Page 101 of Asher's Assignment

“Why didn’t he want her with her mother?”

“Connie never told him about Leah. He accused her of being a bad mother and said he was going to make her watch while he and Esther raised Leah.”

Stroud’s eyebrows shot up. “Connie didn’t mention that part when I talked to her. She did, however, say he tried to shoot you, and Esther jumped in front of you. Is that right?”

Asher flinched, seeing the moment in his mind. “Yes.” He ran a hand through his hair, gripping the strands for a moment before he let go. “After Connie asked how he planned to keep Leah from contacting the authorities when she was out in the world, he said she’d stay silent to protect her mother and Esther. Both women told her not to worry about them. It was at that point Lennox decided they needed a demonstration. I was expendable, so he tried to shoot me.” He paused, tears welling in his eyes again. He dashed them away with the back of his hand. “I still don’t know what Esther was thinking.”

“You want my honest opinion?” Stroud’s voice was softer.

“Sure.”

“She wasn’t. I think she was protecting you; someone she loves. If she makes it through this, you better never let her go. You won’t find a woman who loves you more.”

A crinkle formed on Asher’s forehead. Was that why she did what she did? Stroud’s reasoning made sense, but the man also didn’t know Esther. It was in her nature to protect people. To help them. Even if it hurt her.

Leah was case-in-point. Essy never would have continued to go to that neighborhood and put herself in danger if it weren’t for the girl. Not that Asher blamed Leah. He didn’t. He didn’t blame anyone except Lennox.

“So, what happened after Esther was shot? Connie said you and Lennox grappled.”

Asher jerked as he snapped out of his thoughts. “We did. I knocked the gun out of his hand when I tackled him, and it slid under the table. With the chairs in the way, we couldn’t get to it.”

“How come he got away? Not to be rude, but I met your friends and got some backstory. Aren’t you some sort of former super-spy?”

“No. I worked in intelligence, mostly behind a screen. I’m not defenseless, but I’m not the warrior some of my friends are. And I didn’t have the best hold on him when we went down. I grabbed his legs. It took all I had to hang on. When Connie’s pleas for me to help finally registered, I looked back and saw Esther and all the blood.” He stopped for a moment, looking at the dried blood on his hands again. Balling them into fists, he turned a bleak expression on Stroud. “It was a shock, seeing her like that. Enough so that I forgot what was happening for a moment. Lennox took advantage of my lapse and kicked me in the face.” Asher pointed to the slight swelling on his cheek. “I was still between him and the gun, and the kick didn’t faze me for long. After seeing Esther, I was ready to kill him. Apparently, he saw that on my face, and he ran rather than fight me to get to the gun.”

“Why didn’t you go after him?”

“Because Esther needed me.”

A soft knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Stroud got up and answered it.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Detective. The patient’s sister is here and wants to speak with Mr. Horn.”

Asher stood. “Edie’s here?” He’d told her he’d call when he had news, so why was she here? Eugene wasn’t a short drive from Coos Bay. Had she found something?

Stroud glanced at Asher, a frown marring his face. “You sound surprised. Why wouldn’t she come to the hospital?” He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “Esther told me about her sister’s and her friends’ backgrounds and what they do now. What are they up to?”

“Wait, you know about the work my friends and I do?”

“Yes. Those ladies are quite effective in digging up information.”

Asher wasn’t surprised at that. His friends?—

His thoughts cut off mid-stream. A fierce frown pulled his eyebrows down.

Ladies? What?

“I’m sorry, who are you talking about?”

Stroud’s brows dipped. “Esther’s sister and her friends. There were four of them.”

“You said ladies. The people with Edie are all women? There were no men?”

“No.”

“Did one have a British accent?”

“Yes. And she called a friend that had one as well. I don’t know who it was. No one would tell me her name.”

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