Chapter 16

• Archer.
• The rowdy hum of Teddy's bar thrummed in my ears as I nursed my beer, the buzz of voices and clinking glasses creating a cocoon of noise around me. The dim lighting cast long shadows, and the scent of alcohol mingled with the faint odor of sweat and cologne. My friends, a motley crew of construction workers and town regulars, filled the air with laughter and shouts, their faces flushed with alcohol and good spirits.
• I took a long sip, feeling the cold liquid slide down my throat, and let my gaze wander aimlessly around the bar. Just another night trying to forget the chaos outside these walls. Suddenly, Leon’s voice cut through the din, louder than usual.