Peanut said, “I’ll holler for Katie if you want. Have her take you up to your bedroom. Get you set up for the night.”

“That’s all right,” I said. “I need to know what you plan to do about the preacher.”

Peanut rocked back in his chair, and an unsteady silence fell over the three of us. He put his hands behind his head, locked his fingers together, and used his hands as a headrest. He took in a deep breath, and his belly expanded like a balloon. After he breathed out, he said, “Listen, Mack, the preacher’s on my priority list, but he ain’t nowhere near the top. He’s got friends who complicate things.”

“Who?”

The question made Peanut uneasy. Marshall must not have known either because he turned in his chair and watched Peanut rock. He got out of his chair and walked to the end of the porch. He took a can of long-cut out of his back pocket and popped the lip a couple of times. Peanut took a large pinch from the can, packed his bottom lip, and spat.

“Kendall Murdoch.”

The name didn’t register with me.

“Who’s that?” Marshall asked.

“Y’all know who he is,” Peanut said, “probably seen his damn campaign signs all over the county. He’s running for senate.”

“I’ve seen him on TV,” Marshall said, “like a damn used car salesman.”

“You ain’t far off,” Peanut said.

“What’s his connection with Randy Jessup?” I asked.

Peanut sat back down and rocked back to spit in the trash can.

I waited Peanut out, and he smiled. He said, “That preacher’s using his church to launder money for him.”

“Goddamn,” Marshall said, “I knew that fucking preacher was crooked.”

“That’s where Harper Lewellen got all the money,” I said.

“Sure is,” Peanut said, “and y’all’re gone help me get it.”

Marshall looked over at me and waited to see how I’d react. His forehead wrinkled, and I understood the deal he’d made with Peanut to get me out of the church.

“I need something for me first,” I said.

Peanut’s eyes narrowed, and he spat in the trash can.

I finally took a seat in Buford’s rocking chair. The seat was still warm from when he’d been sitting in it, and I propped my elbows on the arms and ran my hands through my hair. “Andy Lewellen.”

“Goddamn,” Marshall said.

Peanut looked over at my brother and then back at me. “Explain.”

“After we stole that money, the preacher killed her deddy and chained her up in that basement. Now that I ain’t there no more and the Elis ain’t around, she’s probably gone suffer the same fate as Harp.”

Peanut leaned over to me. “Explain to me how that’s my problem?”

“It’s not. It’s mine.”