The Bell of Christmas Eve

Part 2: The Man Behind the Photograph

Gabriel stared at the photograph in his hand.

The man standing beside Hannah was unmistakable.

Richard Vance.

His father’s former business partner. His mentor. The man who had helped Gabriel build Mercer Holdings and had stood beside him at Hannah’s funeral—even though there had never been a body to bury.

For seven years, Richard had pretended to help him search for his sister.

Gabriel slowly folded the photograph.

“Lucy, sweetheart, I need you to tell me something. Have you ever seen this man?”

Lucy studied the picture.

Her little face suddenly turned pale.

“He’s the bad man.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened.

“What do you mean?”

“Mommy used to hide whenever he came near our house. Nana Ruth told me never to open the door for him.”

Gabriel felt something cold settle in his chest.

“Did he hurt your mother?”

Lucy nodded slowly.

“One night, Mommy came home crying. She had blood on her forehead. She told me we had to leave before the bad man found us.”

Gabriel closed his eyes.

Seven years.

Seven years of searching while Hannah had been living in fear.

“Where did you and your mother live?”

“In a little blue house near the mountains. Nana Ruth took care of us.”

“Was your mother sick?”

Lucy nodded.

“She got sick last winter. Before she died, she told me to find you. She said you would keep me safe.”

Gabriel looked at the child sitting beside him.

His niece.

His only family.

He removed his expensive black coat and wrapped it around her small shoulders.

“Lucy, listen to me. You’re not going back to that temporary home tonight. You’re coming with me.”

Her eyes widened.

“Will you send me away tomorrow?”

The question nearly broke him.

“No.”

“Even if I make mistakes?”

Gabriel swallowed hard.

“Even then.”

Lucy looked down at the brass bell in her hand.

“Mommy said you might be angry because she disappeared.”

Gabriel shook his head.

“I’m not angry with her, sweetheart. I’m angry that I wasn’t there.”

He picked her up and carried her toward his waiting car.

But before he reached it, Cole approached with a phone in his hand.

“Boss, we have a problem.”

Gabriel looked at him.

“What?”

“Richard Vance just called. He knows you’ve found the girl.”

Gabriel’s expression hardened.

“How?”

Cole hesitated.

“Someone sent him a photograph of you and Lucy outside the cathedral.”

Gabriel looked toward the street.

Across the road, a black SUV was parked beneath a streetlamp.

Its headlights suddenly switched on.

“Get her inside,” Gabriel ordered.

His security team moved immediately.

As the SUV sped away, Gabriel’s phone rang.

Richard’s name appeared on the screen.

Gabriel answered.

“Where is the little girl?” Richard asked casually.

Gabriel stared at the disappearing vehicle.

“Why don’t you tell me where my sister is?”

Silence.

Then Richard laughed softly.

“Gabriel, some ghosts should remain buried.”

Gabriel ended the call.

He looked down at Lucy, who was clutching his coat.

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“Uncle Gabriel?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can we still exchange Christmas presents?”

For the first time that night, Gabriel smiled.

“Of course.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“And I promise you, this will be the best Christmas you’ve ever had.”

But he had no idea that the greatest Christmas gift was still waiting inside Hannah’s letter.