Page 140 of The Archer Brothers

“He was parked illegally. He had to do something or he would’ve gotten a ticket.”

“Wow, I’m impressed.” I climb into the back while Nate gets in the front. I barely have time to buckle my seatbelt before Archer has us weaving in an out of traffic. Again, I find myself staring out the window at the passing cities as they turn into the sprawling land.

“I can’t imagine breaking down out here,” Evan says while we’re in the middle of nowhere.

“Where are we heading?” I’m so excited to see Penny that I hadn’t even asked where we’re going.

“Vermont. The town’s called Pittsfield. Cara says there’s nothing there except a gas station, general store, a few restaurants, and some bed and breakfast places.”

“And that’s where Penny and Claire are?”

“Yes.” Nate looks out the window instead of at me, clearly hiding something.

“What else?”

He shakes his head. “When we get to the hotel, Cara is going to get Penny and bring her to meet Ryley. We’re going to wait in the next room. Well, you and I are. Evan will go in so she knows you guys are alive.”

“Cara said I was supposed to meet Rask at the train station, not you. What changed?” I know Evan would never compromise me, or us for that matter, but I’m not sure of Nate. Did he sell his brother and the rest of our team to the highest bidder?

“Rask went with Ryley and Cara. Nate and I needed to pick up some supplies in Boston and it’s easier to get them when I’m with him.”

I guess that makes sense, and I’m happy I didn’t come right out and accuse Nate of being a traitor.

“I want to see my wife.”

“We know you do, but we have to trust Cara. Things are sensitive and with Frannie close by, she doesn’t want to take any chances. Cara is already on thin ice for calling in favors.”

“How is Penny? Did she say? And Claire?” I’m starting to grow antsy and feel like Evan isn’t driving fast enough for my liking. Nate stalls, looking out the window without giving me an answer.

“Is she married?”

The silence that fills the car is enough to shatter my heart into a billion pieces. A lone tear falls before I wipe it away angrily. My wife is fucking married—illegally, but according to my death certificate legally. And even though I had suspected it, having it confirmed in not so many words feels like my life is being shredded all over again.

“Fuck,” I yell, slamming my fist into the backseat.

“Her name is Amy Barnes and Claire is now called Chloe. Cara is unsure how long she’s been married, but it’s close to five years. Penny works at the general store in town and her husband is a middle school history teacher. Cara observed that Claire is a happy child, while Penny seems nervous when she’s around her.”

I stop listening because it’s not going to matter that I’m alive. My wife has moved on, rightfully so, even under an assumed name. Deep in my heart I know she’s going to ask me to go away, at least for a few months until our seven years abandonment has expired and she can be with her husband. The shitty thing is, I’ll tell her yes because it’ll make her happy and she deserves to be happy.

Evan gets off the highway and pulls onto a windy two-lane road.

“This area was decimated by a hurricane that came up the coast. It did millions of dollars of damage and took out this road, effectively cutting the state in half. This is the main traveled road from the southern end to the central part of the state. They used granite to reinforce the bank that washed away with the rain.”

Nate fills me on why there’s a massive wall of rock one side of the road. Across the river you can clearly see where the water rose and destroyed the lands. Large trees are uprooted and banks have been torn apart by the rushing waters.

“Seems like a pretty state.” And probably one that I’m going to have to get to know if my daughter is here.

“It’s nice to look at, but frigid in the winter,” Nate replies.

“I hate snow,” Evan adds, and I happen to agree with him.

He pulls into a hotel and I quickly spot Ryley gazing over the balcony. We get out and traipse up the stairs. She pulls me into a hug, already knowing that I’ve been told the bad news.

“She’ll be here soon,” Ryley says, offering me a warm smile. “I’ll talk to her. This will work out, I promise.”

Nate taps me on the shoulder and I follow him to the room right next to hers.

“We’ll listen from here,” he says, pointing at the equipment that Rask is playing with.

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