Page 76 of Deception and New Direction

I rolled him and pinned him down on his stomach just as the cops entered the bank, fully armed.

“Put the gun down and don’t move,” the first of four cops yelled.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, we were all sitting in the bank manager’s office, having been interviewed by the cops no fewer than three times about what had happened.Morecops had been sent toHank’shouse to take his statement and arrestRuthie’sdad.

The police finally cleared us to leave after they had gotten our statements,Jasonhad been arrested, andRonald’sbody had been removed.

As we walked out of the bank, it was to seeArchertalking with several of the dozen cops guarding the door.

“Your grandfather refused to go to the hospital, but theEMTstreated him at his house, and he’s doing just fine,”ArchertoldRuthie.

She sighed next to me asIpulled her into my side. “Stubbornas a mule, butI’mhappy he’s okay.”

Just then, the police around us started to move and spoke to a woman rushing up to us. “Ma’am, the media line is back there.Youneed to stay behind the tape, please.”

“I just want to ask them some questions,” she said to the police before turning to us. “Myname isAnnaO’Hara.I’ma reporter withWKAYTVstation inAtlanta.I’dlike to ask you some questions about what just happened.”

“Ace, she’s not giving you anything,”Archersaid, staring at the reporter he clearly knew.

The reporter turned to faceArcheras though she was just seeing him for the first time and blanched.

“Oh shit,”Ruthiemumbled under her breath.

“Ruthie, meet my ex-wifeAce,”Archersaid then turned to the reporter. “Ace, meet the peopleIwork with, who you willnotbe interviewing.”

He turned back to us and spoke again. “Everyonemeet atHank’splace in twenty.We’lldebrief there.”

Knowing when to take a hint, we all walked away and got into our vehicles to head out toHank’shouse.IfIknewRuthieand my sister at all, though,Iknew neither of them were going to let that new development go for long.

29

RUTHIE

“I still don’t understand why you called me your wife back there,”EllieaskedWadeas we all sat aroundHank’skitchen table.

“I’m gonna be calling you that sooner or later, soIfiguredI’dtry it out,”Wadereplied. “Soundedgood coming out of my mouth.”

I snorted then went to check onGranddadagain.

“Woman, if you keep poking and prodding at me,I’mgonna end up agreeing to go to the hospital just to get you to leave me alone,”Hankgrumbled.

“Stop being such a sourpuss and let me check you over,”Isnapped back. “Sorrynot sorry, butIlove you, and this is what people do for the ones they love.”

“You should have seen her,Hank,”Elliesaid. “Whenshe ripped that gun out from her brother’s hand and kicked him, it was so badass.”

“My fierce littleRuthie,” he said out loud. “Didn’tlove you putting yourself in harm’s way but do love that feisty hellcat spirit.”

He pulled me into him and kissed me.

“Remind me to thank you later,”Iwhispered to him. “Slowly, while naked, and with great attention to detail of your best parts.”

“Deal,” he whispered back.

“Okay, enough is enough,”Elliebroke in. “Spillthe tea,Archer.Ihad no idea you were married to a news anchor!”

Jack’s sister was a sweet person, but sometimes she didn’t know when it wasn’t a good time to bring something up.

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