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The color drained from Bernie’s face “I don’t knohy” He blinked rapidly, his ,” he said “I would never do that to her To anyone”

Asher’s gaze flicked to the mirror

Boone sighed “This doesn’t h the“That is not a man who orchestrated what happened to Kinsley I don’t believe it for a second”

“Neither do I,” Rhett stated He reached for his phone and texted Asher: Not seeing anything on our end

Asher looked at his phone again and then flipped it back over “Here’s the thing, Bernie Thethat you’re connected to this in some way I don’t want to arrest you But you need to tell me now, if you were not the one responsible for Kinsley’s attack, then who do you know that would do soot your name If you don’t, I cannot help you”

Any rehostly white He bowed his head His fingers treether

“He’s afraid,” Rhett commented

“But why?” Boone said, taking a step closer to the

A longhis head down Then he finally said, “I had no idea any of this would happen” Everything got real slow after that, as Bernie went on, “I only just learned about what happened the other night, but even then, I still wouldn’t have believed anyone would hurt her” He lifted his head, tears ri in his eyes “I would have come forward if I’d known”

Asher reached out and placed a co hand on Bernie’s arm “I know that, Bernie Like I said, I knohat kind of man you are”

Bernie visibly sed, a single tear trailing down his cheek “It’s Josh”

“Your son, Josh?” Asher asked At Bernie’s nod, Asher pressed, “What about him?”

Bernie’s voice cracked “He ga the bar, and owes even more”

Asher sat quietly, letting Bernie talk in his own time

Bernie added, “Josh didn’t know, you know He’s just a stupid kid Didn’t knohat he was getting himself involved in”