thing to do with cops was be honest.
That settled it in my mind.
“I love working with Isadora. She’s a sweet girl. She’s bright, determined, and she’s got a good heart. But I have to be honest.”
I saw Ash turning towards me, but I didn’t let myself look over at him. What was the point?
“The girl could get distracted on her way to the bathroom, even if her bladder was about to bust.” I knew Ash was staring at me and I felt a blush start in my cheeks, but I kept going. “She starts projects and stops two minutes later. She’ll look for her phone while it’s in her hand. She’ll look for her jacket while she’s wearing it. She composes emails and half-way through, she forgets what she’s writing about. The girl is like the energizer bunny on speed.”
Both Ash and Green were staring at me now.
I twisted my fingers together. “The fact of the matter is, I’m surprised she can make it down the stairs without somebody reminding her that she needs to eat breakfast. She’s so focused on what she wants to do she forgets about what she needs to do.”
Ash was glaring at me.
I ignored him.
“And what does she want to do?” Green asked curiously.
“Save the world.” I smiled now, a strange little lurch of protectiveness settling inside me. “Isadora Lang is probably the most flighty woman I have ever met in my life, but she hired me because she knows it, and she wants big things. With her passion, the world better look out. Because she just might change it. Whether the world wants it or not.”
I heard a sharp intake of air and dared to glance over at Ash.
I was prepared for his fury.
But the look he was giving me was something I couldn't quite place, but that made me more nervous than I liked.
Flushing, I shoved myself to my feet. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you much.”
Green gave me a strange look. “Oh, you told me quite a bit.”
Forcing a smile, I excused myself and left the room. I needed some water and some air.
***
When I came back nearly thirty minutes later, it was to find Ash shouting at Green.
Green didn’t look concerned.
She stood there listening with her hands crossed in front of her, her head cocked to one side as she listened. There was an expression on her face that seemed to say she found this whole thing terribly fascinating. But not compelling – as in, she wasn’t compelled to go and investigate anything just yet.
“I’m very sorry, Mr. Lang. But the fact he’s a meat packer doesn’t give credence to anything.”
Ash’s eyes narrowed and he shoved a finger into Green’s face. His entire face was flushed. “If anything happens to my sister because of your lack of action–”
Shit.
Pasting a smile on my face, I shoved between them and put my hands on Ash's chest. I had a feeling that if I tried to touch Green, I'd end up in handcuffs. “This isn't going to help find Isadora.” I kept my voice soft, even.
A muscle jumped in his cheek, but he let me ease him back a couple steps.
“I’ll look into it,” Green said. “That’s all I can promise. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Lang, Miss Gallagher.”
I had the feeling the lieutenant decided to take advantage of my showing up to vacate the room.
Once she did, Ash’s eyes narrowed in on me.
My heart lurched and I had to fight the urge to back up a pace. I had no reason to. I hadn’t done anything.
“How could you let this happen?”
“I…” I sucked in a breath and then let the question go through my head once more. Yes, he had just said what I thought. I managed to keep my voice even. “How could I let what happen?”
“You were supposed to take care of her!”
“I’m supposed to help her!” I countered, the statement coming out from between clenched teeth. I had to remind myself that he was worried about his sister.
“And you show it by letting her get kidnapped!” His roar echoed around the room and I couldn’t control my flinch.
I jerked my spine straight as he came
Rachael Keogh
A. J. Cronin
Ronin Winters
Melanie Schuster
Tracy Wolff
T.A. Chase
John Fowles
Loki Renard
Allison Rios
Lorhainne Eckhart