“Can we speak in private?” Gorman asked as he saw Michael's wife Carey watching from the stairs. “Evening,
M'am,” he added as he removed his soaking wet hat.
“Go back to bed,” Michael told her. “It's okay.”
“Is something wrong, Sheriff?” Carey asked. She had the same scared-of-her-own-shadow expression that she'd
been wearing for years.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” he replied with a forced smile.
“Is there...” She paused, with a look of fear in her eyes. “Is it about -”
“It's really nothing, M'am,” he continued, interrupting her. “I just need to speak to your husband for a few minutes
about a private matter.”
Behind Carey, the two remaining Hillard children had appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Get them back to bed,” Michael told his wife. “I'll be up shortly.”