Page 31 of Missing Pieces (Brantley Walker: Off the Books #12)

“Sounds good,” Atticus agreed. “The three of us can meet at the house and then go out somewhere.”

Slade pretended that comment didn’t do weird things to his insides, like turn them all fuzzy and warm. As easy as it was to ride along on the wave of hatred he’d felt for Carson, he would give just about anything to go back to where they’d once been.

“Works for me,” Carson said.

“Me, too,” Slade said when Atticus pinned those intense green eyes on him.

“Good. But first, we’ve got a case to work. I’ll let you know if we’re gonna be late.”

“Lookin’ forward to tonight. Later, Slade.”

“Later,” he said before Atticus ended the call by tapping the navigation screen.

Atticus stared at him. “If you’re done playin’, we do have a case to work.”

Slade started the truck. “Anyone tell you you’re hot when you’re bossy?”

Atticus huffed a laugh. “Hot. Right.”

“You are.”

“I’ve been called a lot of things, but hot’s not one of ’em,” he said, popping a breath mint from the container Slade kept in the truck.

“Well, it’s true, so stop fishin’ for compliments.”

“I’m not fish—”

Slade cut him off by grabbing him and jerking him over for a kiss. He lingered for a bit longer simply because he could.

He had no idea whether this was going to work—the three of them together—but he was past the point of pretending he didn’t want to try. He only prayed Carson didn’t rip his heart out of his chest and stomp all over it again. That was a real possibility.

And while he might survive that, Slade knew for a fact he wouldn’t survive if Atticus did the same thing.

But he was willing to take the chance. If it meant moving forward.

“Damn,” Atticus muttered when he walked through the doors of Coyote Ridge High School.

His high school hadn’t looked anything like this.

Three sets of double doors allowed entry into a grand common area where kids could congregate.

Or at least that was the impression he got as he watched several kids sitting on benches or the carpeted floor, talking, laughing.

He did notice there was very little studying going on.

Yeah, some had books open, but he figured that was to use as justification for being there.

Others had earbuds in their ears. Several of them held bags of snack food, and he was pretty sure he smelled pizza, probably left over from lunch.

Along with kids scattered about, the common area also had a couple of map stands that looked like those you’d see at the mall. Directions, maybe, considering the size of this place. The entire space was surrounded by six feet of stained concrete that acted as a walkway toward the main offices.

“This way,” Slade said, following the walkway that ran parallel to the common area.

Atticus fell into step, keeping pace but leaving a bit of distance between them so he could continue to take it all in.

“That’s the gym.”

Atticus glanced to the right, checking out the closed double doors that Slade was pointing at. Next to the doors were inset cases that held a wealth of different trophies and other awards the school and its students had acquired over the years.

“Over there’s the auditorium.”

He peered at the opposite wall, noticing the same sort of cases.

From where they were, Atticus couldn’t make out what was in them, but he figured the same, only showcasing artistic achievements versus sports.

High above on that same wall was an enormous banner announcing the upcoming performances of Romeo and Juliet, which would take place in a couple of weeks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 14 th through the 16 th , in the auditorium.

Fun stuff.

Atticus followed Slade deeper into the school, pausing at the hallway that bisected the common area and a wall of glass that separated them from a handful of adults working on the other side.

The banner taped to the window announced homecoming tickets were still on sale in the cafeteria, and the small placard on the single wooden door read: MAIN OFFICE.

Not sure what Slade was waiting for, Atticus watched kids and teachers as they walked back and forth, some disappearing through sets of double doors on each end of the glass wall. If he had to guess, that was the cafeteria since the smell of pizza was stronger there.

Slade confirmed it a moment later when he pointed and said, “Cafeteria’s back there.

” His finger shifted toward the end of the hallway on the right.

“Stairs on each end that lead to the second and third floors. The school forms a large square with the largest classrooms at the back. Behind the cafeteria is a courtyard.”

“You went here?”

“Yep. Graduated 2008.”

Atticus wondered what Slade’s high school years were like, but didn’t get a chance to ask because they were walking again.

This time toward the main office door. Slade paused to open it, allowing him to walk in first. Before Atticus took a single step, two kids squeezed between them and into the office.

They were laughing, but at what, Atticus didn’t know.

Suddenly nervous, Atticus forgot why he was there.

Thankfully, Slade didn’t have the same problem, walking inside and right up to the short counter that separated visitors from several people working at small wooden desks on the other side.

An older woman stood at the counter, a book open in front of her, a slim finger skimming over the page.

The finger paused when she looked up and smiled like she was happy to see strangers walking into the school during what looked to be a busy afternoon.

“Hey, Mama.”

Wait. What now?

Atticus took a step, then another, not sure he’d heard correctly. Surely not. Mama? As in … the older woman wearing a CRHS sweatshirt and flashing a big grin was Slade’s mother?

“What’re you doin’ here?” Slade asked.

“Just fillin’ in this week.” The woman who looked nothing like Slade pinned her blue eyes on him. “Who’s your friend?”

“Mama, this is Atticus James. He’s my partner.”

Her eyes lit up like her son had just told her he was getting married. “Is that right?”

“Task force partner,” Atticus clarified. “I mean…” His gaze snapped to Slade. Help me.

Slade chuckled. “Atticus, meet my mother. Rose Jameson-Elliott.”

“Nice to meet you,” Atticus said with a nod, rubbing his hands on his jeans since he wasn’t sure what to do with them.

“The pleasure’s mine. What brings you boys by?” Rose asked.

“We have an appointment with Callie,” Slade answered when Atticus couldn’t seem to find words.

“The statue,” she said, her voice quiet. “Good. I’d hoped Brantley and Reese would get someone to look into it.”

Slade’s eyebrows dipped. “You’re the one who brought this to Brantley?”

She shrugged one dainty shoulder. “I might’ve mentioned it when I saw them at the diner.”

Well, that explained—sort of—why Brantley and Reese had taken on something drastically different than their usual.

“You know we don’t look for missin’ things ,” Slade told her.

“Usually,” she corrected, grinning at Atticus.

Atticus didn’t know what to do with his face. Was he supposed to smile? Remain stern to maintain professionalism? Not that it mattered. If she kept looking at him like that, there was a good chance he was going to run out of the office crying.

“Would it be possible to meet with Ms. Jameson?” Atticus asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

Now, he wondered whether that was confusing.

How many Ms. Jamesons worked there? One?

A dozen? He knew it was a big family because he’d been in Coyote Ridge long enough to get the gist. Between the Walkers and the Jamesons, they made up probably half the town. Maybe more.

And to think, Atticus was dating one of each.

Enough of that , he mentally chastised. He was there to do a job, not to think about being sandwiched between a Walker and a Jameson.

Shit.

Rose’s soft yet authoritative voice pulled him from his thoughts as she came around the counter.

“Let me show you to her office.” She paused beside him, clearly expecting him to fall into step. “You’re Slade’s new roommate?”

“Uh…” Atticus swallowed hard. “Yeah. I … Yes, ma’am … uhm…”

“Leave him alone, Mama.”

“What? I’m allowed to get to know my son’s friends , am I not?”

“Mama,” Slade drawled in warning.

They navigated a maze of hallways, and Atticus suspected Rose had taken the long way in order to chat him up.

“How long have you been working for the task force?”

“Since May, ma’am.”

“Please, call me Rose.”

Yeah, he wasn’t sure he could do that because, for some reason, it sounded like Mama in his head. Weird.

“And how long have you been Slade’s partner?”

He got the feeling her definition of partner leaned more toward the intimate interpretation, but he kept it professional. “Only for this case.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She chuckled softly, then guided them down another hallway before pausing in front of a closed door with a placard that read CALLIE JAMESON, PRINCIPAL.

“Here we are,” Rose said, opening the door. “Callie’s takin’ care of something, but she should be back in a few minutes. You boys can wait inside.” She looked at him. “It was very nice to meet you, Atticus. I look forward to havin’ you to the house for dinner.”

What now?

“Mama,” Slade hissed.

Her gaze slowly slid to Slade. “How about Friday night?”

Slade didn’t answer, which caused his mother to look at Atticus again. He held his breath, not sure what to do or say. That whole running and crying thing was sounding better and better.

“Will that work for you?”

He found himself nodding, and he wasn’t sure why.

“Perfect,” she said sweetly, then stepped aside so they could walk into the principal’s office.

When she was gone, Atticus turned to Slade. “What just happened?”

“It looks like you’re havin’ dinner with my folks on Friday night.”

Atticus shook his head. “I … how…?”

Slade chuckled. “She’s cool. I promise.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Now sit.”