what she wants. He hadn’t dropped into Bry so far, but he’d skated the edge.
“Do you need anything, Brian? Food or a cup of coffee?”
“The man gave me food.” Nick had apparently badgered them into feeding him with threats of a lawsuit if he got low blood sugar from “stress.” The burgers they’d brought him had been lukewarm and microwaved, but he’d never been a picky eater. “Coffee would be nice.”
“Or maybe you want to go home.”
“Home would be nice too.” He debated getting up like he thought she’d said he could go, but his butt still hurt from the time he’d pulled that with the deputy and been shoved back down. I’m too tired. He tried a dopey smile instead.
“You’re sure you told us everything you know about your friend, Nick?”
He didn’t think he was imagining the emphasis on friend, but it wasn’t like they were really in the closet. “I know lots more things about Nick. What he likes on his pizza, and how far he can throw Luger’s ball, or—”
“No.” She sighed and stared at him.
He shifted in his seat. “Is Sam going to be okay? Is it morning yet? Are you going to put me in prison for trespassing? Is Nick in trouble?” That’s not Bry, right? Just a bit of technique.
“If I let you go, what will you do?”
“I have to go home and let my dog out. He might’ve peed on the floor. What time is it?”
“Four a.m.”
“That’s late! Or early.” He pulled his parka off the chair and wrapped it around his shoulders, feeling chilled. “Do you know who broke Yasmin’s tractor? Was it Sam? It wasn’t set on fire, though.”
Gannet shook her head. “I still think you’re hiding something, but I don’t have time to figure out what. We’ll talk again later. You’re free to go.”
“Really?” He stood up before she could change her mind, gripping the table as his legs cramped. “I have pins and needles. But I can go? What about Nick?”
“I have a few more questions for your Nick.” She tossed Nick’s familiar car keys on the table. “He said to take his car. He’ll catch a ride with Charlie.”
“Our cars are in the woods.”
“I had them towed. They’re in the lot.” She smiled thinly and gestured him out of the room.
He wanted to argue for Nick’s freedom, but given how crap he’d always been at lies, Nick was probably better off with him gone. Nick would be spinning his own tale and didn’t need Brian messing things up. So he said nothing, as Gannet showed him to the door.
Outside the station, the night was cold and dark, the air crisp and clear when his brain was expecting smoke. He shuddered at the memory of flames clawing hungrily up the cabin. He hoped they’d saved the place.
Driving home took all his concentration, familiar roads swimming through the darkness. By the time he was passing the 7-Eleven, his whole body was shaking. A low-blood-sugar haze threatened the edges of his vision.
If Luger was going to pee on the floor, it’d probably happened already. He pulled in and ducked into the store for a big pop and beef sticks and a snack cake and a cookie. He ate them in the parking lot, his mouth crammed full, slurping and gnawing without worrying about his manners at all, as the good fat and sugar steadied him.
He hadn’t passed out properly this time Finding, unless you counted his nap on the table. He hoped the ongoing shakes didn’t mean he was delaying the inevitable. Maybe a candy bar and another pop would be smart? And cheese crackers? Couldn’t hurt, right?
His phone rang as he was tidying up all the wrappers, and he dug it out of his pocket.
“Nick! Are you in jail?”
Nick’s laugh was warm and reassuring. “Nope. Where are you? Home?”
“Almost. I’m at the 7-Eleven.”
“We just got turned loose. Sam made it through surgery, and the sheriff has bigger fish to fry. For now, anyway.”
“Do you want me to come back and get you? So Charlie can go straight home?”
He must’ve been on speaker, because Charlie said, “You go home and sleep. I’ll drop Nick off.”
“Are you sure? Are you both okay?”
Nick said, “We’re fine. Are you safe to drive? I’m surprised she let you get behind a wheel.”
“I’m good.” That might be an overstatement, but he didn’t want Nick to worry. He took a last loud slurp of the pop. “I stopped for a snack. I can drive.”
“See you at home