I peer out my window at the patrol car sitting out front.It’s been there for a while.The deputy hasn’t even come to the door.I shouldinvite him inside because he has to be hungry by now.When I step out the door,a chilly wind blindsides me.Talk about bi-polar weather.I hug my arms andhastily make my way to the car.As I draw close, the door opens, and Bricksteps out.
“Brick!What are you doing?Why didn’t you come inside?”
“My orders are to stand watch.”
“Well, new orders.Come inside, have some dinner, and warmup.”
“Casey—”
“You won’t be much good to us if you’re cold and hungry.Inside.Now.”
His eyes widen in surprise, but then his features relax inacceptance.Finally, he nods.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Throughout dinner, I check my watch and occasionally glanceout the window.It’s dark, and I still haven’t heard from Ethan.
“Call him,” Brick says.
Am I that obvious?“You think I should?”
“Call.”
“Fine.”
He answers on the second ring, his voice filled withanxiety.“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.I was wondering the same thing about you.”
“I’m good, trying to coordinate this search.”
“Oh, am I interrupting you?I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.I just have about twenty nosy officers trying toeavesdrop.”
I giggle at the image he creates.“I’ll let you get back toyour strategizing then.Bye.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
The moment I hang up the phone, a brilliant idea pops intomy head.Brick swallows hard at my calculating smile.
“Mr.Castle, you and I are going on a mission.”
***Ethan***
I massage my temples as I listen to the chatter around me.If I got headaches, I would surely have one right now.A room full of cops andwe’re nowhere closer to narrowing down a search area.I could sure use a doseof Casey right now.
What the hell?Am I going crazy?They can’t be here becauseI told them both to stay put.I look toward the entrance and, sure enough, inshe walks, Brick in tow.He’s already shooting me an apologetic look.She… Shelooks amazing… and covered up.Thank the Lord.Her eyes don’t leave mine as ifchallenging me to question her presence.The room goes quiet, and everyoneturns to see what I’m looking at.She pushes back the hood of her burgundy,velour tracksuit and steps forward.
“Well, well… Who do we have here?”Shane asks.“Little RedRiding Hood?”
“Yeah… You lost, Red?”Roderick chimes in.
A chuckle spreads across the room, and she stops in hertracks.I watch her, ready to step in and shut them up.Anger flashes in hereyes for a few brief seconds, but then she blinks it away.A smile curves onher gorgeous lips and she turns to the two men who spoke.Uh-oh.
“Now, you know I was coming to visit.Why aren’t you at home,Grandma?”The room goes quiet again, and Shane’s mouth falls open.She thenturns her attention to Roderick.“And hanging out with the big bad wolf, noless.Don’t you know he likes to…eatGrandmas?”
That did it.The silence breaks and the whole room eruptsinto laughter, even me.Shane and Roderick are the only ones not laughing.Serves them right.Charlie and Brick turn to look at me, the irony of the wolfjoke not lost on us.Casey walks determinedly through the crowd and standsbefore me.
