Before Deacon could argue with me, Archer held up his hands. “We need to curb this conversation for later. We’ve got the potential for Sigel’s men start swarming the place.”
“We took care of them,” Deacon replied.
“We?” I asked.
“Rev and Bishop.” At Archer’s questioning look, Deacon added, “And without witnesses.”
While my eyes bulged in surprise, Archer grinned. “Stealth mode, huh?”
“They drew them out for me.”
Archer nodded. “Then we need to get our story together for the cops since our original plan has changed.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Deacon said, “And just what plan was that?”
At Archer’s grimace, I stepped between him and Deacon. “To cover for Archer ‘killing’ Sigel, we needed to really sell his story by having me beat up.”
Deacon’s dark brows rose. “And how the fuck were you going to achieve that?”
“He was going to beat me up.”
Deacon’s blue eyes bulged before he lunged at Archer, knocking him into the wall. When his grip on Archer’s neck tightened, I raced to their side. “It was my idea, Deacon. Archer didn’t want to do it. But it was a necessary evil.”
When Archer nodded in agreement, Deacon merely choked him harder. “Deacon, stop it!” I cried as I beat my fists against his back.
“He was going to lay his hands on you!” Deacon growled.
“Only because I was forcing his hand! I swear on my life and his. He’s a good man who wanted to help me and in turn you.”
At my words, Deacon slowly loosened his hold. Collapsing onto his knees, Archer wheezed and gasped.
“There’s no fucking way I’m letting him hurt one hair on your head!” Deacon bellowed.
I jerked my chin at him. “Then you’ll have to do it.”
Deacon recoiled in horror at my suggestion. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No, I’m fully aware of what needs to be done to sell our story to the authorities.”
Without another word, Deacon began pacing around the stall. Just as I started to reach out for him, he threw back his head.
“FUCK!” he roared as he kicked Sigel’s corpse.
“Deacon, please. Time is ticking.”
Throwing up his hands, he countered, “And what’s the fucking story? Archer just happened to show up here as you were getting your ass kicked by Sigel?”
“No, he was here working late and heard the noise.”
When Deacon turned to Archer, he noticed for the first time that he was wearing coveralls with a company’s named stitched on the pocket. “You swipe some credentials?”
“I did,” Archer replied.
Deacon appeared momentarily impressed. “So, I just walk out of here and pretend I had nothing to do with it?” Deacon questioned.
“You only have to pretend to the authorities,” I reasoned.
Deacon exhaled a ragged breath. “I’ll agree to this bullshit plan on one condition.”
