Fucking rat bastard was what Stutely thought when Tuck revealed the darkening bruises. But all he said, with a sharp nod, was, "Shitload of ice packs, got it. Be a tick."
He took a circuitous route, checking each room, bolting doors and windows as he went. They'd already been breached once today and even if the Sheriff had gone, he wasn't going to leave their security to chance.
There was a question, though: why had the Sheriff gone? It would've been a choice setup for an ambush, getting Tuck by surprise and then lurking in wait till the others came to his aid. In fact, it was almost the exact move he'd pulled on Tuck the last time, trying to use him to lure out Scarlet. But Tuck had said the Sheriff just whaled on him and then run. Why, when they knew now he already had eight cells waiting?
He returned juggling a first aid kit and several ice packs, one of which he immediately passed to Tuck. A deep frown creased his features as he turned things over in his mind. "You were supposed to be in the church," he said. Not an admonishment, just an observation. "He wasn't expecting you in here."