Page 90 of Asher's Assignment

“Then follow my lead, okay?”

“All right.”

Getting up, Esther went out to the living room with Connie right behind her. Landon sat in a chair, staring at the kitchen.

“Landon, we have a favor to ask.”

He lifted an eyebrow, his eyes clearly skeptical. “What’s that?”

“Connie said she has some pictures of Leah—from when she was little—in a box at the top of her closet upstairs, but she can’t reach it.” She glanced at Connie. “I guess Rob put some things away and that was one of them. She wants to show me the pictures. Could you get it down for us?”

His expression cleared, and he stood. “Sure. It’s in the master bedroom closet, you said?”

“Yes,” Connie replied. Her gaze darted to Esther, then back. “I’ll show you.”

Esther followed behind, praying Connie had a walk-in closet. That would be the best way to trap him. Otherwise, they’d probably have to shove him down, then close him in the bedroom. She wasn’t sure how, though. The door locked from the inside.

Upstairs, Connie led Landon into her bedroom. Esther hung back, scanning the hall and the rooms they passed for something to keep the door closed. But nothing caught her eye.

While Connie led him over to the closet—which was not a walk-in—Esther’s gaze roved over the room. Panic started to set in, quickening her heart rate and making her palms sweat as still nothing snagged her attention.

Think, Esther! What could she do? Wedge the door?

No. It swung the wrong way.

She could tie it shut. If she could find something long enough to reach across the hall to the other door. But she didn’t see anything in here that fit the bill.

Her gaze landed on a charcoal-colored tree holding necklaces and bracelets that looked like it was made of iron. Esther bit her lip, casting a quick glance at Landon before sidling closer to where the piece rested on the dresser. If it really was metal, maybe she could break the doorknob off on this side.

“It’s up there.” Connie pointed to the stash of things on the shelf. Luckily for them, her closet wasn’t that well organized. Landon would have to wade in to get to the stuff at the back.

Landon stretched, moving a stack of sweaters to the side. A hat fell off and into his face. He frowned. “Are you sure it’s up here?”

“Yes. It’s just buried. They’re old baby pictures. Not something I look at all the time, you know?”

“Right.” He shuffled forward a step. The clothes hangers tipped as he pressed against them.

It was now or never.

Taking one long step to the side, Esther picked up the tree.

Yes! It was solid.

Adjusting her grip, she quickly sidled closer to Connie.

The woman’s eyes flicked to hers, rounding as she saw what Esther held.

Knowing they wouldn’t get a better chance. Esther set the statue on the bed and silently moved in behind Landon. With all the force she could muster, she put both hands on his back and shoved.

Landon pitched forward with a shout of surprise. He grabbed at the clothes, but they slipped off their hangers, falling to the floor with him.

“Run, Connie!” Esther turned and ran, snagging the tree as she went. She pushed Connie through the doorway, then raised the statue high before bringing it down on the bedroom-side doorknob. The force jittered up her arm, making her fingers tingle. The knob bent but didn’t break. She hit it again, bending it further.

Scrabbling came from the closet, along with several colorful male curses. Esther smashed the doorknob one more time, and it snapped off.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed. Hooking a hand around the door, she yanked it shut as she fled into the hallway.

“Will that hold him?” Connie hovered a few feet away, her blue eyes round as saucers.

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