Covert Christmas by Marilyn Pappano

perfect job for Cam. He was honest and strong, and truly cared for people’s welfare—though she also knew his long-term goals were more political. Cam’s dream as a boy had been someday running for the United States Senate like his father, Wild Bill Farrell.
    A senate seat had been his father’s dream for Cam, too. And was the whole reason why she and Cam weren’t still together today.
    As usual, a ten-year-old ache came back to drive a stake into her heart whenever she thought back to their breakup and his parents’ role in it. Tara forced a deep breath of air into her lungs and pushed away the painful memories. She wasn’t going to a sweethearts reunion and needed to remember that. No, this was a life or death mission. When she’d turned off the highway and headed for Cam’s, she had committed. Now she had no other choice.
    Besides, the last thing she’d heard of Cam was when his parents had been killed in a private airplane crash in the mountains. At that time, nearly five years ago, the papers stated that Cam was married and his wife was expecting a child. Tara had tried then to push him out of her mind for good. But she’d been trying unsuccessfully to do just that for the last ten years with little luck.
    The only thing saving her sanity was her work. With other things to worry about, she didn’t think of her lost lover every minute.
    But today she desperately needed help from somewhere. And Cam was the closest lawman she dared trust.
    She sure hoped his family still lived on this mountain and that they hadn’t gone away for the holidays. With the reminder of the time of year, Tara thought back to the many wonderful Christmases they’d spent with Cam’s grandparents up on this mountain. The Farrell family home had always been filled with music and laughter and warmth. So unlike her own desolate and lonely home—at any time of year. A loud ping hitting the trunk of her car snapped Tara out of her reverie. She glanced in the mirror and nearly peed her pants.
    That was the sound of a bullet! Now that they’d driven off the main highway and into this isolated country, the hitman was taking his chances. Even through the falling snow she saw his gun arm hanging out the window with the barrel pointed directly at her car.
    She stepped down hard on the gas as her entire back window exploded in a shower of breaking glass. Shrieking in terror, she pushed even harder on the gas and jerked against the wheel without thinking.
    She only knew that she had to get away.
    Her tires began to slip and the car spun sideways, crashing off the roadway and into blowing snow and trees. Everything around her was white for a moment. But the next thing she knew, a forest of trees loomed directly ahead. She tried steering, but it was a lost cause.
    Â 
    Still high on the mountain, but now on the two-lane public road, Cam felt more in control.
    â€œDaddy, look! There’s my Christmas angel! Stop!”
    â€œChloe, please. I can’t stop here. There’s a car coming around the bend. See the headlights?”
    â€œBut she’s in trouble, Daddy. We need to help her.”
    Cam seldom indulged his child in her many fantasies the way her grandmother did, but this time the tone of her voice was urgent. Still, as narrow as the road was and as dangerous the icy patches, it was impossible to stop. He hoped the other driver was going slow enough to avoid a collision.
    â€œYou must’ve fallen asleep and dreamed the angel, Chloe. You know angels aren’t real. There’s nothing there. Daddy has to pay attention to the road now. Please calm down.”
    â€œBut, Daddy…”
    â€œNot now, Chloe.”
    The other car kicked up a cloud of snow as it sped by, going way too fast for the conditions. It just missed slamming into the side of his SUV but the driver never slowed for a moment. Cam didn’t get a good look at the driver but he knew none of his