Page 140 of Out on a Limb
Elaine took a few slow steps his way, until she was staring down at him.
Alan stopped moving immediately, his eyes wide as he tried to scoot away from where she stood.
“Would you care to offer me any names, Mr. Long?”
Alan’s thin lips pressed together.
“Suit yourself.” Elaine slowly lowered to a crouch. “But you should know, I don’t appreciate bad behavior.” She reached out to grab his chin, pinching it in her fingers as she turned his head from side to side. “You should get that nose looked at. It appears to be broken.” She released him with a flick of her wrist, the move jerking his head to one side.
Elaine stood, taking a tissue from her pocket to wipe the smear of Alan’s blood from her fingers. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again, Mr. Long.” Her lips lifted in a small smile that didn’t really make sense. “Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”
Alan’s skin went completely white and he was no longer trying to wiggle away.
As the sound of sirens carried in through the door I’d kicked in, Elaine’s attention came to me. “I’m so glad the three of us were able to find her so easily.”
I missed a lot of things, but I picked up Elaine’s meaning immediately. “Me too.”
Tires screeched to a stop in front of the million-dollar house where Alan lived. Elaine’s entire demeanor changed in a flash as she faced the door, hands to her face as she rushed the chief’s way. “Oscar, I’m so glad you’re here.”
* * *
COLLETTE
“YOU DOING OKAY?” Andrew reached across the Jeep to grab my hand with his.
“I think so.” I was a little achy from being thrown into a van and the skin on my wrists was raw from being tied up, but other than that I was fine.
A little too fine maybe.
“I feel like I should be freaking out more than I am.”
“Maybe you’re in shock.” Andrew’s eyes came my way, staying longer than they should considering he was driving. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
“I’m not in shock.” Unless shock felt a whole lot like relief.
Alan was out of the way, and while we might not know who he was working with, I had my suspicions.
And they centered on whoever owned the property behind the gardens.
Which reminded me.
“We need to go to the bank.”
Andrew glanced my way. “We need to go home so you can rest.”
I did want to rest, but not until I went to the bank. “We have to go to the bank.”
Andrew stared at me a second longer before turning to face out the windshield. “Hmph.”
“Don’thmphme.” I dug into my purse. “I promise it will be worth it.”
I’d almost taken the contents of the box with me earlier, but something told me to leave it all there.
And thank God I did.
Not that the truth wouldn’t have come to light eventually.
Hopefully.
