Page 18 of Tributary

I try to catch Archer’s eye to make a face, but he’s smiling and showing Abigail all the permits he got to close down the streets for the party. We’re evidently going to have a shade tent over the amphitheater, and the Oak Creek Steppers are even putting together a special ballet performance. “All the kids are making plant costumes,” Abigail says, “And Matthew and Aneke’s daughter is going to be dressed like a meteor. She told me she’s going to jump from the stage and crowd surf.” Abigail laughs. “I even got some of Hunter’s former students from the college to make some giant Hunter heads on sticks for the party.”

My brother is going to hate all of this, and I think Abigail knows that, which makes me feel better. It’ll be a nice spring festival, regardless of my brother.

“Hey, Arch, you ready to meet?”

He nods and Abigail says, “I’ll get out of your hair. Byeeee!” I shake my head as she bounces out of the office.

Archer leans back in his chair and asks, “You want to talk about how you’re boning Asa Wexler, or you want to just jump right into finances?”

“Fuck you. Give me the numbers.” I cross my arms and lean close as he pulls up a spreadsheet on his monitor. “How did you even find out?” He laughs, pecking around on the keyboard, highlighting things. I groan when he shows me the final total. “Are you kidding me?”

I knew I’d have to scrape together a quarter million dollars for permits and applications to grow medical marijuana. Archer pats my leg. “Two million in capital, sis. That’s what you need in order to get approved.”

This is outrageous. I sunk all the money I had into lab equipment, and even with the payout from Dr. Khalsa’s final order, I can barely cover the permit fees. “Who the hell has two million dollars lying around?”

He raises his brows at me. “I can think of at least one person…”

“Arch. I am not borrowing money from Asa Wexler.”

Archer just laughs. “Oh, he doesn’t lend it, sis. He invests it, for a share of your future profits.”

I kick my brother in the shin and storm out of his office as he spits back some comment about deep investment. I go back to my apartment and change my clothes, and take off for a long run.

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