Page 66 of True Valor
“Matt.”
A Back Street Boy in a flight suit.He hadlight brown hair and teen idol looks, except his nose.A slightcrook to it confirmed he’d broken it.He belonged on the highschool track team, not an elite team like Bravo Squad.Nic caughthimself before completely passing judgment on the kid.
Nic expected two stripes—fresh out of thepipeline—but instead the kid wore the stripes of a staff sergeant.Evidently older than he looked.And since this assignment was, nextto Alaska, one of the more coveted assignments, he probably wasgood at what he did.
That he was taking Joey’s place wasn’t hisfault.
The only sound in the room was the obnoxiousblare of the TV.Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting forhis reaction.Well, except for Will, who still slept.
“Welcome.Where’re you from?”
The room exhaled, and everyone resumed theirprevious relaxed attitude.
“Froze Creek, Colorado.High mountainranching country.”
“Yeehaw!”Gabe hooted.“Ride em, cowboy.”
Will woke with a start.
The kid grinned at the barb and shook hishead.
“For some reason, these guys,” the kid tippedhis head in Gabe’s direction, “don’t think it’s important to knowhow to ride bulls.”
“Imagine that.”Nic finally relaxed.The kidhad such a disarming smile it was hard to not like him.“That howyou broke your nose?Riding bulls?”
“Three times.”
“Glutton for punishment?”
“He’s here, isn’t he?”Will finally put inhis two cents.
“Is Cruz back?”Quillen asked as herecommenced his sprawl.
Nic looked at his watch.“Probably not.”
“You ready to get back to work?”
Obviously, Yoda knew.Yoda always kneweverything.
Nic didn’t have time to formulate aresponse.
“Good.Be in uniform when you come intomorrow.”
“Hoo-yah, Sir.”
If Julie put this off until later, it wouldbe dark.No use feeding the paranoia.No, now was as good a time asany.
Once she’d stopped sobbing and draggedherself off the floor of the living room, Julie took a deep raggedbreath and walked down the hallway.She forced her gaze to thefloor and paused long enough at her folks’ and then Jenn’s rooms topull the doors closed.No need to torture herself any more thannecessary.Then, she continued to her room, scooped up her backpackand keys, and returned to the kitchen.
The drive to the sheriff’s office took all ofthree minutes.Had it taken longer, Julie might have backedout.
As luck would have it, the sheriff stood inthe reception area looking over paperwork with one of the deputies.Julie bypassed the girl at the front desk.
“Sheriff Raines.”
He turned and smiled, tight lipped.“MissGalloway.Nice to see you.”
“Sheriff, I need a word with you,please.”
