Chapter 11

“Yeah, Emil said he should be working?”

“Oh yeah, he’s in the office. Come on. I’ll take you.” She seemed perky and friendly, and Kaos remembered Makai talking about her in passing, saying she and her sister—he couldn’t remember her name right then—who was Emil’s therapist, were good people.

He followed Erin through the bullpen and to a very stereotypical half-glass-walled office space in the back. She knocked and peeked in when the sheriff answered.

“Hey, boss, there’s someone here to see you,” she said, then beamed at Kaos again and let him in, closing the door behind him.

“Uh, hi,” Kaos said, fidgeting a little. “I’m Jeremy White, friend of Makai’s…?”

The sheriff was a middle-aged man with a weathered face and an inquisitive gaze. He nodded slowly, then got up and held out his hand to shake, much like Erin had done. “Sheriff Newman. Welcome to Acker, Mr. White. Please take a seat.”

“Thank you.” Kaos sat, then smiled hesitantly. “Everyone calls me Kaos. It’s my artist name.”