Page 10 of Asher's Assignment
When the movie finished a little over an hour later, Esther shut off the TV, then picked up the laptop and carried it with her as she went to the kitchen to put her dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
“I liked that one,” Edie said, doing the same thing.
“Me too. So, what are we watching next week? It’s your turn to pick?”
Edie sighed. “I was going to say an action flick, but now I’m running that actor’s film list through my head. You know, he was in a TV series a few years back. About cops. We could watch that. I hear it was funny.”
“Sure.” Esther set the computer down on the counter next to the sink. “I like—” She broke off and leaned closer to the window, peering out at the darkened street, as a hooded figure under the streetlight caught her eye.
“Essy? Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. There’s a man on the sidewalk. Just standing there.”
“Is he watching you?”
“I can’t tell.” Sweat dampened Esther’s palms. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but he was facing her house. “His face is hidden by a hood.”
“Let me see.”
Esther picked up the laptop and clicked the button to switch to the front-facing camera. Edie leaned closer to the screen.
“What’s he wearing? A hoodie?”
“Yes.” Esther’s heart rate quickened. He was still there. Just standing and staring.
“Close the blinds and call the police.”
“What?” She reached for the stick to close the blinds. “Why should I call the police? He hasn’t done anything.”
“He’s a peeping tom. You don’t want him to think it’s okay to keep hanging around. Call the cops, Essy.”
With a huff, Esther set the computer down. “Fine.” She pushed away from the counter to go get her phone.
“Turn me around so I can see you again.”
Backtracking, she clicked the button to return to the other camera. “I have to get my phone.” She spun away. “I still think you’re being a bit ridiculous. He’s not even on my property. The cops are going to laugh at me.”
“You can still call and report a prowler. Give a description. They can keep an eye out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“When did you turn into such a worrywart?” she called as she left the kitchen.
“You’re my little sister. I always worry about you,” Edie yelled back.
Esther sighed as she picked up her phone. Jordan wasn’t the only one who would have his hands full during Edie’s pregnancy. Her sister was a doer by nature, but she rarely worried. It was probably driving her up the wall that she couldn’t be here to charge outside and confront the man. Essy wasn’t defenseless. She’d bought pepper spray yesterday, and she had some rudimentary self-defense skills—something their dad had insisted both girls learn as teenagers. But she wasn’t the fighter Edie was. And she didn’t like confrontation. She preferred to either let others handle things or to let the other person cool off and put some distance between them for a bit. In this situation, she’d much prefer to just shut her blinds and forget the man was out there.
A sharp knock sounded on her door.
“What was that?” Edie yelled from the kitchen.
Esther froze. Why would someone knock on her door at this hour? It was almost ten o’clock.
She forced her feet to work and went back to the kitchen.
“Essy, what was that noise?”
“Someone knocked on the front door.”
“Is that guy still lurking outside your window?”
