“We don’t have confirmation on anything yet, but we did find a house that looked to be where Calloway was holdin’ someone.We have no idea who it was, or why they were there.”
He processed the words at a much slower rate than Reese spoke them.
“The place was cleared out,” Brantley added.“But we did find some blood.Not a lot, but enough to get a sample.Z’s havin’ the lab run it.Hopefully it’s enough to get DNA.”
Travis’s chest felt as though it was filled with air.His stomach flip-flopped, and he was positive his hearing cut out for a moment.It was very similar to when Brantley told him they thought Kylie was alive.He hadn’t believed it at the time, but now he did.He couldn’t explain why, knew it was irrational on so many levels.Yet, he couldn’t deny it either.
And this information only added to his hope.
“You okay?”Reese asked.
Travis nodded.“Tell me what you need me to do.”
Brantley frowned.“What’re you talkin’ about?”
“You’re lookin’ for my wife, aren’t ya?You think she’s alive.”
Brantley didn’t respond, simply stared.
“Tell me what I can do to help.”
Brantley looked at Reese.“Am I hallucinatin’?I mean, I’m hungry, so it’s possible, right?”
Travis resisted the urge to punch his cousin in the mouth.If it weren’t for the fact he felt like he was alive for the first time in nearly two years, he would have.
But he had decided last night that it was time to take a page from his daughter’s book.If Kate could believe without even knowing there was a possibility her mother was alive, then so the fuck could he.
After taking a quick shower and gettingdressed, Atticus sent Archer a text, asking if he was ready.
Last night, after they’d gotten back to Coyote Ridge, Atticus had intended to drop Archer off at the B and B and then head back to HQ to grab a few hours of sleep on the couch.Before he could do that, Archer convinced him to get a room, so that was what he’d done.And surprisingly, despite only falling unconscious for a few hours, he felt better than he had in a while.
He grabbed his wallet and keys, then headed out of the room, remembering to lock it because apparently that wasn’t an automatic thing like it was in a hotel.When he reached the bottom of the stairs, the aroma of freshly baked muffins assaulted him, making his stomach rumble.
“Good morning,” Bailey greeted.“Hungry?”
“If I said no, I’d be lyin’.But I’ve got a breakfast meeting with my boss.Smells delicious though.”
It was a bit weird to be staying in a stranger’s house.Even if that house was designed for people to stay in and the woman offering breakfast was simply doing her job.
“I can confirm it is,” Archer said, walking toward him with what looked to be a blueberry muffin in his hand.
“We’re havin’ breakfast at the diner,” he told him.
“This is just an appetizer.”Archer flashed a smile at Bailey.“See you later this evening.”
“Y’all have fun,” she called after them.
“How is it you can look likethatand always be eating?”
“Good genes.”Archer grinned.“And CrossFit.Did you know there’s a training center here?I mean, it’s in someone’s old barn, but it’s possibly the nicest facility I’ve been to.”
“I don’t even know what CrossFit is,” he admitted.
“I’ll take you sometime.They’ll kick your ass, but you’ll love every second of it.”
Atticus continued around to the driver’s side, wondering if Archer’s good mood could be attributed to that muffin.The guy seemed extra chipper today.
“Did Brantley say what he wanted to talk about?”Archer asked when they were both in the truck.
