The Last Noel by Heather Graham Page B

in her pocket. She pulled it out, thinking that it couldn’t hurt to see if she could get a signal.
    She swore silently at the no-signal message, then stared in disbelief when the phone flickered for a moment and went dead. As she stared at the traitorous cell, she heard the music stop and people start talking about going up to the attic.
    She scrambled to her feet, knowing that, whatever she was going to do, she had to move fast.
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    â€œReady?” Scooter asked David.
    â€œSure,” David said. “Frazier, let’s go get those boxes down.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Quintin said. “What else is up in that attic?”
    Skyler stopped playing and turned to answer him. “We don’t have a gun up there, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” she said flatly.
    Quintin actually grinned, shaking his head. “Bleeding-heart liberal, huh? Guns don’t kill, buddy. People kill,” he said.
    â€œThanks. I’ll remember that,” David told him.
    â€œYou don’t hunt, I take it?” Quintin said.
    â€œNo, I don’t hunt.”
    Quintin shrugged, as if David were only half a man.
    â€œSome men don’t need to hunt,” Skyler said, staring at Quintin. “They don’t need guns.”
    Quintin laughed. “Well, right now, I’ve got the gun, and that makes me the man to watch, doesn’t it?”
    â€œSkyler…” David said soothingly.
    â€œI’ve got the gun, and if I want ’em, I’ve got the cute little blonde, your wife and your sons,” Quintin said to David. “And that makes me feel very important.”
    â€œLet’s get the ornaments, Frazier,” David said tightly.
    â€œScooter, watch them,” Quintin warned.
    â€œQuit acting like I’m a damn idiot,” Scooter snapped.
    â€œYou’re not an idiot, you’re like a fucking little kid, wanting to decorate the Christmas tree,” Quintin retorted.
    â€œHey!” Craig spoke up. “Cut it out, you two. Quintin, the tree and the music are nice.”
    â€œWhy the hell not have Christmas?” Scooter demanded.
    Quintin narrowed his eyes. “Fine, let’s have Christmas.” He turned to David. “Just don’t do anything stupid up there and make me shoot your wife. Or even Blondie over there.”
    Brenda gasped.
    â€œOh, shut up,” Quintin commanded.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Skyler said, putting her arm around the girl as they sat on the bench.
    â€œI’m just going to get the ornaments,” David said. “That’s all.”
    Scooter had his gun out, and he used it to gesture toward the stairs. “I’ll be right behind you guys,” he said. His tone was pleasant and yet somehow disturbing.
    David headed for the stairs, walking heavily. If Kat was still in the house, listening, watching, she needed to be warned.
    Don’t do anything foolish, Kat, he prayed silently. You have to live.
    He heard his son behind him, and Scooter behind Frazier. When they reached the upstairs hall, he pulled down the ladder to the attic and started up.
    â€œNo tricks,” Scooter warned.
    â€œNo tricks,” he promised wearily.
    He couldn’t think of a trick that could save them. Not now. Not when Quintin was holding a gun on the rest of his family.
    A thought raced through his mind. What if they could disarm Scooter? At least Frazier might have a chance to live.
    And he would know his life had been at the cost of his family and the woman he loved.
    â€œDon’t get too close to your father, kid. Let him hand you the boxes,” Scooter said.
    â€œI have to stand at least on the second rung to reach,” Frazier told him.
    â€œYeah, yeah, all right. Hurry up,” Scooter said nervously.
    So Scooter was the nervous type, David thought. Maybe if they learned more about the three men, it could be useful.
    He grabbed one of the ornament boxes and turned to hand it to