Chapter 5
Five
A sher rubbed at his eyes, trying to bring some moisture back to them. He’d been in front of his computer screen far too long today. But after he finished his normal work for the day, he’d attacked Edie’s sister’s case again. He still couldn’t find Leah Tyler’s real father. All he’d learned was that Connie Tyler didn’t exist before Leah was born. Whoever she was, she’d covered her tracks well.
He hadn’t told Edie that yet. Until he had more information, he didn’t want to worry her. Stress wasn’t good for pregnant women. And with the way she’d been acting Wednesday, he wouldn’t put it past her to get on a plane and fly home to Oregon. She needed to stay here, out of danger.
A low buzz filled the room. Asher blinked, then frowned as the noise penetrated his thoughts. One quick look at his security monitors revealed Edie standing on his doorstep again. This time, Jordan was with her.
Disquiet unfurled in his belly. He glanced at his watch. It was late. Something must have happened.
Pushing away from his desk, he hurried to answer the door.
It only took a quick glimpse at her face for the disquiet to sink into unease. “What happened?”
“Something weird is going on up there.” Edie pushed past him and entered the house.
Jordan chewed on the corner of his lip, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and gave Asher a look of concern as he followed his wife inside.
“Weird how?” Asher shut the door.
“Some guy was standing outside her house this evening, staring at her.”
Asher frowned, his gaze going to Jordan, who nodded, then back to Edie. “What? Did she call the police?”
“Yes, but they can’t do anything, because nothing actually happened.”
“Okay, start from the beginning. What did happen?”
Edie sank onto the tan couch that faced the windows overlooking the backyard. “We had movie night tonight, like we always do on Fridays. After it was over, she carried the laptop into the kitchen while she cleaned up her dishes; we were still talking. She looked out the window and saw someone in a hoodie standing on the sidewalk, staring at her house. I made her show me. It was creepy, Asher. The guy had on a black hoodie and jeans, and he just stood there, under the streetlight, facing her house. We couldn’t see his face because of the angle of the light and the hood. It was like a black void.” Her mouth twisted as she recalled the event. “Anyway, she closed the blinds, and I encouraged her to call the police and report him as a peeping tom. We argued about it, then someone knocked on her door.”
“Edie pretty much forced her to call the cops at that point,” Jordan said.
“Fat lot of good it did.” Edie’s expression darkened, and she glared. “They said they’d inform patrol.”
“Did she answer the door?”
“No.” Edie shook her head. “The dispatcher advised her to check her door and window locks, so that’s what she did. Then she kicked me off the call so she could shower and read.”
Jordan snorted. “She did not kick you off. You mutually agreed to hang up.”
Edie directed her glare at her husband. “You’re supposed to indulge your pregnant wife.”
“Not when you lie.”
“I’m not lying. I’m just… stretching the truth. I’m worried about her, and I want answers.”
Asher crossed his arms. “I don’t know what I can tell you. Are there cameras I can hack into?”
“No.” Edie got up and paced to the window, staring out into the blackness. “I’m just frustrated. My gut tells me something is wrong, that she’s in danger, but at the same time, my head is a mess, so I don’t completely trust my gut.” She turned back to him. “Have you uncovered anything that can give us a clue about what’s going on?”
Again, Asher shot Jordan a quick look. He didn’t want to upset Edie, but now that she’d asked, he didn’t want to lie to her, either.
“What? Don’t look at him for permission to tell me. I’m not an invalid now that I’m pregnant. Tell me.”
Asher sucked in a breath. She was right. He couldn’t coddle her just because of her condition. Edie could handle a lot, even when she felt scatterbrained. “Connie Tyler didn’t exist before Leah was born.”
“Hell,” Jordan muttered. He crossed an arm over his chest and rested his other elbow on it, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“So, who is she, then?” Edie walked closer.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been able to figure that out. She hid her tracks well.”
“Dammit.” Edie paced to the window again, then spun back. “I knew something was off.” She pointed at Jordan. “I told you something about this whole thing bugged me.”
He dropped his arms. “That doesn’t mean the weird guy outside her house tonight and the Tylers are connected, babe.”
“So, there are two dangers circling my sister? That makes it better?”
Jordan tipped his head back and looked at the ceiling. “That’s not what I said.”
Asher waved his arms, coming to a quick decision. “Before you come to blows over semantics, how about I take a trip up there? I can put some cameras up at her house, maybe do a little surveillance on the Tylers.”
“Good luck with that,” Jordan said. “Essy’s quieter than Edie, but she’s no less stubborn.”
“Hey!” Edie propped her hands on her hips.
Jordan showed his palms. “I’m just telling the truth, honey. You know it’s true.”
She flattened her lips and narrowed her eyes. “It doesn’t mean you say it out loud.” Her expression cleared some as she turned to Asher. “But he’s not wrong. Esther is just as stubborn.”
One side of Asher’s mouth lifted. “I can be rather charming and persuasive.”
Edie blinked twice. “Asher, I hate to break it to you, but Esther’s had your number from day one.”
That didn’t surprise him. Her quietness didn’t mean she wasn’t engaged; she was just observing as life went on around her.
He wagged a finger. “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean persistence won’t wear her down. And I think someone needs to be there to convince her to put in cameras. I doubt she’ll do it on her own. Right?”
“Yeah. She’ll drag her feet.” Edie crossed her arms and glanced at Jordan. “I could call Mom and Dad. Dad would make sure she did it and would help her put them up.”
“No, I’ll go. Being there might be the only way I can find out who Connie Tyler really is. It might come down to me talking to people.” Asher held up a hand. “I don’t plan to talk to anyone as of now. Like you said, we don’t want to create problems for her if she’s hiding from someone. But if Esther is in danger because of Mrs. Tyler, I won’t hesitate to out her.”
Edie studied him for a long moment. “Are you sure, Asher? You’re not normally in the field. That’s more Dean’s thing.”
“I’m sure.” The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He could use a change of scenery.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Jordan glanced at his wife. “It keeps you here and out of trouble, but it still gives Essy a layer of security that should make you happy.”
Edie huffed. “Fine. But for the record, I don’t like being sidelined. Even if it is for a good reason.”
Jordan walked closer and took her hand, tugging her into him. “Duly noted, babe.”
She rolled her eyes. “Keep it up, Jordie. I’ll make sure you change all the nasty blowout diapers.”
He scrunched his nose in disgust. “I’m sure I’ll get my fair share, anyway.”
Asher mimicked Jordan’s face. The thought didn’t appeal to him, either. “I’ll go book a flight. I should be able to get on the early flight to San José, then from there to LAX, and then Portland.”
Edie nodded. “Ford needs to find a friend who can fly and recruit him to our merry band. Then he can chauffeur us all around on a whim when we need him to.”
“We have Ezra,” Asher pointed out.
“I know, but the planes aren’t his. Brooke probably wouldn’t mind, but if we’re going to keep doing it, we need to pay her for fuel. Plus, it takes him away from his family. On short notice, I mean. We need someone who’s able to drop everything quickly.”
Tongue in cheek, Asher nodded, giving Jordan a look. Edie’s mind was like a tilt-a-whirl. Pregnancy hormones had hit her hard. “I’ll get on that.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Stop humoring me.” She pushed back from Jordan but kept hold of his hand. “Come on, Jordie. Let’s leave him alone so he can pack.”
Asher turned, smiling, as she pulled Jordan to the door. “I’ll keep you posted on things.”
“Yes, you will.” She glanced at him as she reached the front door. “Or I will be on a plane to Portland, and you won’t like me when I get there.” She speared him with a fierce look. “Keep my sister safe, Asher.” A vulnerable note he’d never heard from her before entered her voice. “Please.”
His smile faded away. “I will, Edie. You have my word.”