Page 96 of Code Name: Atticus

Luke rattled off his address. “I need a shower, clean clothes, and about a year of sleep.”

“Maybe after you’ve had a chance to rest, we can have dinner,” I suggested.

“I’d like that.” Luke leaned forward. “What about you, Perry? Will you be around, or are you headed back to the mountains?”

Atticus’ eyes met mine. “That’s up to your sister.”

“He’s staying with me,” I said.

Luke looked between us, and a ghost of a smile appeared on his face. “Living together already? Mom’s going to have opinions about that.”

“One crisis at a time,” I muttered.

“She and Dad don’t know about my arrest, do they?”

“They do not.”

“Thank God for small mercies,” he said under his breath.

The driveto my brother’s place in the historic district in Arlington took thirty minutes. I stared out the window at the normal world continuing around us—people heading to work, joggers on the Mount Vernon Trail, tourists gathering at the Memorial Bridge for photos.

“Three years,” Luke said quietly as we passed the Pentagon. “Three years of building Redpoint together. Every decision made jointly, every problem mutually solved, every celebration shared. And Trevor destroyed all of it.”

“He’ll be in prison a long time for what he did,” I offered.

Luke nodded. “I’d say that’s some comfort, but it isn’t.”

I reached over and rested my hand on his, relieved when he didn’t flinch or pull it away.

“Do you want us to walk you in?” I asked when we pulled up to his bungalow a few minutes later.

“Nah. I’m okay.” He glanced at his house. “Probably gonna have to sell this place now,” he said quietly.

“Why?” Atticus asked before I could.

“Business is gonna tank, no job prospects,” Luke said without turning his head.

“I have a feeling you’ll have at least one offer in the next few days.”

Luke finally looked over at him. “From who?”

“I heard there’s gonna be a position opening up with K19. One I think you’d be perfect for.”

“Yeah? Whose?” Luke asked.

Atticus’ eyes met mine, and in them, I saw a question.

“His,” I answered for him.

Luke smiled. “Would I have to work out there, in the wilds of the Adirondacks?”

Atticus shook his head. “Not a job requirement that I know of.”

“Then, maybe you shouldn’t quit.”

“No?”

I watched as the two of them volleyed words like a tennis ball.