Storm Gathering by Rene Gutteridge

Author:Rene Gutteridge [Gutteridge, Rene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Suspense, Suspense, FICTION / Religious
ISBN: 9780842387651
Publisher: Tyndale
Published: 2005-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

In the spare bedroom of his house, Aaron lifted dumbbells, trying to work out all the nervous energy that had taken his appetite and replaced it with an intense headache.

The doorbell rang, and Aaron wiped the sweat from his face as he walked to the front door and opened it. Shep Crawford and Detective Prescott were standing on his porch. He wrapped the towel around his neck and grasped the ends of it with his hands.

Crawford’s intensely wild eyes narrowed in scrutiny. “Can we come in?”

Aaron opened the door farther and led the two into his living room, gesturing for them to sit wherever they wanted. Aaron sat on the brick hearth in front of the fireplace. He was still breathing hard.

“You heard from him?” Crawford asked, sitting on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped together, his forearms propped on his knees.

“Nope.”

“Any idea where he might go, Aaron?”

He didn’t like the way Crawford used his first name. It was deliberate and patronizing. “I have no idea,” Aaron said firmly. “He could be in Texas, Mexico, or three houses down. I don’t know why he ran. I know he was concerned about Taylor, felt guilty for not being able to help her that night.” He blinked tiredly. He didn’t mean to, but he was beyond exhaustion. The words were hard to drag out of his mouth.

“Okay if we look around?”

“Fine. He’s not here, Crawford. Give me a break. You’ve had a car out there night and day. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to come here anyway.”

“Mind if we check your truck out there?”

Aaron hung his head. This was impossible. “Whatever. It’s unlocked. Go ahead.”

Crawford nodded toward Prescott, who rose and went outside.

“Should lock your truck, you know,” Crawford mumbled.

Aaron stood, his legs restless with anxiety.

Crawford stood as well, glancing out the front window toward Prescott before he said, “I don’t think he did it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What else? Your brother. I’ve looked over all the evidence from the crime scene. I think there are things pointing to the fact that your brother didn’t do it. Like leaving his phone number.”

“Nobody else is seeing it that way.”

“It’s because he’s an easy target. He was there, and he’s had problems in the past.”

Aaron watched Prescott rummage through his pickup. He looked at Crawford. “What’s going on here?”

Crawford sighed, scratching at his messy hair. “Look, Kline, the best thing your brother could do is turn himself in so I can use my manpower to figure out what really happened. Instead, I’ve got everybody looking for him. And as you’re well aware, we never had this conversation.”

“I don’t know where he is.”

“If he contacts you, urge him to turn himself in.”

“He won’t contact me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Aaron looked away from Crawford’s concentrated stare. “We don’t see eye to eye on things. We don’t speak much anymore.”

“Is that so?” Crawford’s fidgety mannerisms were making Aaron nervous. He’d never seen a man with more tics.

“I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing here,” Aaron said, “but I don’t like it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.