Quietly, Blake moved toward the dog, then bent down and whispered, "What is it, Hunter?"

Suddenly, Billy Collins rounded the corner and bolted down the hallway until he came to a stop and wedged himself between the door and the dog.

"Bad dog," he screamed at Hunter. "Bad dog, go away!"

Hunter ignored the boy's pleas and remained frozen in his alert position.

Losing the fear he had of the dog just moments before in the kitchen, Billy pushed at Hunter, crying out, "Go away! Go away!"

At that moment, Billy's parents reached them. Tom grabbed his son's arm and said, "Billy Collins. Stop it. What's gotten into you?"

Billy burst into loud, hysterical tears, and struggled to get out of his father's grip. "Daddy, make the bad dog leave. Make him leave."

Blake straightened, looking directly into the eyes of the confused father, and asked, "Where does this door lead?"

"It goes to the stairs that lead to our attic," answered Tom.

"Nooooooo," screamed Billy, tears flowing from his eyes and down his face. "You can't go up there."

Unmoved by his sobs, Blake bent down to the boy's eye level and asked, "Who's in the attic, Billy? Who are you hiding?"

Panic-stricken, Billy implored Blake, "If you're really Shawn's friend like you said you were, you'd take this dog and go away. Please, just leave him alone."

Cheryl's hands went to her face as she gasped. "Oh, Billy. What have you done?"

Remembering he didn't have a warrant, Blake realized he couldn't search the Collins' home without their permission. "Tom, may I go up to your attic?"

Tom picked up his still-hysterical son, and said, "Yes. Do it."

The second Blake opened the attic door and switched on the light, Hunter raced through the door and up the stairs. The first thing Blake saw when he reached the top was the pup tent that sat by a round window. There were used paper plates and cups littering the floor around it, along with some green plastic Army men and wooden blocks. He crept to the tent to lift the closed flap, but there was no little boy inside.

Like most attics, this one was filled with a sea of storage boxes of various sizes. If Shawn were up here, as he strongly suspected, Hunter would find him. So he stood, looking in various directions until he saw the big dog, tail wagging frantically as he stood beside a wall of boxes at the other end of the attic.

Carefully avoiding weak or loose floor boards, Blake moved toward Hunter and the boxes. He stroked Hunter's head with fondness and appreciation, and gave him Frankie's unspoken signal to sit and stay. If the person behind the boxes was the one he thought was back there, the big dog would have his undying grat.i.tude.

Blake moved one box and then another until he came to a large moving box braced on its side. As he bent before it, he could see the little boy who had stolen his heart long ago.

Shawn was trembling so hard the box in which he was hiding was shaking. "No, Detective Blake, I won't go with you! No, you can't make me go back there."

"Shawn, you're safe with me. I promise," Blake said in a soft voice.

"You can't promise," Shawn sobbed, tears filling his eyes. "You work for the sheriff's office and you have to make me go home."

"No, you're wrong. I won't make you go back to your mother's house. I promise." He held his arms out. "Come to me, Shawn. Please."

"You don't know," he cried. "She made me promise not to tell anyone about how she beat me. If you take me back there, I know she'll kill me. I don't want to die, Detective Blake."

Blake shook his head with disbelief. His eyes filled with tears and sadness that this little boy had experienced such violence and felt such fear and despair. "Please trust me, Shawn. I won't take you back to your mother."

"Then are you taking me to those mean people my mommy told me about? The ones who hate little kids and beat them worse than she ever would?"

Christ, had Eve Isaac really told her little boy such a thing? What kind of a monster was she? He said a silent prayer that the right words would come.

"Shawn, remember when you chose me to be your mentor for the Buddy Program?"

Shawn nodded ever so slightly, his large eyes glued on Blake.

"Why did you choose me?" Blake asked. "There were a lot of officers in the Buddy Program, but out of all those men, you chose me. Why, Shawn?"

Shawn just stared for a moment, silently thinking of his response. Finally, he said, "Because you're my hero, and you made me feel safe."

Blinking back the emotions rushing through him, Blake cleared his throat and said, "Shawn, I'm asking you to trust me now. I promise not to take you home to your mother, and I would die before I'd let mean people get anywhere near you. Do you trust me?"

Shawn bit his lip, indecision racing across his face, then nodded his head and said, "I trust you."

"Thank you, Shawn," Blake said. "Now will you please crawl out of that box and let me hug you? It's been a long journey to find you, and I'm tired, and a hug from you is just about the best thing that could happen to me right now."

The little boy crawled from the depths of the box and held his arms out to Blake when he reached the opening. Blake swept him, weightless, into his arms, and held him snugly to his chest. He gently rocked Shawn back and forth, kissing the top of his head and a.s.suring him with whispers that he was going to be okay, that he was going to be loved and safe.

Cradling Shawn in his arms, Blake stood, preparing for the precarious walk across the attic floor to the door.

"Where are we going, Detective Blake?"

"I'm taking you home with me. Jennifer, Mrs. Stone, is waiting for us."

"Am I going to stay with you and Mrs. Stone?" Shawn asked. Fear mixed with hope, lacing his voice.

"Do you want to stay with us, Shawn?"

"Yes. I wish I could stay with you forever."

"Then that's where you'll stay," said Blake. "Forever and ever."

Downstairs, as Tom Collins apologized repeatedly, Cheryl Collins turned her house, including the attic, upside down to find Shawn's coat. Discovering it upstairs behind the pup tent, she rushed downstairs, handed it to Blake, then raced to her bedroom. When she returned, she held several blankets in her arms, as Blake helped Shawn into his coat. Billy handed Shawn a pair of his gloves, then ran his hand across Hunter's soft coat.

Outside, Blake carried Shawn to the ATV with Hunter close behind. He put both boy and dog in the back seat, and then used the blankets Cheryl gave him to wrap around the two to keep them warm for the drive ahead.

"Jennifer, please come away from that window and sit down," Megan urged. "You're supposed to be on bed-rest. Please get off your feet."

Jennifer sat back down on the sofa and crossed her arms protectively around herself. The sun was going down, and Blake still had not returned home. She stared at the fireplace, as her mother covered her with the quilt, and tucked it around her body.

Her dad came in from the kitchen and sat in an easy chair by the fireplace.

"Tim, you're going to ruin your appet.i.te before dinner," Megan chastised.

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you going to sit there with crumbs all over your mouth and on your shirt and tell me you weren't out in the kitchen munching on Christmas sugar cookies?"

"What cookies?"

Megan jumped from her seat, and before he knew what hit him, she was sitting on Tim's lap, sealing her lips on his in a kiss. "That's exactly what I thought. Christmas cookies crumbs," she said triumphantly.

Jennifer rolled her eyes and laughed at her parents. She'd thrown off the quilt, and was on her way to the window when she froze. Looking back at her parents, she asked, "Did you hear that?"

Megan shook her head.

Jennifer heard the sound again; this time it was louder. "Do you hear that? It sounds like a motor, and it's getting closer." She moved to the window in time to see a pair of headlights shining brightly in the driveway.

Tim moved behind her, his hands on her shoulders. "Those are ATV headlights. I think it's Blake." He hugged his daughter and prayed Blake was not alone. Grabbing his coat from the hall closet, he headed outside.

The snow was still coming down in lacy sheets of white, and Tim worked his way through the snow until he reached the ATV. Blake was bent over something in the back seat.

Seeing the Giant Schnauzer, Tim said, "Isn't that Frankie and Lane's dog, Hunter?" When Blake didn't respond, he asked. "Blake, do you need help?"

"Yes, I do." Blake answered, as he moved aside. If you wouldn't mind giving this little boy a ride to the house, I'll help Hunter make his way."

Tim blinked, his eyes filling with happy tears, as he looked down at his new grandson, snow-covered and wrapped in blankets. He looked toward the sky with a silent thank you for delivering man and boy home safely.

Tim picked up the little boy, hugging him close to his body as he kissed his forehead. "Welcome home, Shawn." With Shawn in his arms, he maneuvered around deep snowdrifts and waited for Blake and the black dog to reach him.

"So how did you meet up with Hunter?"

"He was lying on the Collin's front porch on Elm Street. Hunter had found Shawn, and he wasn't going to leave until the boy was rescued," said Blake. "And as soon as I can, I'm buying him the biggest box of dog biscuits I can find."

"h.e.l.l, I'm getting that dog a truckload!" Tim laughed, then said, "I bet Frankie and Lane are worried sick about him. That dog is never out of their sight. I'll call them. But there's something I need to do first."

Tim carried the little boy into the living room, winking at Megan as he pa.s.sed her. He set Shawn down next to Jennifer on the sofa, who peeled back the blankets, and helped Shawn get out of his wet coat. Then she wrapped her mother's quilt around him and pulled him into a warm hug as she planted tiny kisses all over his little face. "You're here, Shawn. You're really here."

Blake watched his wife holding Shawn as he got out of his damp snowsuit and boots. He handed his things to Megan, who took them to the laundry room to dry. Once Blake reached Jennifer, he pulled her into a kiss and then sat down on the other side of her, with one arm around her shoulders, his hand stroking Shawn's back affectionately.

Though he'd gotten a.s.surance from Blake, Shawn was still fearful and wanted to make sure it was really going to happen. Leaning his head back to gaze into her eyes, Shawn asked Jennifer, "Is it okay if I stay with you?"

Breaking into a wide, open smile, Jennifer kissed him on the cheek and answered, "Only if you stay forever."

Epiloguea"January 1.

Shawn stretched as he woke up in a bedroom filled with a soccer ball, small train, red fire truck with a fire station, Lego police station, and more than a dozen books. Ignoring them all, he grasped his new Spiderman, which Dad explained to Mom was an action figure and not a doll, and then padded down the hall.

Once Shawn reached their bedroom, he crept to the side of the bed and noted his new dad and mom were still asleep. He then tiptoed to the big rocking chair where he sat and gazed with wonder at the tiny baby kicking her legs beneath the pink blankets in the ba.s.sinet next to him. With his index finger outstretched, Shawn ever so slowly stroked the velvety soft skin of her arm, and then smiled with delight when her tiny hand clutched his finger and she cooed. She was named Mylee. Her middle name was Faith, because Mom said that faith was the only thing that got her through the days he was missing. She told him that faith would get them through all the days ahead.

He was a big brother now, which was a very important role, explained to him by both Jennifer and Detective Blakea"except Shawn didn't call them by those names anymore. Allowed to choose any names he wanted for them, he'd chosen Mom and Dad.

His best friend, Billy Collins, was coming over to play later, and Shawn couldn't wait to show him all the presents he'd found wrapped under Granddad Tim and Grammy Megan's Christmas tree. But most important, he wanted to tell him about his new Mom, Dad, Grammy, Granddad and baby sister.

Christmas Day had been the best ever. With the roads plowed, Aunt Frankie and Uncle Lane arrived, with Shawn's new cousin, Ashley. Hunter got lots of hugs and kisses from them. When Shawn told Ashley that Hunter had slept with him the night before, she said, "Hunter safe" and threw her arms around the big dog's neck. Once Mr. Michael, Ms. Anne, Michael Jr. and Melissa arrived, the house was booming with people.

Soon Grammy Megan called them to the dinner table, where there was more food than Shawn had ever seen. Once his Mom filled his plate, he got to sit at the special kid's table with Michael Jr., Melissa and Ashley. Hunter lay on the floor at Ashley's feet, and no one noticed the bits of turkey she was sneaking to him.

It was after dinner when things got really exciting, for when his Mom stood up, she groaned as she held tightly onto her chair and told his Dad it was time. Dad ran upstairs and came back holding a small suitcase, then he couldn't find his keys, so everyone, including the kids, searched high and low for them. At last, Uncle Lane found them behind some red flowers on a table near the front door.

After Dad tucked Mom in the car, he ran around to the driver seat and backed the car down the driveway. He was almost to the end of the drive when he stopped the vehicle, ran back to the house, picked up Shawn and kissed him on the cheek. Dad told him that he was going to stay the night with his new Grammy and Granddad and that everything was going to be all right. Shawn believed him about everything being okay, and not just about the overnight stay.

The next day, Dad and Mom brought home the best Christmas present Shawn could have ever asked fora"a baby sister.

Blake had taken Shawn to see a counselor, Ruby, who explained a lot of things that had been confusing. Shawn had worried that it was wrong for him to be happy when he'd never see his real mommy and daddy again. Ruby said that although it was sad that his mommy and daddy went to heaven, it was okay for him to be happy.

When Ruby asked Shawn where he wanted to live, his eyes filled with tears and an old terror gripped him. Was she going to send him to live with the mean people? He flew into his Dad's lap. Once he was safe, with his Dad's strong arms wound around him, Shawn said, "I'm living with my new Mom, Dad and little sister." In an authoritative voice, he added, "It's been decided; I'm staying with them forever."

Dear Reader: If you liked Deadly Holiday, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too, by recommending it to your friends, family and book clubs, by writing an honest, positive review on Amazon, Barnes and n.o.ble, Kobo, iTunes, Goodreads, Smashwords, etc.

If you do write a review, please send me an email at [email protected] I'd like to add you to my e-newsletter list so that you can get updates about upcoming releases first, be eligible for drawings for prizes, and get free ebook alerts.

Thank you.

Alexa Grace P.S. If you should find a mistake... I always strive to write the best book possible and use a team of beta readers as well as an editor prior to publication. But goofs slip through. If something slipped past us, please let me know by writing to me at Thank you.

Other Books by Alexa Grace From bestselling new author Alexa Grace, The Deadly Trilogy, three books with non-stop suspense and a healthy dose of toe-curling pa.s.sion will have you holding your breath from the first page to the last. You can find them at online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & n.o.ble, Kobo, iTunes, Diesel, Sony, Smashwords, and more.

Deadly Offerings - Book One - Anne Mason thinks she'll be safe living in the Midwest living on a wind farm left to her by her ex's mother. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are giftsa"for her! And how can she be falling in love with the hot attorney who represented her ex-husband in their divorce proceedings?

Deadly Deception - Book Two- Enter the disturbing world of illegal adoptions, baby trafficking and murder with new detective Lane Hansen and private investigator Frankie Douglas. Going undercover as husband and wife, Lane and Frankie struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional as their sizzling pa.s.sion threatens to burn out of control. Can they keep pa.s.sion in control long enough to take down two murderers?

Deadly Relations - Book Three - Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others. Love is the last thing on her mind, but will it find her after three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch? She vows to find the killera"or die trying.

Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set - With more than 600 five-star reviews, it's time for you to discover the three Deadly Trilogy books: Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations.

For more information, go to http://www.alexa-grace.net/.

Available in the spring 2013 Profile of Evil Book One of The Profile Trilogy Carly Stone is a brilliant FBI agent who's seen more than her share of evil. Leaving the agency, she becomes a consultant for Indiana County Sheriff Brody Chase. He needs her help to catch a savage killer who is luring teenage girls to their death in his community.

The two are determined to stop a dangerous predator before he takes another lifea"at any cost.

Excerpt from Profile of Evil He pulled up in front of a two-story gray house in a nice neighborhood with palm trees lining the streets. Flicking on the interior car light, he checked the address he'd been given. It was the correct address, so he parked his rental car in the driveway. There were lights on inside the house, which was encouraging, for he had a critical need to talk to the resident.