Page 77 of Bound in Ashes

I looked at Christopher as he looked between Asia and me.

“Did you know each other…before?”

“What do you think?” I responded before Asia could speak.

Christopher just smiled, and wisely changed the subject.

But not before I put my arm around Asia’s shoulder and pulled her close to me, her breast and hip pressed against my side.

“My dad’s got some… ideas about what’s going on, but it would be great to get some new perspectives. Would you mind having a meeting over at the sheriff’s office?”

“Oh, I don’t think we could⁠—”

“My dad insists.” Christopher’s voice was flat.

Asia looked at me, her eyes framed with worry.

“We really should get back,” I said.

“Y’all coming over to the sheriff’s office?” the sheriff called.

He approached, Caitlin next to him holding a bottle of that fancy water she hadn’t shut up about.

Asia smiled.

“You got your mineral water?”

“I felt terrible, because I think it’s the last bottle, but it was cold,” Caitlin said.

“Oh, don’t feel terrible, darling. Just hospitality,” the sheriff said.

“Well, thank you, Sheriff. These days, especially, it’s hard to run across hospitality,” Asia said.

“Anyway, I think Junior was asking you about having a little debrief,” the sheriff said.

“Yeah, Dad, I was just talking to them about it.”

“And we explained that we have to go,” I said to the sheriff.

“Well, I want to take some feed over to Levi’s anyway. So why don’t me and Asia talk while Christopher here drives Caitlin back. We can drop her off, get Levi’s feed, and get the most important thing there is these days.”

“And what’s that?” Asia asked.

“Well, I think a hot shot like you would know. Information, of course.”

“Of course,” Asia said drily.

“Caitlin, you okay with that?” I asked.

“Of course. And besides, this will give me a chance to talk to…” She smiled at the sheriff’s son. “Christopher? That’s your name, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

“Ma’am?” She laughed heartily. “Can’t get past that Southern hospitality. I only came down to Atlanta for school. Anyway, it’d be great to get to know more people. Looks like we might be here for a while,” she said, her expression dropping.

“Then it’s settled. Be back before dark, son.”

Christopher walked away, but paused to look back at us, his expression unreadable.