“Wow…” Logan trailed off. “What about on Brandon’s side?”
“Not anymore, I don’t think,” Alejo said. “His dad used to run a boat shop here, though. He taught my brother’s algebra class before he retired. It’s funny—me and your dad were actually in the same grade all through high school but I didn’t get to know him until I came back from college.”
He said it casually, but it was clear that before college was a different world from after. She’d never given much thought to her fathers’ lives before her. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for them in this town all by themselves for so long.
She finished off her cup of coffee. “You wanted to talk about something?”
“Right.” Alejo poured himself a cup and refilled Logan’s, but his expression was cautious. It was measured. Something made him nervous. “I haven’t talked about it with your dad because it’s a touchy subject, but I was catching up with an old buddy the other day and he told me you made a new friend…”
“Ashley?”
“I assume so,” Alejo said. “Ashley Barton.”
“Yeah. We’re not friends, though.”
“But you spent all day with her?” Alejo asked.
“Who was monitoring us that closely?”
Alejo waved a hand. “That doesn’t matter.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, just … help me out,” Alejo said. He pressed his fingertips to the bridge of his nose. “If you and Ashley aren’t friends, why hang out with her?”
“Because there’s, like, four kids my age in this town?”
“Yeah, well, if she’s anything like her mother, I promise there are better choices.”
Logan laughed. Alejo had always taught her that if she wanted the truth, she had to give the truth. People only owed you honesty if you were honest. So she shrugged. “We’re hunting ghosts.”
“Are you serious?” Alejo stared at her like he didn’t understand. This shock was different from his overdramatic TV persona.
“Yeah. Weird stuff’s been going on in Snakebite. Since you guys never tell me anything, I figured we’d get some answers on our own.”
“Since when do I not tell you things?” Alejo asked, indignant.
“Okay, why are we here?”
“We’re location scouting for the show.”
Logan rolled her eyes. “And what case are you investigating?”
“Your dad already told you. You’ve noticed the weirdness here. Strange weather, dark omens…”
“I didn’t realize you guys were meteorologists.”
“If Ashley wants answers, she can ask her mother,” Alejo said. He pressed his fingertips against the table, doing his best to hide his disdain. “I don’t think Tammy Barton loves anything more than the sound of her own voice.”
“What about my questions?”
“Ask away.”
Logan took a deep breath. “Does the investigation have anything to do with Tristan Granger?”
“Who?”
“The missing kid.”
“Listen,” Alejo said. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You know how it is in the early days. It might have something to do with the missing kid, it might not. You know that we never have much to go on at first. It’s an investigation show.”