Page 81 of Asher's Assignment
“Since when are detectives some of the first ones to arrive on shots fired calls? Don’t they usually wait until the heat dies down to investigate?” Esther was genuinely curious.
“I recognized your address when the call came in over the scanner.”
She blinked at him, surprised. “You know my address? Better yet, you were awake?”
He lifted one shoulder. “I couldn’t sleep. And I know your address because it was on the report you filed about your friend. Can we stop the small talk and you let me in?”
“Right. Sorry.” She stepped back. Once he was inside, she closed the door.
“What happened?” He glanced toward the hall as Brooke and Annabeth moved away from the back door and came toward them. “And who are they?”
“Friends. So—” She sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly. This was not a conversation she wanted to have. “You were right to suspect I might stick my nose into your investigation.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, then crossed his arms. “What did you do?”
“Called my sister.”
“The one who sent your friend who disappeared? The former CIA guy?”
“Yes.”
He sighed, his frown deepening as he stared past her at Brooke and Annabeth. “Which one of you is the sister?”
“Neither of them,” Esther said. “She and Audra ran after the shooter.”
His arms dropped and his eyes rounded. “They what?” Exasperation colored his tone. “Was dispatch aware of this? Do my officers know?” He reached for his radio.
“I told the dispatcher they went after the guy.” Brooke stepped closer.
“Someone broke into the garage,” Esther said. “It woke me and Audra up. When we went to investigate, he ran out. Edie, Brooke, and Annabeth came down, hearing all the commotion. We all heard the gunshot, and that’s when Edie went after them.”
“Were either of them armed?”
“Audra had a kitchen knife.”
“You know there’s a saying about not bringing a knife to a gunfight, right?”
Brooke scoffed. “That doesn’t apply to Audra.”
“Let me guess.” Stroud’s tone was dry. “She’s CIA too.”
“British intelligence, actually,” Brooke replied.
His short chuckle dripped disbelief. He swiped a hand over his face. “So, what are you two, then? FBI? DEA? Some other alphabet soup agency?”
“No. I’m an executive for Appalachia Resorts,” Brooke replied.
“I’m a doctor,” Annabeth said.
“We’re losing the point.” Esther waved a hand. “I called Edie, looking for help to find Asher and Leah. I know it’s your job, but she and her friends—not just these”—she gestured to Brooke and Annabeth—“have resources well beyond yours. When we talked earlier, I wasn’t entirely truthful with you. Actually, I wouldn’t say that. I just failed to mention some things.”
“Such as?”
“What Asher found when he was looking into the man I saw lurking around the Tylers’ house.”
“He knows who it is?”
“No. We do now, but he doesn’t. We uncovered some things about Connie Tyler’s past that could have bearing. She doesn’t want it getting out, but she agreed that it might be necessary.”
