“Yeah,” he said, smiling as he turned to Brantley.“I like the vibe.”
“They’re a great team.We’ve had some bumps in the road, but our closure rate is high.I can let you look at some case notes if you’d like to get an idea of how we do things.”
“That would be great.”Archer wouldn’t mind checking out the workload or seeing how the other investigators handle their cases.It’d tell him whether or not he would fit in.
After introducing Archer to the team, theyreturned to the house to find Simon and Reese shaking hands.
“That was fast,” Brantley said, watching both men.“Y’all hash it all out without us?”
“Not even close,” Simon answered.“But I think it’s best to meet up at Holt’s apartment.It’s where he’s got all his research.Not to mention, this’ll be a lengthy discussion, and it’s clear you’re both busy.I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”He flashed a grin.“Not yet, anyway.”
“Spoken like a true journalist,” Archer noted.
“Let me get your contact info,” Brantley told Archer.“I’ll get you access to some of our case notes.I think Becs has written up some process notes.I’ll make sure you get those, too.”
“Sure thing,” he said, reaching for the pen Brantley produced.
While he jotted down his email address and phone number, Brantley noticed Reese’s curious glance.He offered a subtle nod, letting him know all was good.At least for the moment.
When they left a few minutes later, Reese gave him a high-level of what he’d talked to Simon about.Meredith Prescott.Mob hit.Adorites.According to Simon, Travis was on board with the idea of Simon pursuing a story about Kylie’s mother.As for what that actually entailed, he had no idea.Wasn’t even sure Simon was clear on it.
“I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.What do you say we get some work done?”
“I’m good with that.”
Brantley headed upstairs to his office so he could dig through his email in search of a light at the end of that dark, ugly tunnel.And, like every time he tackled it, he got sucked in for an hour and a half and accomplished pretty much nothing.He absolutely detested email.Unfortunately, Sniper 1 Security thought it was the be-all-end-all of communication.The majority of the crap he got in his inbox ended up in the trash folder.
“Tesha’s got training with Magnus,” Reese announced as he strolled into Brantley’s office.
“At the old place or new?”
“Old, but I’m gonna help Trey with a few things at the new place, so Magnus is meetin’ us there.”
“What time?”
“Three.”
Brantley glanced at his watch: 14:39.
Twenty-one minutes and Reese only had to travel across the street to make his appointment, leaving Brantley some time to seduce him.Not quite enough time for a quickie, but plenty for…
Oh, yeah.Plenty of time for that.
“What’s your plan for after?”he asked Reese as his body hummed with anticipation.
“If I can, I figured I’d swing by and talk to Holt.See if he’ll give me more on this supposed conspiracy.”
Brantley sat up straight, all amusement disappearing.“You really wanna go down that rabbit hole?”
Reese exhaled heavily.“I don’t know yet.When I think about all that Travis’s family’s been through and how…” Reese cleared his throat.“How we played a role in that.Yeah.I wanna help.More than that, I want answers.I think Travis wants us to do it, too.”
“Why hasn’t he said something?”That was the part Brantley didn’t understand.For some reason, Travis was avoiding them.Was that why?Because he blamed them for what happened?
“I think he’s been holdin’ off.The wedding and all.”
Ah.That made sense, too.Kinda.
“Now that it’s done,” Reese continued, “and Simon’s lookin’ to dig in his heels, I think it’s only a matter of time before Travis comes to us.”
