The sheriff led Emil away. Emil protested that I’d given him the keys to my place downstairs.
“In case of emergency. There was no emergency for him to be in here tonight, Lloyd.”
A grim-looking Sheriff Campbell advised me to come down to the office Monday to complete the paperwork to charge Emil formally. In the meantime, Lloyd told me to get some rest.
“He stole from me.” I heard the glass crunch beneath my feet, but I was talking about more than the bottle of wine and the broken crystal. I was talking about peace of mind and his betrayal of my trust.
“I know, Frank.” The sheriff patted me on the back. “Call me if anything else turns up missing.”
His hand smacked on Emil’s shoulder, and Emil winced as the sheriff led him outside.
Silence reigned after the sheriff’s SUV drove away.
At the front door, I turned to Christopher and Henry.
“I’m sorry for—”
Christopher stomped over to me.
“You have nothingto be sorry for!”