Read The Prophet (Ryan Archer #2) for Free Online Page B

reddened. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
    “That’s not the way I hear it.”
    “Seriously, man. We just fool around some.”
    “You fool around? You know how old she is?”
    The blush in his cheeks darkened.
    “That’s right, Stevie. Do the math. Do you want that kind of trouble?”
    Stevie shook his head no.
    “That’s what I thought. I’m here because of her mother. She’s very worried about Cory seeing you.”
    “I’ll stay away, I promise!”
    “Yes, I know you will. But I need you to help me out, okay?”
    “Yeah, sure, I’ll do whatever!”
    “Good. Call Cory right now and tell her to meet you at your car in back in half an hour. Then get back to work. Deal?”
    Stevie nodded and pulled out his cell phone.  
    “Now delete that number from your phone,” Archer said.
    Then Stevie went back to the concessions counter and Archer went out to his truck to wait. Cory was delivered by a friend in a yellow Hyundai. She got out of the car with a cigarette in her mouth. Archer was amazed that someone like that had managed to become pals with the child of the biggest movie star in the world.  
    Her friend waited while she waited at Stevie’s Volvo and dialed his cell to tell him she was there.
    “Cory?” Archer said.
    The girl froze and stared at him without blinking. She was all of sixteen. She looked stupid with the cigarette between her lips.
    “My name is Archer, and I’m looking for Tatum.”  

NINE

    “Are you a cop?” Cory asked, taking single step away from him.  
    Archer shook his head. “No,” he said.
    The first thing he noticed was she was prettier than her pictures. Except for the hair. The side that was shaved botched the whole look. What was it with hair and self-expression? She was dressed in skinny jeans and a Pearl Jam T-shirt. The T-shirt was tight and there was clearly no bra underneath. The tattoo was visible on her neck. It looked like a dove and was about the size of a quarter dollar. She had curves, and Archer was certain this attracted the older boys like Stevie. She would be a handful for her mother to keep up with.
    She was checking for an escape route in her peripheral vision. The friend in the Hyundai watched her expectantly.  
    “Everything is cool,” Archer said. “I just need to know what you know about Tatum.”
    “Who are you?” she asked.
    “I work for Tatum’s father. She is missing.”
    Cory’s eyes softened. She took a second step away from him and placed one hand on the trunk of Stevie’s Volvo sedan. “What do you mean missing ?” she said.
    Archer stood with his arms folded over his chest, his Marine dog tags visible through the cotton fabric of his T-shirt from the chain around his neck. He was a big guy and didn’t want to appear threatening. “She’s your friend,” he said. “I know you care about her. So let’s go inside and talk a minute.”
    The girl in the Hyundai buzzed down the passenger window and called to her, “You okay?”
    Cory’s eyes flicked from Archer to the friend, then back again. Then she nodded. “Yeah, all good.”
    “Your friend is welcome to join us. I’ll buy her a Coke,” Archer said. “It’s nice and safe inside the theater. Lots of people in there.”
    Her eyes filled with skepticism. She had the look of a kid struggling to be jaded but hadn’t experienced enough of life to fully embrace the meaning of the word. The blonde hair was long on top and styled with some kind of gel, and it dangled in her face. She kept it out of her eyes with quick flicks of her head.  
    “Why should I trust you?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “We can do this at your house after your mom gets home, if you like. I’ve got no problem with that. But one way or another I’m needing some questions answered.”
    Her eyes dimmed. “My mom is a bitch.”
    “That seems to be the consensus.”
    Cory waved off her friend and the yellow Hyundai disappeared from the parking lot. “Okay,” she said, “let’s leave Mom out of