“Why do you need it early?” Alarm bells were ringing inside his head. Something was off, he just didn’t know what.
“I need to buy mom a birthday present.”
A valid reason, it had to be noted, but Noah had a hunch it was a lie.
“Okay, well I can spot you a twenty if that’s enough. Pay it back when you can.”
“I need thirty.”
Noah pulled out his wallet. When he handed it to the boy, he looked ready to cry. “Mikey, are you in some kind of trouble? Because I’m always here for you, as are the others.”
Shaking his head, he took the money and ran out of the Howler. Noah picked up the phone and rang Jake.
After the call, he decided on a walk, and left the Howler in the capable hands of their manager, Tania. Faith was taking the night off and going into Brook to see a movie with the guy she’d dated after Rose’s birthday. Noah had tried to see his face when he pulled up in his sports car.
“Who drives a car like that,” he muttered, wandering up the street. Must have image issues, as far as Noah was concerned.
Digging his hands into his pockets, he just let the cool air clear his head as he crossed the road. Let the thoughts come and go. He’d visited his mom, and she seemed happy, but then her mind was slipping away, which didn’t affect her but broke the hearts of her children.
He thought about Lani with that cat. So gentle, her voice soothing the animal. The woman had so many sides, she could be a hexagon. There was the cold one when she wanted to shut people out, and the sexy one just after he’d kissed her. He shouldn’t have done that… again. The problem was, she was hard to resist.
“Shall I arrest you for loitering?”
“You could try, and to be honest a night in the cells appeals. No calls or people pissing me off.”
Cubby Hawker was an old friend and part of his community. Brothers, they called themselves after a few beers, but the truth of it was, that’s how he thought of his friends. Brothers and sisters too. People who saw him for what he was and knew him for who he’d been, black marks and all. They knew his secrets and he knew theirs.
“You on patrol, bud? Walking the streets issuing fines for littering and jaywalking?”
Cubby smiled. It was slow and not overly big, but still a smile. He then touched the brim of the cap he wore. The town’s elders had tried to get him into what they thought was a proper uniform; Cubby had resisted. He usually wore jeans and a sheriff’s shirt, with a black cap with the word Sheriff in gold writing.
“Just stretching my legs. Had some idiots renting the Hanson place, and they decided to get drunk last night and do some target practice on Mr. Dunn’s boat. Turns out they couldn’t hit the side of a barn while inebriated, so not much damage, but a few pissed off residents.”
“Need me to come with you and arrest a few people?”
“Nah, I took Katie with me and she scared them good and proper. It’s my belief they’ll be angels for the rest of their stay.”
“Could have been dangerous though, Cubby, if a bullet ricocheted.”
“Yup, and I told them that too after I’d confiscated their guns.”
“Nice work, Sheriff.”
“I do my best. How’s your mom?”
“Her mind’s going, Cubby, and nothing I can do about it.”
“Hard thing to watch. Sorry that you and Faith are having to go through it.”
“Yeah, but she’s in the best place for her.”
“How about we catch a coffee after the meeting? That is where you were heading, right?”
“Hell, is that today?”
“I thought you were the organized one out of us.”
“You’re the sheriff; sure as shit hope you’re organized.”
