As though sensing what Reese was thinking, Z looked up and met his gaze.He held it for a few seconds before giving a subtle shake of his head.
Z didn’t want him asking those questions right now.
That acknowledgment only gave Reese many more.
Chapter Seventeen
“This does not look like the way to the high school,” Atticus stated from his spot in the passenger seat of Slade’s truck, his eyes cutting from side to side out the window.
Slade smiled.Nope, they were a few miles out for that.
And for good reason.
No sooner had they finished lunch than Atticus suggested they head over to the high school and talk to the principal.Slade would’ve preferred to talk a bit more, but he understood Atticus’s desire not to.After all, Slade had acted like a world-class jackass bringing up Archer.It wasn’t the first time he’d stuck his foot in his mouth, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.No matter what he told himself, no matter how many times he tried to convince himself that this would be different than every other relationship he’d had, Slade always managed to let his insecurities get the best of him.
While he knew Atticus would eventually forgive him and pretend that nothing happened—that seemed to be the trend—Slade knew of a faster way to get back in Atticus’s good graces.
Hence the brief detour.
He didn’t say a word, continuing to drive while Atticus pulled up the map on his phone.Slade fought the urge to laugh when Atticus held it up, turning it this way and that as though that might change the direction Slade was driving.
“The high school’s the opposite direction,” Atticus said, tapping the screen before shifting that glare Slade’s way.“Where the hell are we goin’?”
“Detour.”
“Where?”
Slade kept his eyes on the road, unwilling to share those details just yet.Sure, he was looking to make things right, but he wasn’t above taking advantage of a situation.Especially not when it allowed him to have some alone time with the man he could not for the life of him stop thinking about.So, yeah, he wanted Atticus to sweat it a bit.After all, this was partly payback for Atticus choosing him to work this case.Seriously.A missing statue, for fuck’s sake.Worse than that, the statue belonged to the high school.The last fucking place Slade cared to ever return to.
Yet, that was where they were goingafterSlade took care of something.
Not that Slade really minded partnering up with Atticus on this case.It was a break from the routine, one he needed in order to maintain his sanity.It wasn’t easy uncovering every stone when looking into cold cases.They were cold for a reason.When every available lead had been exhausted and there were no other avenues to pursue, a case went cold.Some of those they had on their plates had been that way for years.And despite a desperate need to find closure for the families of the victims, they often worked themselves in circles, only to come up with nothing more than what the original detectives came up with.It was mentally and emotionally draining.
So yeah, looking for a statue was a nice break from the norm.
However, Slade figured it was the perfect opportunity to level the playing field before they got started.
“You know this is a dead end, right?”Atticus said, pointing toward a sign that depicted the road ending ahead.
“Yup.”
“And isn’t that…?”Atticus leaned closer to the passenger window.“Isn’t that the lake?”
“Two for two.”
Atticus sighed, his frustration clear.
When Slade reached the end of the road, he made a U-turn before putting the truck inPark.This way, he could see any oncoming vehicles, just in case.
He turned down the radio but left the truck running.
Atticus frowned at him.“What are you doin’?”
He unbuckled his seat belt.
“Slade…”
He pressed the button to move his seat all the way back.
