Page 82 of Asher's Assignment
“What might be necessary? Miss Campbell, you need to tell me what you know. Right now.”
“I’m trying to.” She glared at him. “Connie Tyler’s real name is Lindy Nieman. Her parents were murdered almost eleven years ago. It’s possible the man who murdered them is the same man who took Asher and Leah.”
“And who would that be?”
“Leah’s biological father, Bradley Lennox.”
Stroud muttered a soft curse, closing his eyes for a moment. “When did you find all this out?”
“We’ve known something was off about Connie for over a week. That’s part of the reason Asher came here. But we’ve only known Bradley’s name since yesterday. A friend of Audra’s did some digging.”
“Is Bradley the man you saw tonight?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see his face. Even if I did, I don’t know what he looks like. We haven’t been able to find a picture. We have someone on it, though.”
“Your friend’s friend?”
“Yes.”
“Tell them to stop searching. I’ll handle it.”
“No offense, Detective,” Brooke said, breaking into the conversation. “But you don’t want her to stop. We’ll find answers quicker than you will. You can do the physical part, but leave the information to us.”
Stroud’s expression hardened. “Ms.—” he paused, waiting for Brooke to fill in her last name.
“It’s missus. Mrs. Wagner.”
“Mrs. Wagner?—”
Brooke cut him off. “You have no clue who you’re dealing with. The woman chasing the intruder took down the Brogan crime family in Las Vegas. My husband, and hers”—she pointed at Annabeth—“took down a murderer. So did Edie and her husband. We’re not amateurs.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath.
“We’re wasting time arguing about this, Detective,” Esther said. “Do you want to find Leah and Asher or not?”
“Of course I do,” he shot back, pinning her with a steely-eyed glare.
“Then let’s work together.”
Finally, he nodded. “Fine. I knew you were up to something, for the record. The officer at the Tylers’ house reported that you’d stopped by. Along with friends of Connie’s from work. I’m guessing it was the rest of you lot?” He glanced at Brooke and Annabeth.
“It was.” Esther’s head bobbed once. “We needed to confirm what we found out, and we wanted her side of the story.”
Stroud ran a hand over his hair. “I guess I need to have another conversation with Mrs. Tyler.”
“Be gentle with her,” Esther said. “She was just trying to protect her daughter. Bradley Lennox is not a good man.”
Understanding lit his gaze. “I will be. Now, can I talk to this friend of your friend’s? I have questions.”
Esther shared a look with Brooke and Annabeth, unsure what to say. Her instinct was to say no. Jo couldn’t get officially involved. And it wasn’t her call, anyway. She turned to Stroud. “I doubt it. But we’ll talk to Audra when she returns.”
“Sounds good.” He wandered over to the dining table and pulled out a chair.
“What are you doing?” Wrinkles creased Esther’s forehead.
He took his notebook and pen from his pocket and laid them on the table, along with his radio. “Waiting.”
Thirty-Four
