The Secret Between Us novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Norris Talks

The sheriff went back to his truck without another word.

He took the order with him, and the deputies followed him off the dock.

I heard him say into his radio that he needed the court clerk.

The crew stayed where it was, holding a line across the path to my father's shed.

Nobody wanted to be the first to leave.

Norris sat down on an upturned bucket.

He wasn't crying yet, but his face was the gray of old rope, and his hand still covered half his mouth.

Pierce crouched in front of him.

"Dad," he said. "Look at me."

"I can't."

"You can. You just did it in front of forty people."

"I didn't mean to."

"I know. That's why it counts."

Norris took his hand down.

Caleb stood over them, big and silent in the dull light.

I stayed by the door of the shed with my father at my elbow.

He was leaning against the frame, breathing hard through his nose, and I could not look at him yet.

"Inside," Caleb said. "Not out here. Let's not do this in front of the whole yard."

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