Read Online Silent Witness by Rebecca Forster - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rebecca Forster
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tracks with a shrug and an explanation. ''I mean, I've seen first responders act like that. Like if they try harder they can pull it off.''
''I think Lexi just didn't like to throw in the towel. That's the feeling I got.''
Burt finished his inventory but took one last look at the bottles stacked behind the bar anyway.
''So was it love at first sight with Archer?'' Josie asked, hating that she sounded like a schoolgirl wanting to know if her boyfriend still pined after the one who got away.
''Something like that. She told him to have some respect for the dead. Seems he used the toe of his shoe to lift the sheet over the dead woman when Lexi finally gave up. Guess Archer was impressed that she wasn't thinking he was some big man because he was a detective.''
''Archer?'' Josie snorted, amused until she gave it another thought.
Archer probably did have an attitude back then when he was the guy in charge. In fact, he had an attitude when Josie met him and that was part of the attraction. She hadn't been immune to the charms of the pursuit because the pursuit had been honest. Taking that photo of her on the beach, the one where she was pissed because she'd blown an easy put away, missing the spike and losing the point. That photo had opened the door. He had come to the pro-am tournament and made himself known even when Josie was clear that she wasn't interested. But Josie had been interested because Archer was different. He didn't pursue the way most men did leading with their mouths and letting their minds tag along. He presented himself. Big, sure, solid. Josie appreciated that; Lexi probably had, too. Josie found herself smiling and then realized that Burt hadn't noticed her distraction. He was still talking.
''. . .that's according to Lexi, naturally. She said she made it tough for him but, in the end, she had to admire a guy who hung in there, especially when she was such a bitch. She said she was a sucker for loyalty and persistence.''
''I can understand that,'' Josie answered. ''I met her ex. I don't think he was exactly the kind of guy who thought of others first.''
''No kidding?'' Burt pushed back his long hair, grey mixing in with his perpetually sun-bleached blond. ''Man. History is just so strange. It's got a way of showing up when you least expect it, huh.''
''That's the truth.'' Josie set aside her coffee. Somehow it had cooled even though it seemed Burt had just poured it.
''You hungry? I can get the stove heated up. I've got some eggs and toast. No bacon. It would make you feel better.''
''No, thanks. I appreciate it.''
''I should probably think about adding breakfast to the menu, huh?'' Burt mumbled then answered his own question. ''Naw, maybe not. Too much competition around here as is.''
''I think you've got it knocked with lunch and dinner, Burt.'' Josie shifted on the stool, not ready to leave the topic of Archer and Lexi behind. ''So, how come Archer didn't come here with Lexi?''
''Never really thought about it. Never asked him.'' They stayed silent for a few minutes then Burt said. ''Maybe she didn't want him to. Maybe she just wanted some time by herself. We'd talk a little then Lexi would take her coffee and go sit on the wall and watch the beach. Now that I know about her kid, I guess she was taking some time to think about him.''
Josie looked out the window and saw what Burt had seen. Lexi. Small, wiry, long light hair and a face that had earned its character. Josie imagined Lexi pondering the end of her life, wondering why God visited such sadness on her. Tim was already gone and Lexi was next up. Josie wondered if knowing that you were about to die, that you were going to leave the person you loved, hurt as much as that person simply vanishing the way Josie's mother had. Probably. It didn't matter how the person you loved was lost, it only mattered that they were gone. Josie turned back to Burt.
''Do you think Archer wouldn't come with her?''
''Naw,'' Burt shook his head. ''I mean, it
''I think Lexi just didn't like to throw in the towel. That's the feeling I got.''
Burt finished his inventory but took one last look at the bottles stacked behind the bar anyway.
''So was it love at first sight with Archer?'' Josie asked, hating that she sounded like a schoolgirl wanting to know if her boyfriend still pined after the one who got away.
''Something like that. She told him to have some respect for the dead. Seems he used the toe of his shoe to lift the sheet over the dead woman when Lexi finally gave up. Guess Archer was impressed that she wasn't thinking he was some big man because he was a detective.''
''Archer?'' Josie snorted, amused until she gave it another thought.
Archer probably did have an attitude back then when he was the guy in charge. In fact, he had an attitude when Josie met him and that was part of the attraction. She hadn't been immune to the charms of the pursuit because the pursuit had been honest. Taking that photo of her on the beach, the one where she was pissed because she'd blown an easy put away, missing the spike and losing the point. That photo had opened the door. He had come to the pro-am tournament and made himself known even when Josie was clear that she wasn't interested. But Josie had been interested because Archer was different. He didn't pursue the way most men did leading with their mouths and letting their minds tag along. He presented himself. Big, sure, solid. Josie appreciated that; Lexi probably had, too. Josie found herself smiling and then realized that Burt hadn't noticed her distraction. He was still talking.
''. . .that's according to Lexi, naturally. She said she made it tough for him but, in the end, she had to admire a guy who hung in there, especially when she was such a bitch. She said she was a sucker for loyalty and persistence.''
''I can understand that,'' Josie answered. ''I met her ex. I don't think he was exactly the kind of guy who thought of others first.''
''No kidding?'' Burt pushed back his long hair, grey mixing in with his perpetually sun-bleached blond. ''Man. History is just so strange. It's got a way of showing up when you least expect it, huh.''
''That's the truth.'' Josie set aside her coffee. Somehow it had cooled even though it seemed Burt had just poured it.
''You hungry? I can get the stove heated up. I've got some eggs and toast. No bacon. It would make you feel better.''
''No, thanks. I appreciate it.''
''I should probably think about adding breakfast to the menu, huh?'' Burt mumbled then answered his own question. ''Naw, maybe not. Too much competition around here as is.''
''I think you've got it knocked with lunch and dinner, Burt.'' Josie shifted on the stool, not ready to leave the topic of Archer and Lexi behind. ''So, how come Archer didn't come here with Lexi?''
''Never really thought about it. Never asked him.'' They stayed silent for a few minutes then Burt said. ''Maybe she didn't want him to. Maybe she just wanted some time by herself. We'd talk a little then Lexi would take her coffee and go sit on the wall and watch the beach. Now that I know about her kid, I guess she was taking some time to think about him.''
Josie looked out the window and saw what Burt had seen. Lexi. Small, wiry, long light hair and a face that had earned its character. Josie imagined Lexi pondering the end of her life, wondering why God visited such sadness on her. Tim was already gone and Lexi was next up. Josie wondered if knowing that you were about to die, that you were going to leave the person you loved, hurt as much as that person simply vanishing the way Josie's mother had. Probably. It didn't matter how the person you loved was lost, it only mattered that they were gone. Josie turned back to Burt.
''Do you think Archer wouldn't come with her?''
''Naw,'' Burt shook his head. ''I mean, it
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