Holiday Havoc by Terri Reed

back.”
    â€œI’m not going to put your life at risk,” Jarvis said. “If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll move you. But I’m not going to allow you to do something so dangerous.”
    â€œIt’s not really a matter of you allowing me,” she said, her tone full of determination. “But you can help me. Both of you. I need to take my life back.” She met Sean’s gaze. “I’ve learned I’m more capable than I thought I was. And God willing, we’ll take down Posar.”
    Horrified, Sean stared. “It’s not a matter of your capabilities. We’re talking about using you as bait. No way!”
    She stepped to him and took his hands in hers. “I have to take control of my life. As long as I’m hiding, looking over my shoulder, wondering when he’s going to strike, he’s won.”
    The truth of her words were like a knife to Sean’s chest. And yet, if something happened to her…he didn’t think he could survive it.
    He’d just have to make sure nothing happened to her.
    Â 
    â€œThe plan is simple, really,” Lauren muttered under her breath as she ducked into a toy store to get out of the drizzling rain.
    This morning when Jarvis had said those words as he had explained the plan, she’d agreed, but now, not so much.
    After spending time hobbling around town, making herself as visible as possible, Lauren would seemingly move back to her cottage. She would wear a wire all the time and have an undercover police officer shadowingher. Jarvis and several other officers, including a female officer who would pose as Lauren, would hide out in her cottage, so when she arrived there, she could be spirited back to the relative safety of the bed-and-breakfast.
    Unfortunately, the wire taped to her chest and attached to a two-by-two square transmitter at her waistband itched, the rain wouldn’t let up and Lauren’s ankle ached. She hadn’t realized how much she’d been babying her foot until she’d spent several hours using only the crutch to support herself on the concrete and wood slated sidewalks of Cannon Beach. Even ducking into stores for some much-needed breaks from the rain and some Christmas shopping did little to alleviate the pain and fatigue, not to mention the stress of knowing that Posar was out there. Hopefully, watching her.
    Her colorful sweat suit topped with a bright yellow rain slicker were hard to miss.
    So here she was, pretending to be interested in a locally crafted toy when all she wanted to do was lie down in a hot bath and soak away the stress of the past few days. But that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
    With a resigned sigh, she made her way back to the boardwalk, awkwardly clutching the bags of her day’s Christmas gift purchases and heading toward the south end of Cannon Beach’s main street.
    It was late in the afternoon when Sean picked her up in his truck in front of Cannon Beach Playhouse. Once she hit the seat, exhaustion settled in. She leaned back and closed her eyes for the short drive to her cottage.
    Sean helped her to the front door. “I’ll be waiting for you in the truck.”
    The arrangement was for Sean to wait on the streetbehind her house. An officer would escort Lauren out her back door, across both her backyard and the neighbor’s and around to the street with Sean’s waiting truck. Then he’d whisk her to safety.
    With a hand on his arm she stopped Sean from walking away. “Thank you for everything.”
    â€œYou don’t need to thank me. I’m glad to help.”
    â€œAnd you have,” she stated. Her gaze caressed his handsome face. “You’ve helped me in so many ways. You’ve given me the strength to face my fear of painting again. Helped me find the courage to go through with this plan. But more importantly, you helped me to fully accept God back into my life.”
    With a gentle