That made sense. He couldn’t continue doing what he was doing once social media happened: underage kids working his orchards for free, underage kids learning to build websites and what else? She thought of the photo, the one she’d taken from the front seat of his car, and she dropped her fork. It clattered to her plate. That’s what else. Reaching back, she pulled her hair across her shoulder and began to unbraid it. Her fingers flicked through the strands, detangling as her brain forced her to remember the photo: Feena wearing only her skin...clearly underage...clearly drugged...

She swallowed, but her throat was so dry it locked. Draining her water glass, she swung her stool outward so she was facing the parking lot.

“You think there are any rooms at Charlie’s Inn?” she asked, shaking her hair out. She reached for her bag and hauled it into her lap, making eye contact with the old man. She wanted him to remember her.

“Heh!” He choked out a laugh. “They ain’t seen a no-vacancy sign since they opened. You planning on stayin’ the night?”

She studied his graying skin, the liver spots that decorated it. Why would he eat here and give his money to the man who had most likely conned him out of his restaurant? Eat his eggs, and drink his coffee? “Figured it would be easier to get a ride out come morning. You gonna tell him I’m here?”

Marvin turned away from her, back to his coffee, and picked up his novel.

“Tell him who was here?”

She tossed a twenty on the counter. “Coffee’s on me next time, Marv.” She lingered long enough to see him smile before she walked out. Marvin. It was a great cover: harmless old man pretending to be bitter over the loss of his business, waiting to call the compound and warn the gang about who was showing up in Friendship. A spy. In fact, they probably had video of Rainy in the restaurant. Her stomach dropped as she walked through the motel office’s doors and handed her card to the guy behind the desk. If Taured owned the town, of course he would want to see who came through. Marvin had already been under Taured’s control; she knew that from when she’d hidden under the truck and overheard his conversation with Sammy. He’d asked for waitresses, and Taured had told Sammy to send the sisters. God, what was your big plan in coming here, Rainy? she asked herself.