Page 18 of Asher's Assignment

“It could be, too, that it was just some random person on the sidewalk last night,” he continued. “Maybe he stopped to think or took a call, and you couldn’t see the earbuds in his ears. This could all be one big coincidence, and nothing is going on.”

She rolled her lips in, glancing away before nodding. “I hope that’s what it is. I don’t want to think that some lunatic is obsessed with me.”

He didn’t either. “There’s one more possibility we need to consider.” And this one actually scared him more than if she had a stalker. “It could be someone following you to get information about the Tylers. If Connie fled from an abusive relationship or from an unsafe situation, that person could be looking for her and their child.”

“God, that kid has been through so much. She was normal and healthy until an infection destroyed her heart muscle. I know she misses being the way she was. To think she had to change her identity too—” Esther shook her head. “I don’t know how she’s as normal as she is. Especially with Rob Tyler as her dad—sorry, stepdad.”

“Tell me more about him. I know he has some convictions for drugs. There were some burglary ones in his past too.”

“What kind of drugs?”

“Meth.”

She scrunched her nose. “I’ve never seen any evidence of drug use. But I’ve only been with Leah for a couple of months. Since school started. He’s rude and creepy, but she’s not afraid of him. Not really. She doesn’t want to upset him, but it’s more of a case of she doesn’t want him to yell than that she’s afraid he’ll hit her or something. I’ve seen kids afraid of their parents beating them. She doesn’t act that way.”

“What about her mom?”

“I’ve never met her.”

“Never?”

“No. She’s always at work when I’m there. Except this week, she’s been locked in her bedroom. Leah said she’s sick.”

Asher lifted an eyebrow. “And she’s locking herself in her room?”

“I mean locked in a euphemistic sense. She’s avoiding Leah to keep her from getting sick, so she’s staying in the bedroom. Leah’s immune system is still weak. Even a cold could cause a lot of problems for her.”

“Gotcha. You’re sure she’s there, though?”

That made Esther frown. “Actually, no. I’m only going off of what I’ve been told.”

“Is it possible Connie Tyler doesn’t exist?”

“No,” Esther was quick to respond. “Leah talks about her. I don’t think a child could lie that convincingly about having a mother. It’s too natural, and she mentions her too much.”

“Okay. At least we’re not dealing with a phantom. I’ll keep digging. In the meantime?—”

Esther lifted a hand. “Why did you come? And don’t give me that crap about appeasing Edie. She’s pushy, but she’s not that scary.”

Asher smirked and a shudder raked down his spine. “Honey, I’d rather tangle with a mountain lion than your sister.”

Esther chuckled. “You just have to get to know her. She’s a teddy bear.”

“With you. You’re her sister. But she doesn’t take crap from any of us. And with the pregnancy hormones? She was a little manic last night.”

“Last night?” Esther groaned. “She showed up at your house after our movie, didn’t she? It wasn’t a phone call. I assumed she called you and told you.”

“No. No phone call. She and Jordan appeared around eleven. She’s part of the reason I’m here. You didn’t see her. She’s truly stressing out about this situation, and it can’t be good for her right now. So, I’m here to help alleviate some of that. But I’m also here because I can’t discount what I’ve learned and all the things happening. A weird guy outside your house and a woman who isn’t who she says she is? Something’s not right.”

“I don’t need a protector. Edie might be the black belt, but I’m not helpless.”

“I didn’t say you were. But it’s always better to have another set of eyes, Essy.”

She huffed and picked up her pizza, taking a bite. While she chewed, she stared at a point over his shoulder. Asher could tell she was thinking about what he said. He let her. She’d come around to his way of thinking, eventually. Because at the end of the day, she didn’t want to stress her sister out, either, and she was uneasy about the man in the hoodie. That was evident in how her posture had changed while they talked about him.

Asher made it almost through his second pizza slice before she spoke again.

“So, what’s your plan? Do you become my shadow? Because that—” She broke off and shook her head. “I won’t like that.”

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