Page 92 of Midnight

She needed to know if Asher was okay, if the brothers were okay. But whatever was going on, they didn’t need her crashing the party.

She kept telling herself this is what being married to a cop was going to be like. Knowing his job always carried that measure of danger. Trusting that he knew exactly how to take care of himself, and that he’d always be coming home to her.

But sleep now was impossible. Still in Asher’s old footballjersey, she slipped on a pair of sweatpants and stepped into her fuzzy slippers, and went straight to the living room with her phone. Then she turned on the gas fireplace, curled up in the chair beside it, and waited for him to call.

* * *

As soon as the perps were turned over to the sheriff, Asher sent a text back to Phil Eldredge, the night security guard.

Perps are in custody. You are officially off of guard duty for the Kingston family. Many thanks for your service.

Eldredge saw the text, sent back a thumbs-up emoji, then notified his brother and the main office, and went home.

* * *

Matt Reddick was on the scene in the parking lot of the bar, eyeing the suspects as they were brought out in handcuffs, with the Kingstons right behind them.

“No bloody noses. No bruises. I am impressed,” he said.

Asher didn’t comment, but Freddie had plenty to say.

“Them two was gonna shoot us, and that one was gonna bury us in cement,” Freddie wailed.

“Them two, as you put it, are officers of the law. If you tried to escape, they would have had every right to do so,” Reddick said.

Dylan shrugged. “Mine was more of a promise than a threat, but only if they moved. The complainant did pee his pants, but I didn’t count that against him.”

Reddick knew what this meant to Jacob’s sons, and he was more than slightly surprised by their restraint.

“At any rate, good job, all three of you. I’ll need written statements regarding the arrest, but strictly for the files.”

“If it hadn’t been for your cooperation, and agreeing to the press conference, this wouldn’t have happened,” Asher said. “We owe you.”

“We’ll call it even,” Reddick said. “Go mop up the pee and get some sleep. Give Jacob my best,” he said, then got in his cruiser and followed the deputies who were transporting the prisoners.

And just like that, the law was gone, and the sirens were fading as they drove farther and farther away.

“I’ll mop up the pee,” Gunner said.

“I’m going to call Angie,” Dylan said.

“See you in the morning,” Asher said.

His brothers smiled. “Tell Nora we said hello.”

Asher just kept walking.

* * *

Staring out the darkened windows was like staring into an abyss.

“He’s okay, he’s okay. I know he’s okay. I just need to hear the sound of his voice,” Nora kept saying, repeating it over and over like a prayer.

And then her phone rang. When Asher’s name came up on Caller ID, she was so anxious she dropped the phone, then dropped to her knees, scrambling to pick it up.

“Hello. Asher? I’m up. Are you okay?”

He took a deep breath. “It’s over. We caught them. No one’s hurt. Sheriff Reddick has them and I’m walking to your house. Put a light in the window, darlin’, and unlock the door.”