I remained silent, letting the weight of the moment settle over the room like fog. The tension was palpable, a living thing that coiled around us, squeezing out denials and excuses from Ethan’s lips before he even spoke them.
Sheriff Brooks was the first to break the silence, his voice calm but firm. “Why don’t you have a seat, Ethan? We need to talk.”
Ethan hesitated, looking between the faces gathered around the table. His bravado had slipped away, leaving behind a confused, angry young man who suddenly seemed much smaller. He sank into a chair, his eyes darting around the room, searching for an ally and finding none.
