Christmas Under Fire. Michelle Karl

that surrounded the facility.

      Moments later, Cally grimaced at the heavy thud of her suitcase landing in the trunk. She pulled her gaze away from the trees and, out of habit, pressed her hand against the place her locket rested on her sternum. A gift from her uncle Zarek—the only relative who actually bothered to respect her boundaries and who hadn’t treated her as a pariah for marrying Esai—the locket held a precious photo inside of herself and her late husband, one of the few her mother hadn’t destroyed or deleted without permission after Esai’s passing. She couldn’t feel the locket through the numerous layers of heavy winter clothing, but knowing it was there brought her comfort. She closed her eyes for a moment to regather her bearings—and flinched as the patrol car door swung open with a creak.

      “Not exactly the warm Canadian welcome you should have received,” Officer Thrace said, slipping into the driver’s seat. “Ms. Roslin, I’m so sorry that your first moments here were not positive. I assure you that the RCMP will be doing everything we can to figure out who that man is and what he wants, and the airport will undoubtedly be doing a thorough review of their closing procedures. Leaving you inside unattended was unacceptable, and you may be able to file charges, should you so desire.”

      She sighed, trying to release some of the tension in her shoulders. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary, but I appreciate your concern. I’m just glad that we’re all right. Are you okay?”

      He twisted around in his seat to look at her. “I am. I have to call the incident in while we drive, but can you think of any reason why someone would go after you or your belongings? Does anyone know you’re here who might wish you harm?”

      That was the oddest and most incredulous notion so far. “No, I don’t think so. Honestly, Officer, only a couple people know I’m here... I’m actually trying to get away from most of my family, if you can believe it.” She chuckled without humor. “My friend Ellen knows I’m coming to visit, of course, but she’s engaged to an RCMP officer, so I really don’t think there’d be any connection that way.”

      “Ellen Biers, right? Her fiancé is my younger brother.”

      Well, that was news. “Really? Small world.”

      “Small town, more like. Look, if you can’t see a connection, I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s likely that you weren’t specifically targeted, but just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Considering you weren’t noticed and got left behind inside the airport, it’s entirely feasible that someone else could have hidden inside in order to commit a crime of opportunity. We’ve had some issues with theft and illegal weapons up north this year, so my gut reaction is that the individual was likely looking for something valuable to steal. He may have been trying to get a hold of you to snatch your purse or threaten you into handing over cash, valuables, the like. Trying to steal the suitcase seemed like a last-ditch effort from someone truly desperate—in need of money, trying to find something to steal and sell. Either way, like I said, it’s unacceptable, and on behalf of the RCMP and the nation of Canada, I can’t apologize enough.”

      If what had happened hadn’t been so serious, she might have actually laughed in that moment. The man was so sincere and so concerned she almost hated to burst his bubble. “On behalf of, uh...myself, I accept your apology, and remind you that I’m nobody special. I don’t need the nation of Canada’s apology, nice as that is. I’m literally no one of importance, even in my own country—especially in my own country, so I’m honestly still a little baffled as to why I’m receiving a personal escort at all.”

      Not that she was complaining. She was very glad he’d arrived when he did, and he cut a heroic, imposing figure in the shadowy light. She had a feeling that once they had better lighting, she might feel the same way about the rest of his features.

      And then she immediately felt guilty for thinking like that at all.

      Esai had been gone all of eighteen months. That was it, and yet some days it seemed as though she’d been alone for as long as she could remember. The car accident that had taken his life had happened so suddenly and so unexpectedly that some days the lack of closure brought tears to her eyes without warning. Other days, she accepted the events as God’s will. It was hard to balance the two, especially when the rest of her family continued to pelt her with their theories over what had happened in the accident, their opinions on Esai, and worst of all, their patronizing advice regarding Cally’s love life now that she was “free” of him. In the past six months alone, she’d been the victim of no less than two “accidental” blind dates and three “good-natured” interventions. Why couldn’t everyone just leave her be and accept that people processed grief in different ways and at their own pace?

      When, and if, she was ready to love again, she’d know. And not a moment sooner.

      Officer Thrace cleared his throat as he pulled the patrol car onto the road, and she tried to focus on the scenery outside the car window as he called in the incident. Thick flakes of soft snow fluttered past the glass and collected on the ground beside them as they drove.

      He chuckled a few minutes later. “First time seeing snow?”

      Heat rose to her cheeks. “No, but it’s been a very, very long time. Why do you ask?”

      “There’s wonder in your eyes. That twinkle is almost as bright as the snowflakes outside. Just wait until the snow accumulates even higher over the next few days—you’ll get the real northern Canadian experience. Might even get to see some snowmen in the yards if it’s the right kind of fresh snow, or join in on a snowball fight at one of the community events coming up.”

      “There are different kinds of snow?”

      He grinned, putting her at ease. “Just you wait. And for the record, it’s not that it’s necessarily about who you are that you’re getting a personal escort, more about where you’re from and where you’ve chosen to visit. Since you do have that Amar royal family connection on all your official documentation, plus this is a rather remote area and our countries have recently ratified a stronger trade agreement, the RCMP thought it would be wise to give you some, uh...”

      His voice trailed off, but she had a feeling she knew what he’d been about to say. “Special treatment?”

      “Well, yes.”

      “That’s very kind. But not necessary.” The window began to fog up next to her, and she rubbed it with her glove. “Though in retrospect, I do appreciate that you were scheduled to come to the airport. I’m scared to think what might have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

      He smiled at her through the rearview mirror. “I’d say that’s God’s timing, Ms. Roslin.”

      “Cally,” she said. “Please just call me Cally. I’m here to get away from being Ms. Roslin for a little while, if you don’t mind.”

      The conversation stalled as they drove, the snow falling thicker and faster on the dark road. Cally wondered how Officer Thrace could see anything as he navigated the route—the way the snow came at them, it looked like they were entering warp drive in a spaceship, like in one of those sci-fi movies Esai had loved so much. Her throat tightened at the thought.

      “How far is it to Fort Mason?” she asked to distract herself.

      “During the day and good weather, about thirty minutes. Right now, with the snow coming down the way it is...maybe another forty-five or so, hopefully less. RCMP patrol cars have high-quality snow tires on them. That sound you hear while we’re driving? Those are the chains the detachment has put on around this time of year so we can make it through big storms and deep ice freezes without too much trouble.”

      Snow tires? Chains? Cally wondered what she’d gotten herself into. On the other hand, she’d wanted to get away from her old life. So what better way than to dive into a completely opposite climate, too?

      The quiet in the car, save for the occasional chatter over the police radio, seemed to stretch thin. She didn’t want to interrupt the man while he drove, but at the same time, she still