Page 86 of Broken Souls

Justin turns away, hiding his face, his shoulder rising rapidly. “You positive?”

“Yes. I’m leaving to go there now. You can come or not. I don’t give a shit.” I walk back to my car.

“Wait,” he calls. “Why?”

“What why?”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’re a big part of her life, and she’s blaming herself for your guilt. Well-fucking deserved, by the way,” I say without missing a beat.

“Did she tell you that? Does she blame me?” he asks after a rough a swallow, and I take pity on him.

“She doesn’t. But don’t you?” I wait for his nod and continue. “I’m giving you a chance here.” I point at my feet as if the chance is standing right in front of me. It sort of is. “To clean up as much of your consciousness as you can, but you will leave me…usalone. You give me a fair chance. Because you sure as fuck know you fucked it up for us big time. I don’t even know if I can repair it, but I’m sure willing to try.”

His jaw’s moving. His eyes dart between mine. Then he nods and walks to his car, and I go to mine.

Right before I get into my truck, a car speeds up to the parking lot and stops with a screech in front of me. The wide frame of our dear Sheriff Kenneth Bennet gets out of the driver’s side and strides toward us.

I throw an accusing look at Justin. “Really? You needed backup?”

“I didn’t call him.” Justin looks as confused as I feel, so my anger subsides.

“Then what the fuck?” I switch my attention back to the sheriff, who looks outright pissed. Well, that makes three of us.

“Going somewhere?” he asks once he stops in front of us. I share a look with Justin, and we synchronically shake our heads, making Kenneth cackle. “Well, well, well, look at you, all teamed up and working together. Do you have matching undies too?”

“We were just leaving.” Justin tries to move past Kenneth, but the sheriff stops him by grabbing his arm.

“Leaving where?” But Justin keeps staring straight ahead, neither confirming nor denying. His lying game sucks. No Oscar for this dude. Then Kenneth’s attention switches to me. “Well, Mark, if Justin’s leaving to clearly nowhere, where are you going?”

“I’m going about my business. If you are here to arrest me for an imaginary crime…” I meet his gaze and hold it. “Do it now or move out of the way.”

The anger dissolves from his features. “I’m not here as a cop.” He sighs.

I exchange a curious look with Justin, waiting for the sheriff to elaborate.

“I’m here as a friend.”

I raise a brow. We’ve never been buddies before. Kenneth is a fair cop, but folks from my side of town are reasonably prejudiced toward law enforcement. “As Alicia’s friend.”

I clench my jaw, and he half smiles. “Easy there. Just a friend.”

“How do you know?” Justin steps forward. His face is void of emotion.

“It’s my county, Justin. I know what’s happening here.” He runs his hand through his hair. “I just wish you told me yourself so I could find the assholes.”

“I didn’t know shit—still don’t.” Justin’s voice is full of self-loathing.

“How did you find them then?” Kenneth’s eyes dart from me to Justin.

“Mark did.” Justin nods toward me.

“And how did you find them?” Kenneth switches his attention back to me.

“She told me how it happened.”

Justin loudly inhales.