Page 31 of The Last Call Home (The Timberbridge Brothers #5)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Mal:How much do you know about Atlas’s wife?

Cass:You asking me and not your brother?

Mal: Wanna hear my theory?

Cass:This should be good. Go on.

Mal:My brother has . . . skills that no normal person does. His aim is good and he knows how to use a knife like no other. He lived in Seattle during college. You know what’s in Seattle?

Cass:The Space Needle?

Mal:Don’t be an asshole. I’m serious here.

Cass:I’m not being a dick, I’m keeping you from spiraling. If you’ve got conspiracy theories about Atlas and aliens, you need to take that shit to him, not me. Do I know what’s happening with his wife? She’s pregnant.

Mal:I just got a bulletin. Missing persons. Her husband is looking for her—she’s flagged as mentally ill. Dangerous to herself and others.

Cass:Okay, that’s . . . that’s not nothing. But it’s also not mine to fix. You need to talk to Atlas. I mean really talk to him—not just throw theories at me, hoping I’ll validate them.

Mal:That’s all you’re going to say?

Cass:That’s all I have for you right now, Sheriff.

Mal:We’re in a relationship, Cass. You can’t just wall off information.

Cass:We’re in a relationship, yes. Which means we have to learn how not to bring our jobs into our bed. Or breakfast. Or the rare fucking moment we actually have alone. It’s called boundaries.

Mal:And this is where you draw the line?

Cass:No, this is where I remind you that you’ve got unfinished business with your brother—or brothers. And I’m not your middleman. You want honesty? Then fix your shit without dragging me into it.

Cass:As Lilah would say—don’t use me as a damn referee.

Mal:This isn’t helpful. I’m going to have to go and check on him right now.

Cass:Or . . . and hear me out. You can wait until tomorrow morning.

Mal:No. You’re right. I should be looking into what’s happening in that building. There’s a lot he’s hiding and I better get to learn what it is now. While I show him that he can’t just keep secrets from me.

Cass:Good luck. I’ll be around if you need me.