Atticus’s mouth opened, but he closed it just as quickly. He’d been gearing up for an explanation or excuse. Now he was stunned speechless.
Reese grinned. “What did you think I was gonna say?”
“Pretty much anything but that.”
“Brantley and I talked last night. Your probationary period is up. Provided you’re still interested, we’d like to welcome you permanently to the team. Are you?”
“What? Interested?” Atticus did his best to hide his excitement. “Yeah. Damn straight I am.”
Reese smiled, and Atticus was sure it was the first time the man had ever really smiled at him.
“Good.” Reese relaxed again. “I know you’ve been workin’ one-offs with Baz for the past couple of months, but once you’ve completed the training course, we’ll set you up with your own cases and add you to the rotation for assignments. Once you have a partner, that is.”
Atticus’s brain replayed the words, and he backed up. “Training course?”
“In Dallas. It’s an all-inclusive, six-week-long course. It’s mostly interactive, combat training, firearms … that sort of thing. So I think you’ll do fine.”
Evidently, Atticus’s inability to sit still for long periods hadn’t gone unnoticed by his bosses.
“And yes, before you ask, everyone here’s been through it. Investigators, anyway.”
Atticus had figured as much.
“While you’re gone, Brantley and I are gonna put out some feelers to get you a permanent place to live. You can’t go week to week in a motel anymore.”
Well. Looked as though his inability to sit wasn’t all they’d noticed.
“Okay. And a partner? Will I come back to one?”
“Probably not. But we’ll start lookin’. I’ll ensure you’ve got a say in who we hire.”
That surprised him.
Atticus couldn’t remember the last time anyone asked his advice on anything. He was a loner. Had been for most of his life. It was the reason he’d taken up bounty hunting as a career. It allowed him to work on his own and not worry about checking in with anyone. But a partner … having watched Slade and Evan, Brantley and Reese, plus Charlie and Jay, he could see how it might be beneficial. Not to mention, watching Brantley’s reaction to Decker going off on his own the way he had, Atticus was starting to see the logic of having someone watching his back.
“When do I leave?”
“Monday. If you have anything you need to store, bring it here. We’ll figure out a place for it.”
Atticus didn’t have anything. He’d sold or given away all the possessions he’d owned before he took the job. He had his clothes, and that was about it.
Reese pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Welcome to the team, Atticus.”
He swallowed a lump that formed in his throat but managed to shake Reese’s hand without busting into tears. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“No,” Reese said with a grin. “Weappreciate it. Seriously.”
Atticus remained in the conference room, staring after Reese when he walked out. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve this, but he knew, no matter what, he was not going to let Reese or Brantley down.
After all, they were the only people who’d ever given him anything worth living for.
***
Brantley woke up to the emptiness inhis head caused by the migraine medicine. Like he had cotton between his ears. He disliked the feeling but would take it over the headache any day.
His body was stiff, which told him he’d spent far too long in bed. He knew before looking that it was later in the day, but he glanced at the clock anyway.
He groaned.
