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“Duke has always been professional, kind of down-home and country like he’d read what a small-town sheriff should be like and wanted to play the part right, but always a good cop”

“Even good cops get confused when their family is impacted by a crime,” I said

“That’s a kind way of looking at someone that nearly shot you”

“His daughter is dying That’s going to mess with anyone”

“You have this reputation for being a hard-ass, unpleasant person, but you’re not like that You get the job done, and you don’t let bullshit stand in your way And if so the bullshit, you’re pretty merciless But if they do their job, if they aren’t part of the problem, you’re kind”

“I’m as kind as people let me be,” I said

“Exactly,” Newman said

“Sheriff Leduc has used up ht? I won’t be an asshole about his daughter and the deceased paying for her treatain”

“I wouldn’t expect you to give hi to kill you both for a minute”

“I know you would have shot him to save us, Newman”

“I would have I really would have, but dahter how it happened”

“You didn’t have to shoot hi to explain”

“No, but you knoorried that I was compromised because I knew everyone involved?”

“Yeah,” I said

“I’m not, but Duke is compromised six ways to Sunday”