A Christmas Miracle in Pajaro Bay (Pajaro Bay Series Book 6) Read Online Free Page B

Anselm and the sexton headed back to the mission, and Matt, Lori, and George took the gravel path through the cemetery up to the church parking lot.
    "So this is the little one," George said, peering down at the sleeping baby.
    "She's heavy," Lori said. "I had no idea how tired your arms get holding a baby."
    George smiled. "But you wouldn't give it up for anything."
    Lori frowned, because of course she would be giving up this little person with no name soon. The child wasn't theirs. She was in some strange legal limbo, born somewhere at sea between two countries, her parents dead, her life threatened.
    "We have to find her family, but we don't even know Inez's last name."
    "Suarez," George said flatly. "Her last name was Suarez."
    They were at the car. The rain was still pouring down, but George just stood there in his expensive gray suit, with water droplets in his short-cropped, black curls and rivulets running down his bronze face. He smiled gently at Lori.
    "Don't do that," Matt said. "Don't let Lori think this is going to have a happy ending. You know the law better than anyone, George. You said there was a grandfather. He gets custody."
    George touched the baby's cheek with one finger. "The grandfather sold Inez to the cartel when she was fifteen years old."
    Lori cupped the infant's head in her hand. "Matt! We can't send her back! We can't!"
    Matt looked at George. "If we fight it in court, the cartel will learn what happened. How could we possibly keep her safe?" He put his arm protectively around Lori and the baby.
    George reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a manila envelope.
    He took the umbrella from Matt and held it over them while Matt tore the envelope open and pulled out the papers inside.
    "But—" Matt shook his head. "You can't just make a baby disappear...."
    "No. I can't do that." George grinned. "But the U.S. Marshalls can."
    "But how—?"
    George handed the umbrella back to Matt. "I told our old boss at the Project that you didn't remember the layout of the tunnels in that compound."
    "I would never withhold information like that!"
    "Of course you wouldn't. But I would." He kissed Lori on the cheek. "Merry Christmas."
    He dashed to his rental car, got in, and was gone.
    Matt and Lori stood there in the rain. The baby slept on, oblivious.
    "What happened?" Lori finally asked when Matt said nothing.
    Matt held up the papers. "It's a birth certificate. Social Security number. Everything a newborn needs to start her life in America."
    "I don't understand. How is that even possible?"
    Matt led her around to the passenger side of the sedan. He opened the back door and she put the baby into the car seat Dr. Lil had lent them.
    "The U.S. Marshalls are in charge of the witness protection program," he said while she buckled the baby into the seat. "They gave her a new identity."
    "But she's not a witness."
    "According to these papers, she's a witness to the murder of Inez Suarez."
    Then he did something totally unexpected. He dropped the umbrella and knelt down on the pavement next to the open car door.
    He bent his head and cried. "She's safe," he whispered. "And she's ours."
    Lori fell to her knees next to him. She was getting soaked but she didn't care. They both knelt there and looked at this tiny person.
    "I saw things when I was under, Lori," Matt said softly. "I don't talk about it. I saw what happened to kids. To girls. Inez was a prostitute. The baby's father could have been one of hundreds of horrible men. And Ricky, he grew up in the gangs. They both knew what would happen to their baby. They sacrificed their lives to get her to us. To give her a chance."
    "Oh, Matt! The papers are getting wet!" She took them from him and laid them on the seat next to the baby.
    She saw the name on the birth certificate. "Kai Milagra DiPietro," she whispered. "Do you know what it means?"
    Matt stood up and helped her to her feet. He opened the front door and helped her in.
    Lori was muddy and soaking wet, but