Small-Town Face-Off. Tyler Anne Snell

at the door. Despite his dark complexion, Mara mentally likened his expression to “looks like he’s seen a ghost.”

      “Excuse me, Sheriff, we have a problem,” he interrupted. Like fans passing on a wave in a football stadium’s stands, Billy and his staff became visibly tense.

      “What is it?” The man hesitated and looked at Mara. “It’s fine. Tell me,” Billy added, showing that Mara’s presence didn’t bother them with whatever news he had.

      Which wasn’t good news at all.

      “We just got a call about two teens who are being taken to the hospital,” he started. “They were both overdoses.”

      Mara’s eyes widened. She asked him what everyone else was thinking.

      “Of what?”

      Bless him, he didn’t hesitate in responding to her, though Mara would have been happier if it had been with a different answer.

      “Moxy. They overdosed on Moxy.”