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“That doesn’t make you a coward, Newman”

“What does it make me?” he asked

“Human”

17

THE ONLY GOOD thing about the tiht of the ston to help us They would meet us at the jail after Kaitlin made an impression or copy of the bloody footprints at the house If they uilty, but if they didn’t, then at least our little group would have reasonable doubt It would take longer to get the judge on the warrant to be on board, but you have to start somewhere

Duke was still in his vehicle as Newht, we could see hi on his phone The driver’s-side door was open already, as if the phone call had caught hi his car We parked and walked toward him

He hit MUTE on the phone and said, “It’s o ahead Tell Troy that you need your warrant He said he’d printed it out for you”

We both nodded and started toward the building, but not before we heard him say, “I’ll be home as soon as I can, honey I know she’s in pain, but she doesn’t want hospice-level meds yet”

Newman and I both hurried just a little, as if we’d eavesdropped on souess we had I didn’t have kids, but I couldn’t i to watch someone I loved die like that

Newman paused at the door of the tiny police station “Jesus, hospice-level meds”

“I’m not sure what that means,” I said

He put his hand on the doorknob but didn’t turn it “It’s when they give them so many pain meds they just sleep pain free until the end When doctors offer you hospice care, then it’s over You’re just waiting for the body to give out”

It sounded like Newman had experienced it personally in souy code of never asking about personal stuff I was still debating e heard the gunshot It sounded like it had couns appeared in our hands like unfire

18

I WOULD HAVE checked the roo behind a desk or soht toward the far door and the cells I stayed at his six because I was his backup, but it was careless, and careless could get us both killed We had seconds to see that the office area was empty, and then we both went for the door to the cells Newman didn’t even check if it was locked; he just reared back and kicked the door right next to the doorknob and lock The door burst inward, because not only hadn’t it been locked, it hadn’t been securely shut, so the door smacked into the wall and came back at us wit