Page 11 (2/2)

“I’ve never seen Duke lose it like that,” Frankie said as she made sure the cell locked securely behind me

“Me either,” Newman said

I started collecting uns, which were in an unceremonious heap on the floor now Frankie had needed her hands free I started putting my weapons in place and even checked that the 9ically the bullets would have all disappeared You always assuun is loaded, as if the aun when you weren’t looking, but now I needed the reassurance of just handling my weapons before I put them back in place

“Did Leduc ever lose anyone to a shapeshifter attack?” I asked

“Not to lanced at the deputy “How about you, Frankie? You know if Duke has any bad history with supernatural citizens?”

She shook her head “No, or nothing bad enough to cause him toI am so sorry, Marshal Blake”

“Is there anything happening in the sheriff’s personal life? Is he under pressure from somewhere else?” I asked

“Well, everyone knows about Lila, his daughter She’s sick, really sick”

“She’s dying,” Newot some rare form of cancer”

“That’s awful, and I’d say that would be pressure”

“Lila’s been sick for over two years Last I knew, she wasn’t any worse than she had been,” Frankie said

“Would he tell you if she was?” I asked

Frankie looked at the floor like she was thinking, and then up to ht so, but now I’m not so sure”

“Uncle Ray was helping with some of the medical bills,” Bobby said

We all turned and looked at him as if he’d just appeared I know it sounds weird after just being up close and risking a bullet for hi the prisoner I felt bad that I’d let hiory so easily Maybe I’d been on the job too long?