Page 72 of Hold Your Breath

“Oh? It’s not for the thrill of moving cattle off the highway?”

He grimaced. “Or getting to deal with the state investigators.”

“Is the measuring contest still ongoing?”

His eyebrows flew up. “Did I mention that to you?”

With a grin, she shrugged. “I think you’d just come from the scene, so the annoyance was fresh in your mind.”

“Probably.” Glancing down at his notebook, he switched back into cop mode. “Tell me about any encounters you had with Mr. Lloyd since you stopped dating him.”

Although there was little to tell, she did her best to comply with his request. They were interrupted a few times by customers, but the presence of the sheriff had all of them taking their coffee and hustling for the door.

“You can really clear a room,” Lou said, putting the milk back in the small fridge after the third person practically ran out of the shop.

He looked a little uncomfortable. “Part of it’s the uniform, and part is just me. I guess I tend to be…off-putting.”

Cocking her head to the side, she considered him carefully. “You do have an air of authority. I think it’s more that you’re intimidating rather than off-putting, though.”

“There’s a difference?”

“Sure.” She laughed. “I’d much rather be intimidating than off-putting.”

The door opened again, this time admitting Tyler Coughlin.

“Hey,” he said to both of them before turning to Lou. “Heard your house burned down. That blows.”

“How did you…?” Rob shook his head. “School. Gossip. Got it.”

“It’s Friday, Dad,” Tyler said with exaggerated patience. The Simpson schools were set up on four-day weeks. “But I don’t have to be in school to hear about it. The whole town is talking.” He sent Lou a sly look. “About the fire…andother things.”

“Tyler,” the sheriff barked.

The teenager’s head dropped as he muttered, “Sorry.”

Despite her blush, Lou waved it off. “It’s fine. It’s not news to me. Everyone and their brother has been in this afternoon, asking about the fire and…other things. Want something to drink?”

“Mocha?” he suggested, sending his dad a sideways look.

“Hot chocolate,” Rob corrected, making Tyler roll his eyes but give in with a shrug.

“So who did it?” Tyler asked as she mixed chocolate with the steamed milk for his drink.

The sheriff cleared his throat.

Ignoring the wordless reprimand, his son continued, “I heard you, like, got trapped inside and almost died. Bet it was freaky in there. Did you get any burns?”

“Tyler!”

Shaking off the horrifying images the boy’s questions brought back to her mind, she handed Tyler his hot chocolate.

Repressively, Rob said, “I’ll see you at home.”

Tyler snorted. “Right. Because you’ll be home before I’m asleep.”

“Tyler,” Rob said, sounding tired and guilty and frustrated and…all kinds of emotions Lou couldn’t identify.

“See you, Lou,” Tyler said, ignoring his father as he pushed open the door.