“Where is she?” Scout hissed.
Raines’s throat moved against Scout’s arm. “I don’t— I don’t know?—”
Burke was on him. “Scout!”
Scout didn’t look away.
Burke grabbed his shoulder and yanked. Scout didn’t budge.
“Scout! Let him go!”
“Sheriff!” Raines’s voice cracked, real fear now.
Burke got both hands on Scout and pulled hard. Scout was locked in. Then Scout’s head turned just enough to register Burke’s voice.
Burke hauled him back. Scout released Raines.
Raines slid down the wall, breathing fast, face pale, one hand shaking as he adjusted his collar.
Burke stepped between them instantly.
“Out,” Burke said to Scout. “Now.”
Scout’s chest rose and fell hard.
Scout walked out.
Hallway
Scout spun fast enough Burke nearly collided with him.
He dragged both hands over his face, rough, like he could scrape the rage off. Then he shook them out once—sharp, fast.
“Son of a—” he muttered, voice wrecked.
Burke grabbed his jacket and shoved him back a step. Not violent. Just stopping him.
“Stop. Right now.”
“He knows,” Scout said.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But you can’t do that.”
“He was talking like she’s nothing.”
“I know,” Burke said, low. “But this has to hold.”
Scout’s shoulders dropped a fraction.
“I lost it,” he said.
“Yeah,” Burke replied. “And it can’t happen again.”
“I can’t lose her.”
“You’re not going to,” Burke said. “We start first thing in the morning. We find her.”
Along beat.
