Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Dana Mentink (novels to improve english txt) 📗

the CBSA and taken the Whitehorse assignment. I got it easily since not too many of the BSOs wanted to move here.”

“What’s a BSO?” Gabe asked.

Layke turned from the front seat to see how she’d respond.

Hannah straightened the boy’s jacket and pinched his nose.

It was obvious how much she loved kids.

Something they didn’t have in common.

“It’s a border services officer,” she said. “That’s what I am.”

“What do you do?”

“I watch people come across the border and make sure they don’t bring anything into Canada they shouldn’t.”

“Like me,” he said in a soft voice.

What? Layke stole a quick glance. Gabe lowered his head. “What do you mean, sport? I thought you lived at the group home near here.”

“I do, but we were in Alaska for our retreat.”

Layke eyed Hannah. Her taut expression revealed her anger.

The boys had been kidnapped and smuggled across her border. On her watch.

Doyle stiffened in the driver’s seat. “Gabe, do you remember how they got you back into Canada?”

Layke could only guess the horror this young boy and the others went through. He took a breath to repress the anger bubbling inside.

“It was black, but I remember them putting us in boxes.”

“Did they lift the boxes into a truck?” Hannah asked.

“Yes and it was stinky.”

“Gabe, can you remember if the truck was big and noisy? Do you know what a transport truck is?” Layke asked.

“It stunk like the ocean.”

A fish truck. Their first lead.

But how many fishing companies were there in the Yukon-Alaskan area?

They had to narrow it down.

And fast.

* * *

Hannah squeezed Gabe’s shoulder. He was a smart boy to remember these details and give them their first hint of how the assailants smuggled the children across the border. She knew some of the local fisherman. It was a popular sport here in the wintertime. People travelled far to come ice fishing. She glanced out the window, mesmerized by the snow-covered trees as Doyle took the back way through their seventy-something-resident small community. She’d love to take time to play in the snow with Gabe and Layke. Build a snowman, have a snowball fight. Maybe even build a fort. However, their perilous situation prevented that from happening. It appeared they’d escaped their captors once again, but it was only by the grace of God.

Doyle pulled up to the small two-bedroom bungalow she rented. The cozy one-level timber home had ample room to make her comfortable and allowed her to host her church group every other week. She’d become attached to the sweet people of this town.

“Thanks, Doyle.” She grabbed the handle.

“Wait.” Layke opened his door. “I need to ensure it’s safe. Give me your keys.”

She fished them out of her parka and handed them to him.

“You have an alarm set?” Layke asked.

She tilted her head. “In Beaver Creek? No need for it. Some residents don’t even lock their doors.”

“Do you?”

“Of course. You can’t take the Ontario city girl out of me. I saw too much growing up not to lock my doors.”

“Good. Be right back.” He climbed from the vehicle and trudged through the deep snow to the front door, scanning the area. He opened her door and stepped inside.

“Why is he going in without us?” Gabe asked.

“Just to make sure no one is in there.”

“You mean the man with the spiked hair?”

Doyle reached around and squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “Yes, and any of his men.”

Couple minutes later, Layke reappeared and waved them in.

She unfastened Gabe’s seat belt. “Let’s go. Hurry.” She turned back to Doyle. “Thanks for driving us. Can you look into local fish trucks and get back to me?”

“Will do. You can’t stay here. Where will you go?”

“Not sure yet.”

“Let me know. Stay safe, little one.”

They stepped out of the vehicle and Doyle drove off.

“Yoo-hoo! Miss Hannah!”

Hannah turned to find her neighbor, Birdie Wood, waving her newspaper in the air and making her way toward them. Great. What did she want? Even in the darkness, this woman didn’t miss a thing. She was sweet but could be somewhat of a busybody. She knew everyone’s business in the entire town. She was often seen camping out at the local restaurant nursing an endless cup of coffee while she talked to the residents and any tourists passing through.

“Hi, Birdie. How are you?’

Her long flannel nightie peeked out from under her parka. “Where have you been, missy?” She eyed Gabe. “And who’s this young man?”

“Birdie, I’ve been working.” She refrained from sharing further details as she didn’t need the entire community knowing their plight. “This is Gabe. Gabe, this is Miss Wood.”

Gabe puckered his face. “Why are you wearing your pajamas?”

“It’s early. Came out to get my newspaper and saw you coming.”

Hannah’s front door opened and Layke stepped onto her tiny porch. “Hannah, you need to come inside. Now.”

Right. She couldn’t linger in the open.

Birdie put her hands on her hips. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“No. This is Constable Layke Jackson. Layke, this is my neighbor, Birdie.”

“Hi there. Sorry to interrupt, but we have some business to attend to and must get going.”

Birdie cupped her hand on her mouth as if telling Hannah a secret. “Yippie doodle! He’s handsome. I think you should date him.” She said it loud enough for Layke to hear.

He smirked.

Gabe giggled.

Hannah cleared her throat. “You need to turn up your hearing aid, Birdie. We gotta run.” She grabbed Gabe’s hand and headed toward the door.

“Tootles, everyone. Chat later.” Birdie waved and ran back into her house.

Hannah and Gabe followed Layke inside the bungalow. The cheerful open concept of the living room and kitchen usually calmed her after a long shift, but not today, with a gang hot on their heels. They needed to get in and out quickly.

“I see your Jeep out back. Why didn’t you take it to work yesterday?” Layke stood watch at the front window.

“Doyle picked me up.”

He turned. “Does he normally?”

“Sometimes when we’re on shift together. He tends to baby me, and when he heard the storm was coming, he offered to drive.” She rummaged through her kitchen