All of the Voices by Bailey Bradford (little red riding hood read aloud txt) 📗

fluid. It wouldn’t do to let the sheriff see how angry Carlin was, and it certainly wouldn’t do for him to lose his temper and end up in jail.

Instead Carlin kept his shoulders back and his hands open at his sides as he looked at the man on the other side of the desk. “I’ve told you I had obligations and I’ve no intention of explaining any further. It’s quite clear your earlier diatribe about making unfounded accusations was only applicable to me. Thank you for your time and for not arresting Aunt Mary. Have a good day.” He stepped around the chair, determined to leave before the situation declined any further.

“Wait.”

Carlin ignored the sheriff’s gruff order and reached for the door knob. He heard Stenley moving, his chair squeaking slightly as Carlin twisted the knob.

“Mr. Douglas, please.”

The sheriff sounded close, his deep voice rough and strained. Carlin peeked over his shoulder to find the man standing only a few feet behind him, looking chagrined.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I’m usually not such a dick.”

Carlin hesitated, his hand tightening on the knob. He thought about Stenley’s kindness this morning, his patience and quiet insistence on reassuring Carlin everything involving Aunt Mary’s call had been handled properly. The guilt in his cool gray eyes as he spoke about Aunt Mary. Maybe Carlin wasn’t the only one burdened with the knowledge that he should have done more.

He took his hand off the knob and faced Stenley. “Maybe, as you pointed out to me when I had my snit, you’re dealing with a fair amount of grief and guilt as well.”

Stenley glanced away as he shrugged. “That’s no excuse for me to talk to you like I did. I don’t know why I did.”

“But it’s an acceptable excuse for me to be an ass?” Carlin slid his hands in the pockets of his slacks as he considered the man in front of him. Strong, a man of few words, a moral code too many other people lacked—Carlin might have crushed on the sheriff a little if it weren’t for the fact he had a partner. And if Carlin wasn’t still feeling a little residual attraction to Matt Nixon. Maybe more than a little, since thinking the deputy’s name sent blood rushing south to plump up his cock.

“Everyone is a jerk sometimes,” Carlin offered. “I do appreciate the time you’ve spent filling me in on what happened. For what it’s worth, I think you’re a good guy who carries too much on his shoulders. Not everything is your fault.”

“Yeah, I—”

A knock on the door cut off whatever else the man would have said. Carlin flinched in surprise at the noise then cursed as his skin heated with embarrassment at his own jumpiness. He twisted around and opened the door and found himself face to face with an attractive middle-aged woman holding two steaming cups of coffee.

“Hello, Mr. Douglas, I’m Doreen, Sheriff Stenley’s assistant.” She held out a cup to him, which he accepted automatically. “I would have brought these in sooner but I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Doreen stepped forward and Carlin moved aside to allow her into the office. She handed the other cup to Stenley then turned back to Carlin and promptly pulled him into a hug he wasn’t expecting. “I’m so sorry about Mary’s death. We’ll miss her.”

Carlin squeezed his burning eyes shut as he patted Doreen’s back. The people of this small town kept surprising him. So far, the only person in McKinton who’d lived up to Carlin’s preconceived notions was the motel clerk, but even then the man had seemed more intent on chastising Carlin rather than truly disliking him.

“Thank you,” Carlin rasped as Doreen pulled away. She kept her hands on his shoulders and studied him for a moment before nodding.

“You’ll do, won’t you?” Doreen patted his shoulders then left the office.

Carlin stood there frowning as he looked at the sheriff. “What did that enigmatic statement mean? I’ll do…what? For what? Does she always say things like that then scamper off and leave whoever she was talking to confused?”

Amusement lit Stenley’s expression, making the man look younger and more approachable. “I wouldn’t say Doreen ever scampers anywhere, but the rest, yeah.” He chuckled then raised his cup and took a long sip of coffee, sighing after he’d finished taking a drink. “And she makes the best coffee in Texas.”

Carlin would have agreed but he was too busy enjoying the strong brew. There was a hint of something in there, a spicy tang he couldn’t quite place. Carlin opened eyes he hadn’t realized he’d shut as he concentrated on divining the flavors of the coffee. Sheriff Stenley watched him with a slightly stunned expression. “What? Did I slosh some or something?”

Stenley’s grin was so surprising Carlin nearly dropped his coffee cup. It actually slipped in his hand when the sheriff laughed then spoke.

“No, but damned if you didn’t make taking a drink of coffee look like a sexual experience.” Stenley snorted. “God, don’t teach Severo that or I’ll never finish a cup of coffee around him again.”

Carlin laughed and felt some of his grief shift and ease under the small burst of joy. “I’ll definitely have to have a talk with your partner then.”

Chapter Four

Matt sat outside the motel in his cruiser, one hand rubbing over his scarred stomach. Severo had helped clear up a few things yesterday, and his encouragement was what had made it possible for Matt to consider approaching Carlin Douglas. Matt had waited until his shift had ended rather than seeing if Carlin was available for lunch, knowing the man had spent a large part of the day at the funeral home. Carlin had also gone down to Lowell’s Mortuary yesterday after leaving the Sheriff’s Department and had, according to the gossip Matt’s sister Shelly had passed along, been too overcome with grief to finish picking out Mrs. Hawkins’ casket and tombstone. Matt was surprised to find Carlin cared so much