Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
K eeping one eye on Detective Stroud, Esther stepped away from the organized chaos happening around her so she could call her sister. She’d wanted to go with Connie Tyler to the hospital, but Stroud said he couldn’t spare another car to take her anywhere yet. She didn’t know why she couldn’t ride in the same one that whisked Connie away.
She squinted at the detective. She had a feeling he didn’t entirely trust her and wanted to keep her close. But that meant, for the moment, she was stuck.
Esther leaned against the corner of the building and tapped Edie’s name in her contacts. It rang once before her sister answered.
“He’s not back, is he?”
“No.” Esther sighed. “And there’s more. I went to the police station to file the missing person’s report. When I was talking to the detective, a call came in. For a shooting and a child abduction. Leah’s been kidnapped and Rob Tyler was shot. They’re not sure he’s going to make it.”
“Are you serious? What the hell? Okay. I’m calling the guys in. Give me a rundown on what you know, so I can brief them.”
“It’s not much. Connie Tyler said a man came up and grabbed Leah as they were walking to their car after dinner. Rob tried to intervene, and the guy shot him. She said he was wearing a hood and took off running out of the parking lot with Leah under his arm.”
“Did she follow him?”
“Yeah, but she couldn’t catch up. She said by the time she reached the sidewalk, he was out of sight.”
“Are there side streets close? Where was this?”
“Little Nicky’s.”
“Oh. Yeah, that neighborhood is a maze.”
“Yep.”
“Did you get a description other than a guy in a hood?”
“No. I don’t think she was being completely truthful.”
A short pause came over the line. “Why would she lie? I mean, her daughter’s in danger and her husband got shot.”
“I know. But there was just something about the way she hesitated—just a fraction of a second—that said she wasn’t being completely honest. I think she knows more than she’s letting on and doesn’t want to tell the police.”
“It could be she’s scared about revealing her past. Maybe she’ll tell us. We don’t have any authority to do anything, though.”
“Maybe. I’d like to try to talk to her alone, but I can’t get out of here to get up to the hospital and try.”
“Hold off for now. As soon as we hang up, I’m radioing Ford and telling him to come in. I’m sure Brooke will give us the use of her jet. Ezra can fly everyone up as soon as they get back. I need twenty-four hours, Essy.”
“Asher and Leah might not have that long, Edie.” Her voice grew thick as she thought about the danger the two of them were in. Asher could already be dead.
“I bet they do. I’m not sure why the guy took Asher, but I’m betting Connie Tyler’s past has come back to haunt her and that’s why he took Leah. This guy has a plan, and it’s not to kill her.”
Esther rubbed her temple, a headache beginning to pound behind her eyes. “But where does that leave Asher? I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Give me something to do. What do you guys need?” She needed a distraction. It would drive her crazy to sit around and wait on Edie and her friends to arrive.
“See if you can get a list of witnesses. The guys will want to talk to them when we get there. And maybe see if you can find out which businesses nearby have outdoor security cameras. It’ll save us time if we already have that information.”
“How are you going to access it, though? Asher’s the one who gets into everything electronic.”
“The old-fashioned way. Ask nicely. Don’t worry, Esther. We know what we’re doing and can adapt.”
“I know. I do… It’s just…” She broke off and growled, beyond frustrated.
“I get it, Essy.” Edie’s voice was softer now. “There’s nothing like not knowing if someone you care about is okay. But you have to trust me. Trust us. Just like I had to trust my team when Jordan was missing.”
“Yeah.” Esther blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll go see what I can find out. Let me know when you’ll all be here, okay?”
“I will. Keep me posted if things change.”
“Yep.”
They said goodbye and hung up. Esther shoved her phone into her bag and glanced around the parking lot. It was still organized chaos. Crime scene techs were near the Tylers’ car, going over the ground with a fine-toothed comb and taking dozens of pictures. An officer stood sentry at the entrance, blocking the drive. Others stood with groups of potential witnesses, while Stroud and the police chief conducted interviews. They had people in two groups; those who needed to be interviewed, and those who had been.
She wandered closer to those with whom Stroud and the chief had already spoken. Lingering at the fringe, she listened.
After several minutes, the consensus seemed to be that no one had seen much of anything except for an older couple several people gestured toward. Esther turned toward the restaurant, studying the pair sitting on a bench alone.
A jolt of recognition made her eyes widen. She knew them. They went to her church.
Emboldened by familiarity, she walked over, stopping a few feet away. “Mr. and Mrs. Tinsdale.”
The couple looked up, and the wife smiled. “Esther. Hello, dear.”
“Hi.” She lifted a hand and waved, returning her smile. “May I sit with you?”
“Of course.” Sue Tinsdale nudged her husband in the side, motioning for him to scoot.
“Thank you.” Esther perched on the bench next to her.
“Such a terrible thing, isn’t it? Did you see what happened?” Sue asked.
“No. Did you?”
“We sure did. That man came out from behind a truck and just plucked that little girl right off the pavement. Her poor dad tried to stop him.”
“It was a terrible sight,” Herb Tinsdale said, shaking his head.
“Did you see the guy? His face, I mean.”
“No. He had that infernal hood over his head.” Sue crossed her arms and shook her head.
“But he was in the restaurant earlier.” Herb leaned forward to look at Esther.
“He was not,” Sue said. “That young man sitting alone was not the same guy.”
“He didn’t have the sweatshirt on, but he had on the same pants.”
“They were jeans, Herbert. Many people in the restaurant had on jeans.”
“Don’t tell me what I saw, Susanna. It looked like the same man to me.”
Esther waved her hands to break up the argument. “Did you tell the police this?”
“I wanted to, but she told me I was mistaken.” Herb aimed a gnarled finger at his wife.
“And you still are,” Sue shot back.
Herb pressed his lips together and sent her a quick look before continuing. “I didn’t mention it because, well, she’s right. I don’t always see what I think I do. My mind likes to make connections that aren’t there, and I didn’t want to get a young man in trouble if he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Esther looked out at the two groups of witnesses. “Do you see the man anywhere now?”
The couple followed her gaze. Herb adjusted his glasses.
“I don’t,” Sue said.
“No. He’s gone. But he left before we did. I saw him get up and walk out.”
“How long before you left was that?”
“Ten minutes or so, I guess.”
That was plenty of time for him to retrieve a hoodie and hide before the Tylers came outside.
“Miss Campbell.”
Esther looked up. Detective Stroud walked toward them, a scowl on his face. She plastered a bright smile on hers. “Detective.”
“What are you doing?”
Pulling on every school play she’d ever acted in—all of which were in elementary school—Esther faked a frown. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t need you interfering with my witnesses.”
“Oh.” She glanced at the elderly couple. “I wasn’t. The Tinsdales go to my church. I came over to say hello. We did, however, discuss what happened tonight. Herb has something you need to hear.”
Stroud’s gaze sharpened, and he focused on the older man. “Oh? Did you remember something new?”
Herb shifted, casting a quick glance at his wife, who sighed and shook her head.
“Mr. Tinsdale?” Stroud said when the man hesitated.
“Go on, Herb. It might be nothing, but it might be important too,” Esther said.
The old man huffed. “Fine. There was a young man in the restaurant. He kept staring at the Tylers’ table, and I swear he had on the same pants as the man who attacked them.”
“The same pants?”
“They were jeans,” Sue said, rolling her eyes.
“But they were the same kind of jeans,” Herb retorted. “Anyway, from my seat, it looked like he was watching them. I don’t know if he was. He wasn’t there long. Maybe twenty minutes. He arrived after they did, ordered an appetizer and a drink, then left about ten minutes before us.”
Stroud pulled out his notebook and pen. “Describe this man. Other than his clothing.”
Herb scratched at his temple and scrunched his nose. “He was a white guy. Six feet tall, maybe a little less. Fit, from what I could tell. He had on a black jacket over an olive-green t-shirt. There was something on the front, but I couldn’t see what it was.”
“That’s a really great description, Mr. Tinsdale,” Stroud said, sounding genuinely impressed.
Herb smiled. “Thank you. I did quality control for years. I notice details.”
Sue snorted. “When you want to.” She looked up at Stroud. “He gets these fanciful ideas sometimes. Makes those connections between unrelated things. I’ve said for years he needs to write a book, but?—”
Stroud held up a hand. “You’re right. That could be the case this time. But I have a missing child to find. No details are too small to look into.” He gave her a polite smile, then turned to Herb. “What about age and hair color for this man? Did you notice either of those things?”
Herb’s head bobbed. “Yeah. His hair was a real light brown. And he was probably early thirties.”
“Mid,” Sue said. “Mid-thirties.”
Stroud made notes. “Okay. I’ll have the manager check their security tapes for the man, then I’d like you to confirm it’s the right person before we proceed. Give me a few minutes.” He shifted his weight, ready to head off, but paused and caught Esther’s gaze. “Thank you, Miss Campbell.”
Esther offered him a tight smile and nodded once. “Just find them, Detective.”