Shots Fired by A.G. Kirkham

Author:A.G. Kirkham
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781990746093
Publisher: A.G. Kirkham

ELEVEN

Tequila

ZEKE

As much as I appreciate my friends, it feels good to be alone with Jasmine. She’s had a little time to take in the events of the day, and maybe she’s ready to talk.

“Hey, baby.” I plop down next to her on the sofa, my arm coming around the back of it and sliding her closer so that she’s leaning into me. “How are you doing?”

“I want to talk to my parents. I’ve been thinking about this since we left Nick’s office. Mom and Dad both offered to help me find my mother years ago. They didn’t know anything about my father, but I’m pretty sure they looked into the woman who gave me up. Dad said that whenever I was ready, to call them first,” Jasmine says, burrowing deeper into my side.

“I got the phone right here. Ready when you are.”

With a heavy sigh, she sits straight and takes the phone out of my hand to dial. To my surprise, she puts the phone on speaker and sets it on the small table in front of us. It rings only once.

“Jellybean, so good to hear from you. How’s our little girl?” Her father’s voice is bright and cheerful.

“I’m good, Dad.” Jasmine tries to be upbeat, but her tone says it all and her father picks up on it quickly.

“What’s wrong, Jasmine? Do you need me to come home? Your mother and I can be there by morning.”

“No, stay put. Listen, Dad. I have lots to say. Some of it’s great and some of it’s not so great. Is Mom there? Can you put me on speaker?”

“She’s right here, honey.” He moves the phone and calls out to his wife, “Lily, come here, sweetheart. Jasmine’s on the phone.”

A patter of feet is heard.

“Hi, baby girl,” her mother shouts.

“Honey, she’s not deaf. No need to yell,” her father kids.

“Hey, Mom. I have Zeke with me,” Jasmine says. “He’s the man I’ve started seeing. You’ll love him, Dad. He’s a lot like you.”

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Belfour. I was hoping we’d meet in person the first time, but this will have to do,” I say.

“Zeke. What a lovely name,” Lily says.

“Nice to hear your voice, son,” Austin adds.

“He’s a detective. And unfortunately, that’s how we met.” Jasmine eases into the situation at hand. “There’s been a series of weird things that started happening. At first I thought I was clumsy or just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but then it started freaking me out, so I went to the police station. Turns out this is serious, and Zeke’s been looking after me.” Jasmine chooses her words cautiously, clearly not wanting to upset her parents.

Her father, though, isn’t going to settle for a placid response. “How serious? Is someone stalking you?”

“Oh my God,” her mother gasps. “Jasmine, is that right?”

Jasmine looks to me for help. “Sir, I’m going to take you off speaker and I want you to do the same.” I think Austin needs to know the severity of our circumstances, but I don’t want to upset Lily.

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