Page 114 of Pieces of Ash

“No,baby,” says Simmons, giving me a look, “it’snotokay.”

“Don’t be a dick,” I mutter.

“Then try being realistic,” he suggests.

“Did you call the police?” I ask.

Simmons nodded. “Yeah, but they used the siren, of course. It’s the Keystone Kops in these little towns. Raumann’s guys peeled away from the curb before the police arrived. But more’s the better. I didn’t actually want them caught. I just wanted Jock and Gus to have a police report for the insurance claim.”

“So?” I say. “What’s your best guess on Raumann showing up here?”

“Could be later tonight. Could be tomorrow. Could be a week from now. I have no clue.”

“What’s your instinct?”

“By tomorrow,” says Simmons with a heavy sigh. “I called the field office in Albany. They’re sending backup.”

“When’ll they get here?”

“They’ve got to assign someone. Plus, it’s a three-hour ride from there to here.”

“But you said it was urgent, right?”

“I asked for backup,” says Simmons, looking annoyed. “I can’t control when it gets here.”

“What about local police?” I ask. “You want to alert them?”

“They know I’m here,” says Simmons, “but this is a sensitive operation. The less they know, the better.” He lifts a finger and pantomimes a siren, crooning, “Whoo whoo whoo.”

This fucking guy.

“What’s next?” I ask.

“Don’t go to sleep tonight.” He takes a walkie-talkie from his belt loop and hands it to me. “Keep this with you. I’ll radio if someone’s coming up the driveway.”

“What about me?” asks Ashley.

“You’re the bait,” says Simmons. “Do what you always do. When the doorbell rings,youanswer it. Ducharmes, you cover her from the living room. I’ve got the barn. We’ll flank them.”

“And it’ll be okay?” asks Ashley.

“Hope so,” says Simmons at the same time I cry, “Yes!”

Simmons rolls his eyes, and I’m starting to wonder if that ring on his finger is just a fucking prop. What if it washiswife in danger? Would he be this much of a fucking asshole?

“Yes,” I say again, squeezing her gently, “it’ll all be okay.”

I’ll keep you safe, baby. I promise. I promise on my life.

“I’ll be in touch,” says Simmons, stepping back out onto the porch just as a pair of headlights brightens the driveway.

Chapter 20

Ashley

Agent Simmons steps back into the house and switches off the lights in the living room.

“Car coming. Shit. Sooner than I thought.” He pats his chest, but his holster’s empty. We can hear Bruno barking from the barn. “Dog’s locked up, and I left my gun in the barn. I’ll go out the kitchen door and sneak back over there. Ashley, you open the door. We won’t let him take you. We’ll intervene before it gets to that. Julian, you good?”