“Uncle Ray said it was your turn to watch over me, and Uncle Andy said he had to work overtime, and Uncle Dan claimed he had a hot date he couldn’t miss.” The kid took a few steps toward Hank and clobbered two sunflowers when his bag fell over. “Sorry, sorry,” he mumbled to the broken flowers.

Then Simon faced Hank like he was on the last step of the gallows. “When I broke Uncle Ray’s computer and accidentally dropped Andy’s cell, they all three agreed to let me ride with your box.”

The patrolman shook his head. “I texted his mom and she said it would be all right. Just get him back before she gets home next week.”

Simon tried again. “I missed you, Uncle Hank.”

“Sure you did,” Hank answered. The kid had fought going with him every time he’d come by. “You are getting back in that car and heading back to Houston right now.”

The patrolman interrupted. “I’m not going back, Captain. I was just in Houston dropping off a prisoner for questioning. I’m headed back to Midland.”

Simon smiled, knowing he’d won, at least for tonight. “Well, Uncle Hank, it looks like it’s your turn to babysit me. I’m starving.” He pointed at the trooper. “This guy tried to feed me a little box of cereal he picked up at a breakfast bar somewhere and a carton of warm milk. He told me if I put them both in my mouth at the same time it would taste just like breakfast.”

The trooper shrugged. “Bad idea, I know. He threw up in my back seat.”

Hank gave up. None of this mess was the trooper’s fault. “Thanks for driving him. If you hear from the three other guardian uncles, tell them I plan to kill them when I get back to Houston. I’ve got my hands full here.”

“I’ll help,” Simon offered as he tried to pull his bag out of the flowerbed and managed to behead a few more sunflowers.

The trooper smiled for the first time. “Will do. Good night, Captain, and good luck.”

As Hank picked up Simon’s bag the kid frowned at the row of dead flowers. “I don’t like them flowers, Uncle Hank. You ever get the feeling that they are looking at you? They turn their heads first one way, then the other.”

“They are following the sun. That’s why they’re called sunflowers.”

Simon frowned. “That is downright creepy if you ask me. You think they think about what they’re doing?”

“I hadn’t worried about that until now.” Hank opened the door and waited for the kid to pass. “Come on in, Simon. We’ll try to figure out what to do with you in the morning.”

After Hank introduced Simon to Millie, she agreed he should stay the night. She talked to Simon, asking questions and smiling.