Under the Aspens (The Aspen Series) by Elizabeth Sherry Read Free Book Online Page B

He vowed, when all this is done, she would never cry again.  It hurt too much to see her hurt.
    Sitting up now, she searched Glen’s face for some sign that he hadn’t told her everything.  All she saw was love and worry.
    “What do you think could have happened to Brad?” she asked Glen.
    “We can’t go there.  We can’t think of all the worse scenarios.  We have to believe he is alright. Maybe we can get some answers at his place. Feel like getting dressed and taking a drive?”
    “Yes.  And if I haven’t told you today how wonderful you are, I’m saying it now. You didn’t have to stand by me through all this, but you have.  I don’t know what I would’ve done without you these past few days. And I don’t want to do without you anymore.”
    Leaning forward, she touched her lips to his, in a soft peck, and then left her bed. Deciding on jeans and shirt, she was dressed and ready in five minutes. She almost forgot to brush her teeth, she was so anxious to go. After brushing her teeth, she brushed her hair, put it in a ponytail, and then she found Glen, and they were off.
    “I need to call Cathy.  I don’t think I should go to the shop for a few days, and I need her to call Robin to work part-time this week.” Funny, Sher now thought about the deli. Too many awful things have happened to take her mind off her business. The deli was her whole life, or used to be.
    Robin had worked on and off part time for the Deli since Sher opened it.  She filled in when needed.  Hopefully she was available now.  Sher didn’t want to involve anyone else in this mess.  Things were too dangerous.  It’s best if she stayed away from work.
    The drive to Brad’s apartment took almost an hour.  He didn’t live in Northglenn.  His apartment was in Aurora, close to his construction office.  Funny how Brad and William, owned the same type of business, yet they were such different businessmen.  William built businesses for the highest bidder, while, Brad built homes for families.
    After they arrived in front of Brad’s apartment building, Glen reached over and retrieved his gun from the glove box. He had his secondary gun in his ankle holster, but you can’t be too careful. He learned the past few days, you couldn’t be unprepared.  Anything could happen, and usually did.
    Sher reached up to knock on the door, when they heard noises which came from inside. No normal, everyday noise.  This sounded like a tornado was inside the apartment. Glen pulled her away from the door and said, “Stay behind me.  If I say run, you run and lock yourself in the jeep and call 911.”
    Nodding her head, she agreed.
    Glen tried the door handle, and wasn’t surprised that he found the door unlocked.  Slowly he pushed the door open and he aimed his gun straight ahead, then left, and right.  No one was in the living room. But they left signs that they were there not too long ago. The sofa was ripped apart, book shelves upturned.  Even the computer was in pieces on the floor.
    The noise now came from Brad’s bedroom.  Glen slowly walked down the hall, with Sher close behind.  Looking in the bedroom, Glen saw the back of a man.  He was the same man from the parking garage.  The guy didn’t know he had company yet.  He made too much noise to have heard them behind him.
    Glen got close enough to put his gun to the back of the guy’s head. “Down on the floor. NOW!  And don’t move.”
    Surprised, the guy dropped to the floor.  He turned his head to the side and saw Sher, “You better give the Boss what he’s looking for, or you won’t be so pretty when he gets done with you.”
    “Shut up.  No one told you to talk,” Glen said, as he tied the guy’s hands behind his back with an extension cord he found next to the bed. He, then ripped some cord from the window shade, and tied the man’s feet together.  Pulling his phone from his coat pocket, he dialed his partner, giving him the address. He hung up the phone