Page 83 of Asher's Assignment

Esther smothered a yawn behind her hand. The adrenaline had worn off an hour ago, and she was fully aware it was the middle of the night. Audra and Edie needed to hurry up and get back so Stroud could talk to them. An officer had radioed a few minutes ago that they were on their way back. They’d lost whoever they were chasing.

She glanced at Stroud and caught him looking at his watch. At least she wasn’t the only one feeling the hour.

Another yawn stole over her face, more intense than the last one. “Goodness.” She stood. “Detective, would you like some coffee? Because I need some.”

“If you’re already making it, sure.”

She nodded once, then looked at her friends. “Brooke? Annabeth?”

They both responded in the affirmative, looking as weary as Esther felt. She peeked at the clock on the stove as she entered the kitchen. It was nearly four a.m. At least it was Sunday. She didn’t have to worry about work. Just church. Her parents would freak out when they found out what happened—and they would find out. It was a small town. But she’d worry about that later. There was no use borrowing trouble.

As Esther busied herself adding water and grounds to her coffee machine, the front door opened. Audra and Edie entered, along with two uniformed police officers; one a local policeman and the other a county sheriff’s deputy.

“Welcome back,” Esther said. “I’m making coffee.”

“I don’t need it,” Audra said. “That run woke me up.”

“Same,” Edie said. “I just wish we’d caught the guy.”

“We would have if someone hadn’t stopped us.” Audra tipped her head toward the county sheriff who held the knife she’d left the house with. “I was right on his heels when this guy came screaming around the corner in his car and cut me off.”

The deputy shot an annoyed glance at her, then walked toward Esther. “She said this belongs here. Where do you want me to put it?”

“In the sink.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Would you like some coffee?” She gestured to the gurgling machine.

“Oh, um, no ma’am. Thank you.” He put the knife down with a clink of metal-on-metal.

She turned to the other police officer and raised an eyebrow. He shook his head.

“You’re Audra?” Stroud rose from his spot at the table and came closer, eyes pinned on the dark-haired woman.

Her brow wrinkled. “Yes. And you are?”

“Detective J.D. Stroud. I need to talk to your friend. The one feeding you all your information.”

She blinked at him once, her face serene. “No, you don’t.”

His lips flattened, then he turned to the officer and deputy. “Give me a quick account of what happened. Obviously, you found them.” He motioned to Audra and Edie.

The deputy nodded. “Two streets over, yes. I never saw the man they were after. She said he crossed the street just before I came around the corner.”

“And I’d have had him if you hadn’t.” Audra crossed her arms and cocked out a hip, raising a haughty eyebrow at the man.

“Ma’am, you had a knife. I couldn’t let you keep going.”

Audra scoffed. “You wouldn’t have even if I didn’t.”

“Not on a shots fired call, no. I’m just glad we already knew you two were chasing him.”

Brooke aimed a grin at Audra. “You want your badge back, don’t you?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” she said through clenched teeth, her eyes flashing with anger.

“Anyway,” Stroud said, rolling his hand.

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