Heartbreaker

She hadn’t heard any such thing, of course, but that didn’t matter. As soon as she said the word football, their minds clicked into sports mode. It was as easy as getting a baby to eat candy. She leaned back in her chair and smiled complacently.

Nick and Tommy had played ball for Pe

On their way out of the restaurant, a family of six called Tommy over to their table. Noah stayed with him, and Nick and Laurant went on outside.

Lo

Lo

Steve had told Lo

"That’s the sheriff’s son, Lo

"Looks like we’re going to find out real soon," he whispered back. Then he shouted, "Hey, kid, move your car."

Lo

This one was already a lost cause. He could see it in his eyes.

"Let’s start with the car," Lo

Nick laughed. It wasn’t the response Lo

"You," Nick answered. He spotted Noah shoving Tommy behind him as he rushed down the stairs toward them. He called out to him. "Hey, Noah, the local thug wants to trash the new car."

"But that’s…’," Tommy began.

"Sure it is," Nick interrupted.

"Lo

"I got some business with Laura," Lo

"Is this guy stupid or what?" Noah asked incredulously.

"I’m thinking he must be," Nick drawled as he reached inside his jacket and flipped the snap holding his gun in place.

Furious that he was being mocked in front of his friends, Lo

"Still think I’m stupid?"

"Thank the Lord we have a spare," Noah called out. He was busy keeping Tommy behind him and trying to watch the morons at the same time.

Lo

Then he stepped back to survey his handiwork. "Now how are you going to get home?" he taunted.

Nick shrugged. "I figured I’d drive my car."

"With two flat tires?"

Nick smiled. "This isn’t my car."

Lo

"Shit!" Lo

"Drop the knife. Do it now," he ordered. "Don’t make this any worse than it already is. You’ve destroyed private property, and threatening a federal-"

He was about to tell Lo

"Nobody makes a fool out of me," Lo

"You did that all by yourself," Nick countered. "Now drop the knife. This is your last warning."

Lo

The boast was empty. "Yeah, right," Nick said as he kneed Lo

It happened so fast, Laurant didn’t have time to blink. Lo

The second the alarm went off, Lo

"You asshole. I’m going to-"

"Oh, look. Here comes Daddy," Nick said cheerfully.

The sheriff was ru

"We didn’t do nothing. It was all Lo

"Shut up, Ricky," the boy in the backseat shouted.

"Get out of the car," Noah ordered. "Nice and easy, and keep your hands where I can see them." He didn’t want to blow his cover but he had his hand in his jacket on the butt of his Glock just in case one of them pulled a gun on him.

The sheriff looked like he wanted to cry. "My new car? Look at my new car. Did you do this, boy? Did you?"

Lo

"I was going to tell you I bought myself a new car," the sheriff continued, as though he hadn’t heard a word Lo

"I’m telling you, the asshole did it," Lo

"The kid needs some work on his vocabulary," Noah said.

"Are you going to believe me or not?" Lo

Laurant was incensed. She pushed past Nick to face the sheriff. "I know he’s your son and that this is difficult for you, but you are the sheriff, and you have to do your job. Lo

Lloyd put his hands up. "Slow down, Laura. No reason to be hasty. It’s my car and I’ll make sure my boy pays the consequences if he did the damage, but he’s saying your boyfriend-"