A honk sounded, snapping his attention up from his phone.Slade saw Braydon’s big black Ford pulling in and appreciated the guy pulling his mind out of the gutter.
Slade waited for Braydon to park, then walked over.
“Hey, man,” Braydon greeted, hopping out of his truck.“Thanks for meetin’ me.I’m just runnin’ in to grab a to-go order.”
Slade fist-bumped his cousin when Braydon reached him.
“Ethan said you found somethin’.”
Braydon’s face split into a shit-eating grin.“You’re not gonna like it.”
“Then why’re you smilin’?”
“Because it’s kinda genius.”
Frowning, Slade waited for Braydon to continue.
“It’s definitely a prank.A good one.I’m just glad your mama got Brantley involved and not the police.”
“Why’s that?”
“Yeah, the kids stole the statue, but they didn’t deface it.From what I hear, it’s in the exact same shape as when they took it.”
“So why take it?”
“They’re plannin’ to relocate it.”
“To?”
Braydon paused, his grin huge.“I really think you should just go to the homecoming game tonight to see it for yourself.”
Frowning, Slade stared at his cousin.
“Look.I agree, it was overkill to take the statue,” Braydon explained.“I don’t think they’d thought it through when they did.Call it spur-of-the-moment stupidity, or simply opportunity.They took it and they plan to bring it back unharmed.”
“Who?”
Braydon canted his head.“Now you know I can’t tell you that.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously, man.”Braydon’s expression sobered.“Just go to the game tonight.See for yourself.”
Clearly he wasn’t getting anywhere with Braydon.He should’ve known one of the reigning high-school-prank-kings would protect whoever took the statue.
Again, not that Slade really gave a damn.
“So, will we see you tonight?”Braydon asked, backing away.
Slade nodded.“We’re havin’ dinner with my folks before the game, so yeah, probably.”
“Cool.”Braydon offered a clipped salute before spinning on his heel and hurrying toward the diner.
Slade stood there, watching him go, trying to figure out what prank could possibly need them to steal the damn horse statue.
He came up with nothing.
Chapter Thirty-One
