Bill should be happy and thankful: no charges, being let go in time to get ready for work tomorrow, and a whole lot more care and kindness than the police owed him. But all that was on his mind was the intense dread of spending a night in that cell. He mentally cursed and scolded himself for his reaction, told himself to man up... It was no use. His numbed mind was paralyzed in that state of trepidation and he was at its mercy.

"I... thank you... I think I have, ser, constable... sorry..." What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn't even think.