Atticus frowned at his computer screen.“Thanks.”
“Since you look bored, I’ve got a case I need you to work on.”
The way the man slowly lifted his head was comical.As though he was rerunning the words again and again, trying to ensure he heard correctly.
“I thought you wanted me to be partnered up before?Is Archer startin’ already?”
Ignoring the man’s questions, he said, “Do you want the case or not?”
Atticus eyed him suspiciously.“Maybe I should know what it is first.”
“Not the deal.You either want it or you don’t.”
“Yeah,” Atticus blurted.“Of course I do.”
“Good.And no, Archer’s not startin’ yet, so I’ll let you pick a partner this time around.”
“Can you give me some of the details first?”
“It’s local,” Brantley told him.“Missing for about forty-eight hours or so.”
That seemed to get his attention.“Who is it?”
“Not a who.Awhat.”
Atticus frowned.Slade and Evan snickered.
“I change my mind.I don’t want it.”
“Too late.It’s yours.”
Atticus glared at him.“You play dirty, boss.”
Brantley laughed.“I play to win.”
“Fine.It’s my case.Whatam I finding?”
“The bronze mustang statue at Coyote Ridge High School went missin’ in the last coupla days.They want it back.”
Atticus’s lips parted, his eyes widening.It was obvious he was waiting for the punchline.
“Unless you can’t handle it.”
The laughter grew louder, with Luca and Jay chiming in.
“I can handle it,” Atticus said firmly.“Just not sure Iwantto.”
“Good thing you don’t have a choice.”
Slade doubled over, his laughter echoing in the barn.
Atticus’s glare alternated with pinpoint accuracy, shifting from Brantley to Slade and then back.
Brantley had to give the kid credit.Back when he first came on board, Atticus would’ve lost his shit if he thought he was going to have to deal with something like this.He was holding it together pretty well.
Atticus stood.“Fine.I need to know who to talk to.”
“I’ll write it down for you,” Brantley assured him.“You also need a partner.”
