Ask for Andrea (Ask for Andrea, #1)

by Noelle W. Ihli

I wanted to believe that the young couple at the bar would call the police. That the gruff bartender with salt-and-pepper whiskers would tackle him to the ground the moment he grabbed April’s arm. Would the camo-clad hunters gathered around the table in back reach for the backpack on the floor that—just maybe—contained some type of weapon? I already knew it wouldn’t happen like that. The girls were afraid of a bear—not their dad. As soon as they saw him, they would rush to him in relief, throwing their little arms around his waist and cowering away from April as she screamed for them to stop. I could already imagine the customers’ anxious looks of concern fading as James disappeared out the door with all three of them into the parking lot, apologizing for April’s seemingly insane behavior while the girls clung to him in fear and April thrashed. The bartender, and the young couple and the hunters would exchange wary looks that said “What the hell was that?” and then hesitantly turn back to their beer or their burger. Later, when they were interviewed for the news, they’d say, “I knew something was off about him.” For now though, they would give him the benefit of the doubt. The burden of proof was high to get involved with a stranger’s business. I probably wouldn’t have done anything different if I were still alive.