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Chapter 8

There was something hard about Grantland that Will didn’t like, something mean. He was overweight and unattractive, with pasty skin the color of uncooked dough and a bald spot in the center of his head that he tried to hide by combing the rest of his hair over in a severe part. Even at fifty, he reminded Will of the bullies he’d known back in high school, the kind of depraved kids who would pull wings off flies or set fire to ants with magnifying glasses, hurting others to get their kicks. When Will had learned Burt was married with two grown children, he’d been surprised…until he met the missus at a precinct picnic, and recognized the classic signs of abuse in her shy, almost secretive demeanor and inability to smile.

Young fellow,Janine had said. Twice in the past, Grantland was reprimanded for roughing up younger detainees, and he often baited teenagers brought into the station. Even a tough guy like Teabag had steered clear of Burt.