Herman and Asher had always been at each other''s throats, so when trouble found Asher, everyone''s first thought was that Herman must''ve been behind it.
Anastasia jumped in right away. "No, not a chance. Herman would never do something shady like that. If he really wanted Asher gone, he wouldn''t have given that chip back when he did."
Herman had his weaknesses, and he wasn''t the type to go to extremes, much less stab someone in the back. Catching Asher off guard just wasn''t his style.
When Asher got arrested, Rowan was just as stunned. "When did this even happen? Which police department?”
"J-just now," Riley stammered, "the Einsberg police took Asher."
Riley was funny like that-when things got tense, he spoke smoothly, but let him rx and he''d start tripping over his words.
Hanna shot a look at Rowan, grabbed his arm, and shook her head. "Rowan, you can''t go. If you show up at the station, you''re walking right into a trap."
Back when Julie escaped from police custody, Rowan had helped her, following Asher''s orders. Hiding Julie? Rowan was in on that, too. If the police found out, Rowan would be in just as much trouble.
Rowan pulled his arm free, eyes burning red. "He''s my brother. I have to see him."
No matter what had happened between them, Rowan still cared about family-he couldn''t just watch his brother go down without at least trying to help.
Hanna snapped, "What do you think you can do like this? Don''t forget, you''re carrying four deaths on your conscience."
She turned to Anastasia. "Mrs. Salstrom, Rowan did all that for you. Please, talk him out of this. We can''t let him throw his life away."
Rowan had killed four men-those kidnappers in the cave. Herman knew the truth but never turned Rowan in; if he''d been there, he might''ve done the same. The world wasn''t all ck and white. Herman only cared that Rowan saved Anastasia. As for the kidnappers, Herman couldn''t have cared less.
Anastasia looked at Rowan and said, "You''re still hurt. Don''t go out now. Stay here and heal up. I''ll call Herman-he''s got connections. Let''s find out what''s really going on before you do anything rash. Storming the police station isn''t going to help."
Surprisingly, Rowan listened. He nodded. "Alright. Let Herman check things out first."
"Good." Anastasia agreed, then turned to Hanna. "Keep an eye him for me. I''ll step outside and
make some calls. I''ll let you het
know as soon as I hear anything."
No way was Hanna letting Rowan out the front door.
As soon as Anastasia left, Riley asked, "Rowan, do you think she''ll really help Asher? What if Herman just leaves him hanging-they''re enemies, after all."
Rowan didn''t reply. Everything was happening so quickly, he honestly didn''t know what to do.
...
Anastasia managed to get hold of Herman and told him about Asher''s arrest. He was just as shocked.
Asher was always careful. So much time had passed, and with Julie dead, it seemed impossible the police would suddenly reopen an old case. The timing was suspicious.
When he learned Asher had been taken by the Einsberg police, Herman called Jason.
Jason had just been transferred to Einsberg, so he''d be able to get information quickly.
At the police department, Jason got Herman''s call while he was out on a case and hurried back to the station.
He found his coworker Hank. "Hank, is it true? Did they really bring Asher in?"
"Yeah, about half an hour ago. Zimmerman''s handling the
interrogation,” Hank said. “Honestly, I was@onfused too. Julie''s been dead for ages-why dig all this up again?"
"Who ordered the case reopened?" Jason asked.
"The higher-ups," Hank said, jerking his thumb upward. "Direct orders They say Julie''s case was fishy and needs a
needs a full review. And Jason,
they''re focusing on the Grannie
Anita murder this time."
Jason''s expression turned serious. "This just gotplicated. I''d better call
Herman and give him a heads-up."