Alison Stone - Plain Pursuit

A man about her brother’s age stepped out of the open garage, wiping his hands on a dirty rag. Something flashed in his eyes when he saw Anna. His unshaven face and buzz cut made her think of her brother’s appearance when he got off the plane six months ago from his service in the Middle East. The man wore oil-stained jeans and a ripped T-shirt. It appeared they had pulled him away from his work.

“You must be Daniel’s sister,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’d see the resemblance even if Eli hadn’t contacted me to tell me you were on your way.” He stuffed the rag in his back pocket. “Sorry. That was horrible what happened to him. I hear my cousin Tiffany’s putting up a good fight, though.”

Anna’s eyelids fluttered. “Oh, I’m sorry. Tiffany is your cousin?”

The man gave her a solemn nod.

“Did you know my brother well?” she asked, eager to get any information she could.

He jerked his thumb toward the steps. “Daniel rented out the garage apartment. He was busy on some photography project.” He narrowed his gaze. “I think he was putting photographs together for a book or something. People seem to be fixated on the Amish.” He hooked one thumb through his belt loop. “It’s beyond me.”

“Did he tell you about his project?” Anna asked. Her gaze drifted to Eli, who stood off to the side with his hands loosely crossed over his broad chest.

“Yeah, he seemed eager to wrap up the project and move on all of a sudden. I figured he needed to finish the job to get paid.” He rolled his eyes. “There’s not much to do in this town.”

“Do you have the key?” Eli asked. “Anna would like to see her brother’s apartment.”

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring filled with keys. “Sure, man.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name,” Anna said as they moved toward the stairs leading to the second-story apartment.

“Tom Hanson.”

Something jogged in her memory. “Did you know my brother from when he went to college in the area?” Something about the way he was staring at her—almost through her—unnerved her.

“A little bit. He and my cousin Chase, Tiffany’s brother, were tight.” Jangling the keys, he scrunched up his face, thinking. “They were in the same fraternity at Genwego. I wasn’t the college type. I went to trade school. I do pretty good as a handyman and jack-of-all-trades for my aunt and uncle.”

“Tiffany Christopher’s parents?”

Tom nodded. “My mom and Aunt Beth are sisters. My mom married some loser and moved up to Buffalo a bunch of years ago. Aunt Beth and Uncle Richard have always looked out for me.”

Anna glanced at the main house, her chest growing tight. “Is this...their house?” She should have thought of that the minute he introduced himself as Tiffany’s cousin. She imagined the back door swinging open and Mrs. Christopher emerging, fury in her dark eyes.

Eli smiled gently and mouthed the words, It’s okay.

“Doctor Richard Christopher, Senior, lives here. He’s like a grandfather to me. I hang around in case he needs anything.” He held up his hands. “Ah, don’t worry. I’m the black sheep of the family. It’s my Uncle Richard that runs this town. I’m just another one of their servants.” He smirked. “Long story.” He shrugged. “Actually, I don’t mind. It’s steady work. Good pay. Not much else going on jobwise in the booming metropolis of Apple Creek.” Tom separated a key from the ring. “Here.”

Eli took it from him. “We’ll keep this. I’ll return it in a few days after Anna goes through her brother’s things.”

Anna’s attention shifted to the stairwell leading to her brother’s apartment and she suddenly felt light-headed. Eli flashed her a concerned glance and she forced a smile.

“I think I should hold on to that key.” A deep line marred Tom’s forehead.

“It’s fine,” Eli assured him. “It’s the beginning of the month. Daniel’s paid up to the end, right? I’ll hold on to the key.”

“I guess so.” Tom stuffed the key ring back into his pocket.

The wood creaked under their weight as they climbed the steps. At the top landing, Eli had reached out to insert the key into the lock when the door swung inward. Anna’s heart plummeted. Eli held out his arm to stop her forward momentum. “Wait here.”

She covered her mouth to stifle her shock. Papers littered the floor. A lamp was upended. Couch cushions had been tossed across the small space. Anna’s shoulder hit the doorframe, her knees having gone weak, and she fell to the floor.

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