Yuletide Defender by Sandra Robbins Page A

smiled and concentrated on her driving. Matt didn’t speak again until they arrived at the police station. When she stopped, he climbed from the car and bent over to peer inside at her. “Thanks for driving. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    â€œThat sounds good.”
    Rachel watched Matt disappear around the corner of the building before she pulled away from the curb and drove toward home. Her thoughts drifted to the Santa Claus who’d stolen her purse. So far there had been no other victims of a rogue Santa in Lake City. Even though she thought it unlikely,she couldn’t help but wonder if the incident had something to do with her stories about the gangs.
    Goose bumps raced up her arms at a sudden thought. Whoever took her purse now knew where she lived from the information on her driver’s license. Could it be possible that the Santa was the vigilante? If so, maybe she needed to take Matt’s concerns more seriously.
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    Matt pulled into his assigned parking space at the police station and turned off the ignition. His cell phone lay on the seat next to him and he stared at it, unsure of what to do. He remembered the flash of fear he’d seen in Rachel’s eyes the night before when he grasped her wrist. At that moment, a protective feeling had swept through him and he had wanted to tell her she could depend on him to take care of her. Instead he’d masked his feelings as he always did.
    Now, in the light of a new day, he wanted to hear her voice. He needed to make sure she was all right after her meeting last night, but he hesitated. The thing he’d cautioned himself about was happening—he was becoming too interested in Rachel.
    He needed to slow down. He still knew very little about Rachel. She didn’t give the impression of a woman whose head could be swayed by wealth, but she had made that statement the night before that had sent warnings flashing in his mind.
    A job that pays me a lot is important to me, she’d said.
    Perhaps she was like other women he’d dated, only interested in money. If that was the case, the sooner he found out the better off he’d be. His lips thinned into a straight line and he reached for the cell phone.
    She answered on the first ring. “Good morning, Matt.”
    His breath caught in his throat at the sultry tone of her voice. “How did you know it was me?”
    Rachel laughed and he thought of how her eyes crinkledat the corners. He wished he could see what she looked like at that moment. “I’m not psychic. Caller ID told me.”
    He chuckled. “Of course. I just called to see how you’re doing this morning.”
    â€œI’m fine. In fact, I was just thinking about how you scared me when you grabbed my arm last night. I thought the source had followed me back to my car.”
    â€œYou should have seen your face. But I really didn’t mean to scare you. I was afraid something had happened.”
    â€œWell, I’m fine this morning. I’ve been thinking about what he told me and I’m looking forward to tonight.”
    Matt let out a long breath. “Don’t get your hopes up, Rachel. As far as we know, this meeting between the Rangers and the Vipers may not tell us anything. It may be the beginning of a truce between the groups.”
    â€œIf my source is right and there is a vigilante, maybe they can come to some kind of understanding. I’d sure like to see the crime rate go down.”
    â€œThat’s what I’ve been hoping ever since I became a policeman.”
    â€œThen maybe we’ll see something positive happen at Pepper’s Bar tonight.”
    â€œMaybe so. I’ll pick you up at your apartment about ten o’clock. That should give us time to get in position. I’ll be in my undercover car at the front entrance.”
    â€œI’ll see you then. Bye.”
    The call disconnected and Matt stared at the phone in his hand. Why