Archer laughed.“Or you could give me key points.Up to you.”
“Grew up in Garland, north of here.My mom overdosed, dad’s MIA.My grandmother tried to raise me.Died.I went into the foster care system at fourteen, ran away at seventeen.Met a guy who made bounty hunting look like a glamorous job.Did that until Reese’s mom Louisville Slugger’d me when I was huntin’ her ex-boyfriend.Reese and Brantley felt sorry for me, hired me on.Not married, no kids.In a semi-relationship, but it’s complicated.And by that, I mean it’s straight up fucked-up and I can’t really explain it.”
Archer laughed.“You said it with a smile, so I’ll assume fucked-up’s your kinda jam.”
Atticus barked a laugh.“Never thought of it that way, but maybe.”
“You’ll have to tell me the full story about the baseball bat and Reese’s mom sometime,” Archer told him before pointing at a sign.“Gary’s is up here on the right.”
Atticus pulled into the lot, parking in one of the four available spaces near the front door.
“Well, I guess we should see what Dave and Julie have to say.Since we’re here and all,” Atticus said, shutting off the truck.
When Atticus got out of the truck, Archer followed, meeting him at the front door of the small office.No sooner did he pull open the door than Slade walked out, a frown marring his features.
“What’re you doin’ here?”Slade asked Atticus, his tone biting.
“We were followin’ a lead.”
“We?”Slade glared at Archer.“Since when did y’all become awe?”
Uh-oh.Archer wasn’t sure what was happening, but he got the feeling that Atticus’s complicated relationship involved a very pissed off Slade Elliott.
“Since he accepted the job yesterday,” Atticus told him.“Come out here and shut the door.”
Archer backed up, giving Slade space to join them rather than share their business with everyone in the office.
“You could’ve called,” Slade said when the door closed.“Told me you were working with him.”
“When would I’ve done that, Slade?We saw each other in the park, I picked his brain about the case, and I asked him to come with me to talk to the owners.”
“Why were you in the park?”
Realizing this conversation had a personal undercurrent, Archer walked around to the back of the truck, giving them space.He kept walking until he could no longer make out what they were saying.It was, however, impossible to mistake Slade’s tone.He was clearly unhappy with the fact Archer was along for the ride.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Slade!He’s my goddamn partner.”
Archer tried to recall the drive in, wondering how long it would take him to walk back to the B&B.An hour.Two?Probably less time than it would take Slade to get over being pissed.
“No, Slade.Dammit.”Atticus appeared at the side of the truck.“Archer!Let’s go.”
While he wasn’t used to being ordered around by people he just met, Archer figured now wasn’t a good time to argue.Atticus obviously got enough of that with Slade.
Doing his best to look contrite, Archer headed back over, got in the truck.He didn’t look at Slade or Atticus, didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t until they were nearing the B&B fifteen minutes later that Atticus finally spoke up.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize.And you don’t have to explain.”
“Good.Like I said earlier, it’s fucked-up.”Atticus sighed.“You’ll be at the meeting, right?”
“I was summoned, so yeah.”
“Well, I guess I’ll see you there in a bit.”
Not sure what to say, Archer nodded and got out of the truck.
