Chapter 34
Bryan parked outside the sheriff's office and went in. A woman sat behind the front desk. She looked up when the door shut behind him.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Pierce Asher."
"Is he expecting you?"
"No." Hell, he’d just stopped by because he had been at the utility company across the road, and he’d wanted to talk to Asher about…the Gibsons. What was left.
It didn’t feel right to just load it all up in a dumpster and toss everything that was left. It just didn’t. He was half thinking maybe Asher would put him in contact with the remaining Gibson girl. She might want some of her dad’s old things or something.
His phone buzzed, with his daughter’s ring-tone. It was only noon now. She shouldn’t be calling. It was a school day. Unless the school was letting out early because of the incoming weather. Which was a possibility—which meant he’d need to do a kid-pickup run to three different schools.
"Daddy?”
"Yeah." He stilled. She sounded like she’d been crying. And that meant something was definitely wrong. Asa Cassidy Stenson did not cry. His baby girl thought she was too tough for that.
"Can you come get me?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just need you to come get me. Please, Daddy. I don't want to talk about it on the phone. Please. Just come get me.” This wasn’t like his little girl at all.
Something was definitely wrong. But…her tone.
No. He didn’t think she was sick. But something was bothering her.
Asa had never asked to come home from school before.
That kid had had perfect attendance for the last three years. She loved school.
"I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m on my way, baby. I promise.” Bryan put the phone away. The woman behind the desk was watching him. “I was going to wait but…the school. Thank you.”
He’d just call Asher later, or…he had the woman’s card. He’d just call her and tell her what concerned him. But for now…his baby girl needed him.