“Okay.”
Drew leaned against the wall, pensively watching the back room. “I wonder why he’s really here.”
“Pardon?” she said, startled. Did people know?
He smiled and lowered his voice. “I mean, what did he do? The kids talk about it constantly. They think maybe he cornered a serial killer—and shot him down rather than arresting him. Or he freaked in the middle of a tense situation. They keep making up scenarios—and they’re making me wonder, too.” He laughed. “In fact, it’s hard not to join in with their fantasies.”
“I doubt that he freaked out, or that he’s violent. If he was, I don’t think he’d be here,” Olivia said pragmatically.
“He’s sure got a rapport with kids,” Drew said.
“The kids adore you, too. More than that, they respect you.”
“Most of the ones we get are good kids,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’m not jealous. My real job is basically pooper-scooper. And he’s an FBI guy—where’s the comparison?”
“Andrew! You and Sydney save animals, animals found in the worst possible conditions sometimes. You care for them, and you keep everything in this place running.”
“Don’t say that in front of Aaron!” he said with a laugh. “Me, I don’t want to be an FBI man. I’m not at all fond of the concept of people shooting at me. Can’t help but be curious, though. So how did he do today?”
“Fine. He worked well with others and seems to know horses.”
“He is from Tennessee.”
“Drew, not everyone from Tennessee rides horses,” she reminded him.
“No kidding?”
Olivia rolled her eyes.
They heard a loud shrill of delight. “We won!” Joey cried happily.
“Rematch tomorrow!” Sean shouted back at him.
Sandra Cheever suddenly appeared, marching over to the boys. “Tomorrow being the key word. Out, young ’uns. We have to lock up.”
“Aw...”
The kids began filing out for the night. They all said their goodbyes to Olivia and Drew. Joey paused by the door. There was a sign-up sheet for the history/ghost tour and camping trip Mariah was planning to lead on Friday night.
Joey paused, turning around. Olivia thought he was talking to her at first when he asked, “Are you going?”
Then she realized that Dustin Blake was standing right behind her.
“What is it exactly?”
“Mariah Naughton. Remember, she was talking about it at the diner last night? We take the horses and ride out to sites that aren’t part of the National Battlefield Parks. I mean, they can’t own everything, and there was Civil War action all around here. She talks about Tennessee battles, the ghosts that remain, and then we go set up camp by the stream. It’s really cool.”
“Seriously, nothing here is really cool, man,” Sean said, sticking his head back in and placing his hands on Joey’s shoulders. “But it’s the coolest thing we get while we’re in purgatory.”
“You’re right. I do remember. Sounds great,” Dustin said.
Olivia glanced at him, trying not to frown. Ping-Pong and camping? That was how an agent worked?
Joey scribbled on the sheet and turned back to Dustin. “I put your name down, okay?”
“Thanks.”
Aaron had come out of his office. Sandra—herding the boys out the door—was now behind Dustin.
“Guess I need to get out of here, too,” Dustin said. “Thank you. I’ve heard about this place for years. It’s fantastic. Good day for me.”
“Glad to have you, Agent—Dustin,” Aaron said.
As he walked out, Aaron turned to them. “Drew, can you get Sydney? And, Sandra, can you find Mariah and Mason? We need a little meeting.”
Five minutes later, they were all seated on the couches and chairs in the entry room. Once everyone had settled in, Aaron said, “We have to decide how to handle this situation. First, just to let you know, Sandra and I have rescheduled all our sessions for tomorrow—the lawyer’s coming in the morning.” He cleared his throat. “I guess you’re all aware that Marcus was the end of his line. I believe, since he and I discussed it many times, that the facility was left to me, but no one can be certain of anything until his attorney reads his final will and testament. I know, as well, that he left something from his life for every one of you. There are also clauses that protect the property and the livestock in the event of my death. So...that’s one thing. The other is...we have to decide on spin.”
“Spin?” Mariah asked.