Damn it!
***
Lucky tiptoed by the SNB reception desk even though Lisa wasn’t there to question his being at work, and hauled ass for the SNB conference room. Bo, Walter, the rookies, Jimmy, and Daytona occupied chairs around the central rectangular table.
Daytona? Here?
“Oh, Lucky. Right on time.” Trust Walter to pretend nothing happened by accident.
Lucky nodded and planted his ass halfway between Bo and Daytona. They played questions and answers, Lucky keeping his mouth shut at a narrow-eyed glower from Bo. Yeah, observer. Not his case.
During a break, Daytona asked, “So, it really wasn’t you?” He appeared more his old self, less haggard, less pressed down by the weight of the world.
“To be honest, I’m kinda put out you ever believed I’d tempt you, after all you’d gone through. Come on, would I spend that kind of money on a twerp like you?” How easy old habits came back. Lucky teased Daytona, but gently. The kid used to run to Mama quicker’n shit.
Daytona chuckled and smiled for the first time since their recent reunion. “Nah. You wouldn’t. I’m glad. I’ve missed you.”
Lucky fought the flinch when his brother grabbed him too tightly.
When Daytona pulled back, his eyes glistened.
More time to catch up later. Right now they had a case to build. “We got a problem to figure out,” Lucky said.
“What?”
“I didn’t send you the drugs, but who did?” No need telling the kid about Bristol’s penchant for insuring relatives.
Daytona squared his shoulders. “Easy enough. And I should’ve figured this out too.”
“What?”
“Bristol sent me a birthday present the same year you did, the only one he ever gave me.” Daytona tapped his fingertips on the table.
Walter ambled down to their end of the table. “What did he give you?”
“The video game I’d been wanting.”
***
Sunlight gave way to shadows in the conference room when Walter finally called it a day, amid empty soda cans, coffee cups, and pizza boxes. Lucky pitied housekeeping.
“Are you sure you can’t stay?” Even not at his best, he’d put on a burst of energy for his kid brother. “We got an extra room.”
Daytona hung his head. “I’m afraid I can’t.”
Jimmy rose from his chair and rounded the table to join Lucky and Daytona. “It’s imperative to our case that Bristol finds out nothing. Daytona returned his car and said he couldn’t find you. Even so, long absences might get attention.”
“In the meantime, Lucky, you’ll continue to be watched.” Walter made his presence known, his glare warning Lucky against arguing.
Lucky never had been one to heed warnings. “Not the rookie from IT again.” Nothing subtle about Keith’s latest protégé. “Bo’ll be there. Why can’t he watch me?”
Bo stayed silent.
Oh, hell. “You won’t be here.”
“I have to be back to Richmond first thing Monday morning, so I need to head out Sunday.” Bo finally glanced up, lips pursed and lines showing around his mouth. Damn, but now would be a fine time for an appearance of The Dimple, and,“Just kidding! I never have to leave you again!”
No brother, no lover. Alone with the pets.
