“Wedid good. I can’t believe it’s real.”
“Are you the kind of person who can take a goodI told you so?”
I laugh. “Yes.”
“I’ll tuck that information away for future reference.”
I look at the rusty metal box, then back up at Davis. “Are you giving it to Pop?”
“Cooper.”
“JustCooper?”
“You should probably call Tillie Jean and Grady. Get them out here too. All three of them should know.”
I nod, and then I lift the thing so he can take it.
It feels almost anticlimactic.
We spent almost a week looking, we found it, and now it’s over.
You did the thing. Now go back to doing real life.
It’s Friday.
Once we take it to Cooper, I could go back to work.
Or go pick up my house.
Or—
Giselle makes a noise, and Davis pauses over me.
“Stay here.” His voice is quiet again. Tense. “Be right back.”
Like I’m going anywhere.
I’m in a hole and I don’t exactly have the body strength he does to pull myself out.
Giselle makes another noise.
At least, I think that’s Giselle.
“Davis?” I whisper.
No answer.
Just bushes rustling.
And then— “I’ll take that, you ugly piece of shit.”
Oh my god.
That’s Patrick.
That’s Patrick.
“No,” Davis replies.
