Chapter 31
Thirty-One
E sther retreated to her bedroom when they returned to her house. Audra was going to call Jo and have her look into Connie’s ex, Bradley. Until they had more information, there wasn’t anything they could do. And Esther needed some time alone. Her sister and friends had followed her outside not long after she’d walked out. She’d sat in the passenger seat on the way back and stared out the window, giving single-word answers as she grappled with her feelings. She didn’t want to deal with them. It hurt to think about what Asher could be going through. And despite her refusal to consider he might be dead, the thought had crossed her mind. It was like a spear to the gut. Her insides twisted up, and she couldn’t breathe.
Throwing herself onto the bed, she stared at the ceiling. A cloud of scent enveloped her. Asher’s scent. She should have asked Edie to change her sheets too. Her interlude with Asher might have only lasted a few days, but they’d spent every night together in her bed. She was thankful the rest of the house didn’t hold his scent. The memories were bad enough.
The tears she’d been holding back finally burst free. A guttural sob slipped past her lips. She turned and buried her face in her pillow. Asher’s scent hit her again, stronger, and the torrent of emotions and tears hit harder.
For several minutes, she sobbed into the material. When the bed dipped and a hand touched her shoulder, she turned and saw her sister through watery eyes.
Edie crawled up next to her and wrapped Esther in her arms. “Shh. He’s fine. It takes a lot to kill one of the Wagner Brigade. Asher might not be former military, but he’s not defenseless. I mean, he’s been living with us all these years and gets roped into our sparring sessions regularly.”
Esther continued to cry on Edie’s shoulder, listening to her soft, soothing voice. She hadn’t lost hope that he was alive, but the fear was there. It felt good to get it out.
Slowly, her tears stopped and her sobs turned to hiccups and sniffles.
“Feel better?” Edie asked.
“Yeah.” Esther sat up and wiped her face with her sleeve. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You care about him. You’re allowed to be upset.”
Esther bobbed her head. “Still. It just hit me. And once the tears started, I couldn’t stop them. I guess they needed to run their course. How are you not a blubbering mess? I’m not the hormonal one.” Edie was remarkably calm. Considering the worrywart she’d been lately, it seemed strange.
“I’m in my element. Delving into issues like this, finding solutions—it’s what I do. That it’s Asher involved just drives me more. I’m definitely worried, but the doer side of me is keeping the worrier side in check.” She gave Esther’s shoulders a quick squeeze. “Come on. We’re going to do a Zoom call with Dean. See if he’s up to some research.”
Taking another swipe at her face, Esther scooted toward the edge of the bed. “Can you give me a couple minutes? I want to splash some cold water on my face.”
Edie offered her a soft smile. “Sure. We’ll be down in the living room when you’re ready.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” Edie reached over and enveloped her in a tight hug. “I love you, Essy. We’ll find him. Leah too.”
Esther hugged her back, but remained silent. She didn’t trust herself to speak without descending into a blubbery mess again.
Edie left, and Esther walked down the hall to the bathroom. She had to keep her gaze on the mirror and not look at the vanity. Asher’s toothbrush, deodorant, and razor decorated the countertop.
Teeth clenched, she wet a washcloth and pressed it to her face, letting the coolness sink in and soothe her red, puffy eyes. Once she felt semi-presentable, she hung the cloth on the towel bar to dry and went downstairs.
Annabeth handed her a cup of tea as she sat down. “It’s herbal,” she said. “I thought you might like it to calm your thoughts.”
“Thank you.” Esther took it with a soft smile.
“Okay, are we ready?” Audra sat down and picked up the television remote. When no one objected, she switched on the TV, then connected her computer to the larger screen. The Zoom window popped up, Dean’s name in the middle of it as the call connected. A moment later, Margot’s face appeared.
“Margot?” Annabeth frowned at the TV. “Where’s Dean?”
“Puking in the bathroom. You all owe me . Big time. I am on my own with two wild two-year-olds and five grown men who are in the midst of the flu. Plus, the clinic build hasn’t stopped just because everyone’s sick. Please tell me you’re making headway there and can come home soon?”
“Sort of,” Annabeth said. “We need Dean to do some research, but it sounds like it might be better if we try on our own.”
“Are you at Max’s house?” Brooke leaned closer, peering at the screen.
“Yes. It was easier to have everyone together, so I could keep an eye on them, and his house is the biggest. The girls have already had it, so it doesn’t matter if they’re exposed.”
“What about you?” Edie asked.
“I’m a doctor. My immune system is as hardy as they come. What does ‘sort of’ mean, Beth?”
“We have some leads,” Audra said. “But don’t worry about?—”
“Hey, ladies.” Ford wandered into the room, looking like he’d gone five rounds with a championship fighter and sounding like he’d spent the night before screaming at a concert.
Brooke gasped when she caught sight of her husband. Esther saw her eyes widen.
“Oh, honey. You look terrible.”
“I don’t feel any better. Fill me in. What have you all found out?”
“I’d like to know too.” Max walked in, looking and sounding much like Ford.
“Should we wait for the others?” Edie asked, arching an eyebrow.
“No.” Ford waved a hand, then broke off to cough. “Sam and Jordan are sleeping. Dean’s still in the bathroom. Talk before we pass out.”
Margot aimed a glare at the men, focusing the majority of it on Max as he sat down next to her. “You should be in bed.”
“I’m fine. I need to hear what they have to say.”
“Right, let’s dig in, shall we?” Audra said.
Esther was thankful the former spy didn’t want to waste time. She was starting to feel like Edie, now that she’d had a good cry. The determination to find Asher and Leah was pushing away her urge to curl up and sob again.
“We’re good,” Max said. “Go.”
“So, Esther uncovered Connie’s true identity with the help of a former colleague of mine,” Audra began. “Her name is Lindy Nieman. Her parents were murdered almost eleven years ago by her former boyfriend—Leah’s father. All of this is verified. We just returned from talking to Connie. We have two theories. The first is that it’s him, and Asher was just in the way. The second is that it’s someone stalking Esther and Leah was taken as an incentive for Esther to cooperate.”
“I don’t like that one,” Max said, then coughed. “It leans more toward Asher being dead.”
“Not just that,” Ford said. “It’s a stretch to think someone would kidnap a child to get to Esther. My money’s on the dad.”
“Which is where we’re focusing for now,” Edie said. “We wanted Dean to run some background on him. But, Audra, maybe we can get your friend to do that instead?”
Audra nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Dean could probably do it from bed, but I don’t want him to miss something because his brain’s foggy.”
“Probably a good idea.” Ford coughed again. “Any other leads? Car? A description the police can release to the public? Witnesses?”
“Connie said she never saw the man’s face or heard him speak, which is why she can’t be sure if it was Bradley,” Esther said. “I talked to the elderly couple who witnessed the abduction. Herb and Sue Tinsdale. They described a man they saw inside who Herb says was watching the Tylers. Sue’s not so sure, but it was enough to get the detective on the case to pull camera footage.”
“You need to get that footage,” Ford said.
“And do what with it, babe?” Brooke asked. “Asher’s the one who would be able to work his magic on it, but he’s not here.”
“Give it to that friend of Audra’s. I have a feeling this person is a lot like Asher in what they do.”
“She is,” Audra confirmed.
“Then use her as much as you can. If money’s an issue, I’ll come up with some funds somewhere.”
“It won’t be,” Audra said. “The only problem will be time. She’s busy.”
He nodded. “Do the police know about the dad?”
“No,” Edie said. “Connie’s reluctant to come forward with the information because of what happened to her parents. She’s terrified of this guy. Can’t say as I blame her. You didn’t hear her story. He’s—something.”
“We did ask her if we could share the information with the police,” Annabeth said.
“You did?” Esther gave her a sharp look.
Annabeth nodded. “It was after you left. Right before we joined you outside. Audra asked if she minded if we spoke to the police. She said she’d rather we didn’t, but she knew it was all going to come out, anyway, and she wanted Bradley to pay for what he’d done. She said she was ready to come forward and face whatever consequences there were for her, so she agreed. Really, she just wants her daughter back safe and sound. We can do a lot, but we can’t do everything. Like put Bradley in jail if he’s behind this. She also told us to tell you she’s sorry Asher got involved in her family drama. She doesn’t think it’s likely this is about you any more than Ford does.”
The lump in Esther’s throat returned, choking off her words. She nodded and pressed her lips together.
“What’s Bradley’s last name?” Ford asked.
“Lennox.”
Esther repeated that in her mind. Connie must have told them that after she left too. She’d never heard it before.
“We’ll do some digging here as we’re able, but don’t count”—he broke off, coughing—“on”—he coughed again—“us.” The last word barely made it through. Waving a hand, he got up and left the room.
“He sounds awful,” Brooke said.
“They all do,” Margot said. “The girls weren’t this sick.”
“Man-flu is a thing,” Annabeth said.
“I know. I just never expected to experience it large-scale.”
“We’re not that bad,” Max said.
She sent him a look, arching an eyebrow. “Says the man who texted me to come hand him the television remote from his dresser.”
“I was comfortable all snuggled up. I finally wasn’t cold.”
Margot rolled her eyes, but a smile toyed with her mouth. She turned to the camera. “I’m hanging up now. When Dean told me you wanted to call, I set the girls up with some paints. I need to go check on them.”
Max’s eyes widened. “You gave them paint unsupervised? In my house?”
“Relax. They’re on the tile in the back living room inside their play yard.”
“On the—” He broke off with a hoarse groan. “Margot, that’s Saltillo tile. Even washable paint will stick like glue.” He stood up, grumbling. “I’m gonna be on my knees scrubbing—” He paused, swaying slightly.
Margot shot to her feet and grabbed his arm to steady him. “Slow down, killer. I put a tarp down and a sheet over that. Your tile should be unscathed.”
“You could have led with that,” he said, running his free hand over his face.
She chuckled. “And miss watching you panic? Never.” She glanced at the camera again. “We’ll talk to you guys later. Yell if you need us.”
“Will do,” Edie said.
Margot leaned down and clicked the mouse, and the screen went blank.
“We are definitely going to pay for leaving her there with all of them,” Annabeth muttered.
Edie’s mouth tipped up. “Probably.”
“I, for one, am glad we’re not there, though.” Audra shook her head. “I think we should stay here until they’re all better. That does not look fun.” She leaned forward and picked up her phone, sending a text. “I’m messaging Jo. To see if she’s free for a quick call.”
The message no sooner went through than she had a reply. “Yep. Okay.” Setting the phone down, Audra picked up the laptop.
“So, what’s the current bet on when Max and Margot get married?” Edie asked.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Never, if you ask her. He’s ‘just a friend,’” she air-quoted, pitching her voice up.
Brooke snorted. “He says the same thing.”
“Right? It’s so wrong.” Annabeth shook her head. “I’ve never seen two people who belong together more. He’s so good with the twins. And he’s been just what Margot needed to get over Tad’s abrupt departure from their lives.”
Esther didn’t know much about Margot’s past. Only what Edie had told her and what she’d gleaned from her week in Costa Rica. If she didn’t know better, she’d think they were a couple. That those kids were his. One day, it would hit them. The love. She knew that from experience. She hadn’t wanted a relationship with Asher, but her feelings didn’t care. They wanted him, and nothing would stand in their way.
“What have you got?”
Jo’s voice broke through Esther’s thoughts.
“A name,” Audra said. “Bradley Lennox. He’s Lindy Nieman’s ex-boyfriend. She said they met in college. He’s possibly working as an engineer. She said they were both engineering majors, and that he was really gifted. See what you can find out about him. An address would be amazing. Also, do you think you can hack a security system and get some footage of a guy the witnesses to Leah’s abduction fingered?”
“Oy. You don’t ask much.”
A smile tilted Audra’s mouth. “I know you can do it. And if it’s not Bradley Lennox, then we need to find out who it is. It could be no one important. Just a diner with a staring problem. But you’ll work faster than the police.”
“Stroke my ego, why don’t you? Fine. I’ll let you know when I have something.” The computer made a boop sound.
Audra closed the lid and set it on the table. “Well, I guess now we wait.”
Esther’s jaw clenched. Jo’s fingers couldn’t work fast enough.