Page 17 of Forged in Deception

Just then, another man walked over to the buffet table, carrying a metal tray of scrambled eggs.

“Hey, Ned,” Karlin said, giving Asher a look until he dropped the offending lemon slice into his mug. “This is Axel, one of our new patients. He got in late last night.”

The man placed the tray on the table and shook Asher’s hand without meeting his eyes.

“Hi. Ned Anderson. I’m the camp cook. If you need anything, let me know.”

“Great. Will do. Oh, and thanks for breakfast.”

Ned gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable, and promptly retreated back through the swinging metal doors that presumably led to the kitchen.

“He’s the quiet one around here, isn’t he?” Asher said when he was gone. There was something about Ned that felt suspicious, but he’d just have to keep an eye on him. It was hardly a crime to be shy.

“Yep,” Karlin said, piling a bowl of oatmeal, a banana, and a scoop of egg onto a plate. “Total opposite of you.”

Before he could realize that her comment was probably intended to be a jab, Karlin had already turned on her heel and was headed for a table.

“Hey!” Asher retorted, quickling grabbing a plate of his own and loading it with three slices of toast, almond butter, and two massive scoops of scrambled egg. He balanced a cup of orange juice in his other hand as he scurried after her.

KARLIN

Karlin raised her mug of tea to her lips as Axel plunked himself down at the long table across from her, nearly spilling his orange juice in the process. She gave him a tight smile, but inside, she was feeling on edge. She wasn’t used to having someone else around who cared about what she was doing. It had become her habit to get up early while working at the retreat site, ensuring she’d get at least twenty minutes to enjoy breakfast solo before everyone else arrived. Ned was even more of a loner than shewas, so his presence never bothered her. Axel, however, was a different story.

“So,” he said, swallowing a mouthful of toast. “I hope I’ll get a chance to see some of the tourist traps while I’m here. I definitely have to check out the canyon and the Cadillac Ranch, minimum. Oh, and the Second Amendment Cowboy.”

He paused, glancing over at her eagerly as he swallowed a sip of orange juice.

She suppressed a sigh.

She wasn’t going to be able to get out of his endless cheerful small talk. And anyway, she’d already resigned herself to the idea that Axel might be fun to hang out with. She guessed she’d just have to really try and give him a chance.

“I hear that the Palo Duro Canyon is amazing,” she replied. “And that the Cadillac Ranch and the big cowboy are totally overrated. So is that restaurant where people try to eat that huge dinner in one hour.”

“Woah, woah, woah. You mean to tell me you’ve never visited these hallowed sites yourself? You’ve never even tried to eat the legendary seventy-two ounce steak?”

“No. I’ve been working since I moved here. Guess I just never got around to it. I mean, I’ve been to museums–”

“Wait. How long have you lived here?” Axel interrupted, holding up a forkful of his eggs in mid-air.

Karlin felt a blush rising on her lightly freckled cheeks.

“A while. About a decade now.”

Axel looked like he might fall off his chair. “No one is that busy for ten years! That’s insane. Girl, you seriously need to get out more.”

Karlin rolled her eyes. “Gee, thanks.”

“Where did you move here from?”

She let his question hang in the air as she scooped up a bite of oatmeal. It was already starting to get cold as they talked.Somehow, Axel both ate and talked incredibly quickly, and seemingly at the same time. It was actually kind of impressive.

“I grew up in Michigan,” she said.

“Oh, whereabouts?”

“Ann Arbor.”

She took several bites of oatmeal, hoping that would be the end of this subject.

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