Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (147 page)

The
sheer
volume
of
law
enforcement
at
the
house
astounded
her.
News
vans
slowly
converged
on
the
neighborhood,
all
hovering
around
the
gates
for
a
story.
Thus
far,
no
one
had
noticed
her
there
alone,
and
hopefully
they
wouldn’t.

At
the
sight
of
William
leading
Ellie
down
the
driveway,
the
crews
began
shouting
questions,
but
he
kept
an
arm
around
her
and
continued
toward
the
gate.
Relieved tears flooding her eyes,
Aggie
tried to watch
his
expression,
but
he
was
too
far
away
to
see
clearly.
Then
a
reporter
turned
to
see
what
had
captured
his
interest.

A
shout
of,
“There
she
is”
panicked
Aggie.
As half the reporters rushed toward her, Wi
lliam
pointed
and
called,
“Get
in
the
car
!”

She
didn’t
hesitate.
The
door
barely
pulled
shut
when
the
first
microphone
was
thrust
at
her.
Never
had
Aggie
appreciated
the
safety
of
glass
and
steel
more.

Ellie’s
confused
face
wrung
Aggie’s
heart.
They were so close, and yet it seemed an age before
William
ordered
the
reporters
and
cameramen
to
back
away
, and he
pushed
Ellie
inside
the car
.
“Go!
Don’t
stop
until
you
get
home—even
to
hug
her,”
he
added
as
he
saw
her
reach
for
the
girl.

For
a
moment,
she
almost
complied.
However,
the
scared
confusion
on
Ellie’s
sweet
face
was
enough
to
ignore
him.
She
crawled
between the seats to the back
and
wrapped
her
arms
around
the
bewildered
child.
“Are
you
ok?”

“I’m
fine,
Aunt
Aggie.
What’s
wrong
and
why
are
all
these
people
here?
The
police
are
in
there.”

“We’ve
been
looking
for
you
for
days.
The
news
is
just
excited
that
you’re
ok.
We’re all excited that you’re safe.
”

Ellie
wiggled
from
her
arms
and
stared
at
her.
“Why?
The
restraining
order
is
over.
Grandmother
said—”

“It
was,
but
William
gave
her
the
new
one
now.”

“But
why
did
you
say
I
could
come
with
her
if—”

“I
said
what?”
Aggie’s
eyes
slid
to
see
if
the
reporters
heard
her.
From
the
way
they
leaned
closer,
it
seemed
as
though
they
did.

“Remember?
When
Josh
came
to
get
me
while
she
was
flying
back
from
Curacao?”
The
child
smiled.
“I
thought
it
was
Luke.”

Quickly
,
Aggie
reached
for
the
horn
and
blared
it.
William
turned,
his
face
darkening
at
the
sight
of
the car
still
there.
He
jogged
back
to
the
vehicle
and
pulled
the
door
open.
“What
are—”

“Get
in.
”

Once
William
was
squished
in
with Ellie between them
,
Aggie
pointed
to
Ellie.
“Tell
William
what
you
just
told
me.”

“About
Josh?”

“Agg
ie,
we’ll
question
her
after
we’ve
processed
Geraldine.
Take
her
home.”

“Processed?
What’s
wrong
with
Grandmother?”

William’s
eyes
widened.
“What’s
wrong
with
her?”
Frowning,
he
added,
“It’ll
be
ok, j
ust
go
home,
and
tell
me
about
it
all
later.”