Page 103 of Asher's Assignment
Stroud nodded. “I’ll check.” Turning, he looked at the volunteer who’d stayed close after knocking. “I know this room isn’t meant for this sort of thing, but they need to stay here.”
She held up her hands. “It’s fine. We have others. You do what you need to do, Detective.”
“Thank you.” With a nod, he slipped past her. “Ladies, follow me, please.”
“Call us if you find something,” Audra said. “We’ll do the same.”
Asher kept his eyes on the screen, typing away, but saw Edie nod out of the corner of his eye.
“We will,” she said.
Silence descended as everyone left. Edie shifted in her seat, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged on the chair.
“You okay?” He gave her a quick glance.
“Not really. But I’ll be fine. Just keep me busy.”
He understood how she felt. He was far from all right himself. If it weren’t for the work that needed to be done to catch Lennox, he’d probably be close to screaming and throwing things.
“Do your parents know about what happened?”
Silence met his question. He glanced over again to see her wringing her hands together, staring at them.
“You didn’t tell them? Edie…”
“I know, okay? I know I need to, but I—” She stopped and looked away. “I wanted to wait until she was out of surgery so I could tell them more. So maybe they could see her. Right now, they’d just come up and have to twiddle their thumbs like me.”
“Okay, I want you to think about something for a minute, all right?” Asher raised a finger, focusing an intense gaze on Edie.
“What?”
“Think about that baby you’re carrying.” He tipped his finger toward her middle. “If it were that child in the operating room, and you were the parent sitting at home oblivious, would you want to stay oblivious or would you want to know? Even if you couldn’t do anything. Would you want to know?”
Her jaw worked, and she stared at him for several long moments. “Dammit,” she finally whispered. “Fine. I’ll go call them.”
“Good. And if you haven’t eaten, find some food. A drink too. You need to take care of yourself.”
Grumbling, she got up. “I’m not an invalid. Just pregnant. I’m fine.”
“Just humor me, please?” He pinched the bridge of his nose. He loved Edie. Truly, he did. But she could try the patience of a saint some days. “I know you think you’re superwoman, but I also know you will push yourself to the brink of exhaustion. And that line is closer now than you’re used to.”
Some of the indignation left her expression as the rationality of his words sank in. “All right. Do you want anything?”
He dropped his hand. “Coffee. And I wouldn’t be opposed to a snack.”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon. If the doctors come out…”
“I will call you immediately. Wait. No. I don’t have a phone. I’ll have the receptionist call you.” He made a mental note to get a burner cell as soon as possible. After he got into these surveillance systems, he’d take a walk and see if he could find a store that sold pre-paid phones.
“That works.” She hesitated at the door. “I do not want to make this phone call. It’s not Esther whom they should be worried about getting shot. It should be me.”
“Life’s not fair, Edie.” If it were, Lennox would be dead, and Esther would be in his arms.
“No. No, it’s not.” She walked out.
Forty-Two
Not for the first time, Asher glanced at the industrial clock on the wall.
