Page 169 of Five Mountain Daddies

We get a booth toward the back and Wyatt orders everyone coffee. Kristi says she’s not hungry, but Wyatt insists. I get pancakes, Wyatt gets an omelet, and Kristi finally relents and orders cereal withmilk.

“What?” she asks. “I likecereal.”

Wyatt just laughs. “Whatever youwant.”

She grumbles and looks away, playing with her mug of coffee. We drift into silence as she stares anywhere but atWyatt.

Finally, he decides to break the silence. “So, Kristi. Do you know why we found youagain?”

“No,” she snaps. “Because you’re an asshole, Ibet.”

“That’s probably part of it,” he says,laughing.

“I already told you guys everything.” She looks up at him suddenly. “Come on, man. I’ll do whatever you want. I just need my stuffback.”

He leans toward her, smiling slightly. “You’ll doanything.”

She nods eagerly. “Anything.”

“Okay then. Tell us what happened toAtticus.”

She groans. “I don’tknow.”

“You’re lying,” I saysoftly.

She snaps her eyes over to me. “What do you know,bitch?”

“She’s right,” Wyatt says. “You arelying.”

She looks back to him. “Please, just give me mystuff.”

“Tell us whathappened.”

“Fuck you.” She leans back, arms crossed, but I can see something in her face. I think it’s worryor…

No, it’s not worry. It’sfear.

She’s afraid ofsomething.

The waitress comes with our food not long later. Kristi digs into her Lucky Charms with abandon, but I barely pick at my food. Wyatt keeps tossing me glances, but I’m lost in thought, trying to figure all thisout.

Kristi’s afraid to talk about what happened to Atticus. She definitely knows something, but she’s not willing to say whatever it is. I think she’s afraid that whoever got Atticus will get her,too.

Which means she’s knows who it is, or at least she has anidea.

I wait a little bit before I start back in again. “Hey, Wyatt,” I say, breaking the silence. “You have arrest quotas to meet,right?”

He glances at me. “Sure.”

I make a big show of sighing and leaning back. “She’s not going to give youanything.”

“Probably.” He shrugs alittle.

“So you might as well just arrest her. I mean, we already put in this mucheffort.”

Her jaw drops, but I keep my gazepassive.

He strokes his chin. “I see what you mean. Might as well get some use out of her,right?”

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