from the dresser.

He ran down the hotel hallway barefoot, shoving his shoes on as he hit the elevator button. “I’m calling Aiden,” he told her. “Help’s on the way.”

“Please hurry,” she said.

He wasn’t aware of much on the drive, only the blur of empty streets and water that ran off the windshield. Aiden’s voice on the other line was clipped, alert. “I’ll send a car. Nick’s closer. We already got the security company’s alert.”

By the time Joe turned into the long driveway, Nick’s cruiser was already halfway up the drive. The patrol car’s red and blue flashing lights reflected against the front of the place.

Joe saw the black Mercedes parked crooked beside Ally’s car and knew exactly who it belonged to.

His gut twisted. “That Ted Garrison’s car, Ally’s ex,” he told Nick as they both climbed out. “He’s not supposed to be here.”

Nick’s jaw locked. “I figured when I saw the Mercedes.”

They moved together, both of their guns drawn. The alarm was still shrieking inside the house. His heart slammed as they reached the door, which was cracked open.

Nick pushed it the rest of the way open and yelled that he was police.

Ted Garrison stood just inside, pale and sweating, his eyes glassy. He looked around as if he was confused as to where he was.

“What the hell are you doing?” he slurred. “You scared me.” He held his hand over his heart and blinked a few times.

Nick put his gun away when he noticed the man was unarmed.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Nick said firmly.

“I got a text from Ally. She told me to come get her and Charlotte. My daughter is scared,” he almost shouted. Then he spotted him. “Of that man.” He pointed to him. Even in his obviously inebriated state, the man recognized him.

“The hell she did,” Joe growled, stepping forward.

Ted’s eyes narrowed at him.

Nick blocked him with an arm. “Mr. Garrison, you need to step outside.”

“I don’t have to go anywhere. My family is in here somewhere.” He shook his head.

“It’s not your place. This is my brother’s house,” came Ally’s voice, soft but steady. She was halfway down the stairs, clutching Charlotte to her chest. “We’re not your family. I did not text you. I don’t want you anywhere near us.”

Ted turned toward her, his expression darkening. “You’re confused. You always do this, Ally. You twist things around. You’re just playing another one of your games.” He turned to Nick. “She’s not right…” He tapped his head. “She has a history of⁠—”