Page 84 of Emergency Exit
When Vivian arrived, Ash wasn’t sure what to say to the auburn-haired paralegal.
“Um... Do we know anything about what’s going on with C-H-L-O-E?” he asked, tilting his head at Olly.
“No,” said Vivian, tossing down her purse and taking off her jacket. “I was on my way to meet Rowan for dinner when he rerouted me. Which I have to say is...”
“Not reassuring?” supplied Ash.
“No!”
“Forest said Chloe’s brother was violent. Like, do we think...”
“Yes! I’m...” Vivian made a dramatically scared face.
“Me too!”
They stared at each other. Ash had never had anyone to worry about his brothers with before. He generally avoided telling their mom because he specifically didn’t want her to worry.
“Well,” said Vivian valiantly, “Rowan is on his way, so I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Right,” said Ash, but he could see that Vivian was also unconvinced.
An hour later, Rowan called, but Ash wasn’t sure that made him feel better.
“So, then Forest did what?” Vivian sounded as confused as Ash felt. It felt odd to be crowding in next to her to talk to Rowan on speaker. Not bad. Just odd to be sharing the space.
“He sent the police detective an email and then went to get Chloe himself.”
“An email?” Ash repeated, dumbstruck by his brother’s stupidity.
“Well, some people may not trust the police to get things done in a timely manner,” said Vivian loftily. “And might choose to handle things by themselves.”
“Baby,” growled Rowan. “Do we really want to open that discussion again?”
Vivian grinned silently and gleefully, so entirely pleased with herself that Ash nearly laughed and ruined it for her even though he wasn’t sure what the joke was.
“Can you two stop flirting for two seconds?” demanded Ash. “I’m still confused about what Forest thought he was doing.”
“Kicking ass and taking name, as far as I can tell. You know Forest. He’s Mr. Plan-it-Out until he gets pissed off, and then he’s Mr. Punch-Them-in-the-Face. But apparently, Chloe was working with the police and wearing a wire. She got her brother on tape saying that he’d attacked the homeless encampment. Although, she also did some ass-kicking.”
“Chloe, kick!” crowed Olly triumphantly, demonstrating with one flailing leg.
“Uh… yeah, I should mention that she knows kung fu,” said Ash.
“Oh, that’s cool,” said Vivian.
“She was really upset when Forest told her Olly kicked you in the shin,” said Rowan.
“That’s nice of her,” said Ash.
“She wanted to be there to see it,” said Rowan.
“That’s less nice,” said Ash, although he felt like he’d earned it for all the mean things he’d been thinking about Chloe.
“But we said he could kick you again when they got home.”
Vivian let out a surprised giggle.
“Thanks a bunch,” said Ash in exasperation.
