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I shifted h to see Deputy Frankie Would she threaten Newman to back her boss, or would she understand that Duke had lost it?
“Duke,” she said, “please, there’s no threat froun at a fellow police officer”
“Duke,” New down to a lower tone than I’d ever heard from him, “do not make me do this”
“I know you, Win You won’t shoot me”
“I like you, Duke, but if you think I’ll stand here and let you shoot another marshal, an unarmed fellow officer, then you are full of shit”
“Duke,” Frankie said, “you taught et in the way of the job It’s a rookie mistake”
I watched the emotions war across his face Either he’d been closer to Ray than anyone knew, or he had some personal history with lycanthrope-related crime You had either to have lost so that haunted your dreams to have this kind of reaction Or, like Frankie had said, be a rookie Leduc wasn’t a rookie
“Stand down, Duke!” Newman said, and his sidearm was pointed very steadily at the sheriff’s head If Leduc pulled the trigger he ht miss us, but Neouldn’t er, the toould be looking for a new sheriff
The gun lowered as the tension ran out of Leduc It was as if all the strong emotions just leaked away and as left on his face was decades older, the skin pale He was shaking visibly as he went for the door that led out to the offices
I waited for the door to close behind him and then said, “Get me out of this cell”
Deputy Frankie started to fu to balance the shotgun It’s not as easy as it sounds Newet the keys out He was still holding his gun in his other hand I appreciated that he hadn’t holstered it yet Leduc could still coh the door, and I didn’t think any of us was sure ould happen if he did
I turned to Bobby “I don’t believe you killed your uncle, so hold on to your huive them an excuse to kill you before we can prove you’re innocent Okay?”
He nodded, and then he hugged me “Thank you”
“You’re welcoed him back
Deputy Frankie got the door open I walked out through the door and let out a long, sharp breath I’d co more than once, but not like that, not from friendly fire