Page 65 of Defender

Something wasn’t right.Ashton knew it.Last time he’d ignored his instincts, Tyler Worrall had gotten killed.Ashton wasn’t going to ignore his instincts now.

“Derek, something’s off, man.You felt it, and I second it.That whole situation with Tamara Snell seemed...”Ashton wasn’t sure what the right word was.

“Staged,” Derek finished for him.

“Yes.”That was it.Staged.Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose.“Almost like how we went off looking for Harper across town last night based on an anonymous call, only to find Harper hadn’t been there for hours.Then today, 911 gets an anonymous call about a violent ex-boyfriend only to find out the victim didn’t have any ex-boyfriends.”

Derek nodded.“I agree.Something’s headed our way.”He turned to the rest of the team.“We all stay prepped and ready until Ashton has official word that Summer and her daughter are safe.”

Staying in full SWAT gear definitely wasn’t comfortable but none of the team complained.

“I need to get in touch with someone from the Atlanta Bureau field office to escort Summer and Chloe to Summer’s sister’s house once they arrive.I’m not taking any chances.”

“Got someone you can call?”

Ashton had been working law enforcement long enough to have made friends all over the country.“Yes.It won’t be a problem.”

He was in the process of dialing when another call came through.A local one.

“Ashton Fitzgerald.”

“Hey there, Ashton Fitzgerald,” a mocking voice said.“I’ve been trying to get your attention lately.”

“Curtis Harper.”The heads of everyone in the van whipped around to look at Ashton.“You’ve done more than just try to get my attention.”

Ashton brought the phone down from his head and switched it on to speaker mode so everyone could hear.

“I have to admit, you’ve been more difficult to kill than I thought you would be,” Harper said.

Ashton shook his head.Evidently Harper wasn’t intelligent enough to realize that he’d just confessed to crimes they’d linked him to but didn’t have hard proof.And he’d done it on a federal agent’s phone which could be recorded at any time.

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

Harper laughed.“Don’t worry, I have a new plan now.Wanna hear it?”

“Absolutely, Harper.Nothing I would like more.”

Derek was already up and on the phone.Probably with Omega Sector to see if they could trace Harper’s call.

“How about you come to my father’s house?Or what was my father’s house before it was abandoned and repossessed.Thanks to you.”Harper rattled off an address.Roman wrote it down.

Derek circled his finger in the air signaling for Ashton to keep Harper talking.

“Sure, Harper, want to give yourself up?”

“No.I thought you would come alone and giveyourselfup.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because maybe you’re willing to trade your life for Summer Worrall and her daughter.”

Ashton’s grip tightened on the phone.He forced his voice to keep calm.If this was some sort of fishing expedition on Harper’s part, Ashton didn’t want to give him any info.“Ms.Worrall has already headed out to visit friends in Los Angeles.I’m sure she’s already enjoying the sunshine.”He didn’t even hesitate to lie.

“That might have been true if we hadn’t taken her off the plane heading toward Atlanta a little while ago.”

Ashton’s eyes flew to Derek’s.This was bad.Too many details that rang true.One, that Harper knew Summer and Chloe had been heading to Atlanta, and two, that he mentioned getting her off the plane.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lillian get on her phone.

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