Baz cupped her face.“Whatever you want.I’ll be there because you’ll be there.”
She smiled, then leaned in to kiss him.
And she realized, she’d been wrong earlier.It was possible to be happier than she’d been a few minutes ago.But nothing could ever surpass this.She was sure of it.
The day flew by before Atticus evenrealized it had.
The entire team was diligently working on following leads and tracing patterns in an effort to determine whether Kylie Walker was alive.Brantley and Reese had spent hours in Johnson City with nothing to show for their efforts.While they were driving around, Evan and Becs took another trip to the motel to talk to Decker and Meredith.Unfortunately, they didn’t get anything more from them than they already had.But not for lack of trying.According to Evan, Decker was agitated and definitely hiding something.
Charlie’d had the most success.She had shifted her focus from Allison Bogart to Juliet Prince, confirming that Juliet was in fact Martin Calloway’s daughter.According to her update, they had undergone a private adoption, and it did not look like the Arondas had ever told Juliet that she wasn’t their biological child.There was no trace of her ever attempting to have the records unsealed.Charlie was also able to determine that Martin was the one who selected the parents, which meant he was well aware of where Juliet was at all times.And more than likely, he had something on the Arondas that he could use to blackmail them if he needed to.
At least that seemed to be hismodus operandi.
Not that the adoption confirmation had done anything to help them find Kylie, but it did point toward a possible motive and might help them determine Calloway’s intentions.
As for the DNA results from the blood they found in the house—which could clear up one enormous question—they hadn’t yet heard from the lab.According to Brantley, they would get something by the end of the day.He hoped.
Atticus glanced at his watch.It was after six, so he had to wonder what Sniper 1 Security considered the end of the day.Most of the team had gone home, taking their laptops so they could be available if needed.He knew the team, knew they were likely logging back on as soon as they had their personal lives situated for the evening.Like Atticus, most of them spent just as much time online at home as they did in the office.
He heard the distinctive beep of a passcode being entered outside the door, so he looked up.A second later, Archer walked in.
“Hey.I figured you’d be at home by now,” Archer said as he walked toward him.
I might be if I had a home.
“Just wanted to finish up a few things.”Atticus leaned back.“What brought you back?”
“Same.Figured I could do some research while it was quiet.”
It was definitely quiet.
Archer pulled out his chair to sit.“I meant to ask earlier, have you heard anything on the case Luca and Slade are workin’ on?Do you think they might be back in the office tomorrow?”
“I haven’t, no,” he said.
“Thought maybe Slade would give you an update.”
“We’re kinda at odds right now,” he muttered.“Apparently, buyin’ your partner drinks equates to a night of cheating.”
Archer went still beside him.“Oh, shit.Man, I’m sorry.I hope you cleared it up for him.”
Atticus snorted.“Clear as mud.”
“If it’ll help, I’ll be happy to tell him we were just talking.”
Looking up, Atticus sighed.“It doesn’t matter anymore.Slade kicked me out of the house.”
“Shit.”Archer turned toward him.“What about … sorry, I forgot the other guy’s name.”
“Carson?”
“Yeah.What about him?Y’all working it out?”
“No,” he said, although he wasn’t sure of anything when it came to Carson.According to Slade, that was over, too.And since he hadn’t heard from Carson all day—not even a response to the text message he’d sent a few hours ago—he was inclined to believe Slade.
What bothered Atticus the most about the whole situation was the fact that he honestly didn’t care that it had burned to the ground.He knew he should feelsomething.Anger, sadness, confusion.Something other than resignation and a strong desire to move on with his life.The end of a relationship shouldn’t be like that, should it?
“If there’s anything I can do…”
