Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1291

Tarquin: "..."

Bernard strolled up to the rickety bridge like he’d done it a thousand times before, walking right along the chain without even grabbing the handrail. His hands were tucked behind his back, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

He didn’t bother holding on himself, but he did toss Tarquin a warning.

"Better hang on, man. If you fall and break something, Elysia’s gonna have a heart attack."

Tarquin accepted the advice, sounding a little humbled. "...Alright."

When they reached the other side, Bernard tapped his wristband, and the makeshift bridge started folding itself up with a soft whirr.

Tarquin asked, "Did Walter design this?"

"Yep. Walter used to be the chief engineer for the military—sharpest guy I know. He loves tinkering with this kind of stuff. If you can dream it up, he’ll make it real."

Tarquin seized the opening.

"If Walter had such a sweet gig in the military, why fake his own death and go off the grid?"

Bernard just kept his hands behind his back, squinting at the horizon.

"That’s his business, not mine. If you want to know, you should ask him yourself."

Tarquin shot back, "Alright, then why did you fake your own death and disappear?"

Calling you out, old man.

Bernard turned and gave him a long look. "Didn’t I tell you already? Because of my brother."

"…That’s one reason. There must be something else, right?"

Bernard’s eyes narrowed even further, and he stared hard at Tarquin for a while before saying, almost out of nowhere,

"Anyway, whatever we’re up to, it’s nothing shady."

With that, he started walking on ahead.

Tarquin: "..." So apparently, there *was* more to the story—a bunch of big shots all faking their deaths and hiding out in the woods. What could their secret be?

They walked for a while longer, and Bernard led the way to what looked like an ordinary cellar. He opened a hidden stone door, and inside, the place was way bigger than it appeared from the outside.

There were computers and even some old smartphones inside.

Tarquin picked up a phone. It powered on—battery full—but there was zero signal.

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