“Just driving around looking for my dad and heard someone crying. I’m sorry, Shirley, I really am. I know how you feel. The loss and everything.” Annabelle sat down on the steps next to her.

“Why come here?”

“The sheriff told me my dad had helped Willie. I don’t know, I thought there might be some clue here. At this point I’m basically grasping at straws.”

With this earnest explanation Shirley’s suspicious look faded. She flicked her cigarette away and rubbed at her eyes. “He was curious about what happened to Willie,” she said slowly. “Came to see me about it.”

“He did?” Annabelle said quickly. “I thought you two hadn’t spoken.”

“I lied to you,” Shirley said bluntly. “I didn’t know who you were and all,” she added vaguely.

“Sure, I understand that.”

Shirley’s hands nervously slid back and forth over her thighs. She pointed straight ahead. “Lot of things out there in the dark, can’t see ’em till it’s too late.”

“Right. What did he talk to you about?”

“Said somebody had tried to kill Willie. Said they’d put stuff in his Tylenol. I think he thought I did it. But I never would’ve done that to Willie. I even went to Willie’s trailer one night to check on what pills he had there. I was thinking somebody was trying to get some crap in Willie’s system that shouldn’t be there. That’s when I ran into your daddy, and he got all suspicious. But I loved my boy. Never would’ve done anything to hurt him.”

She started sobbing again and Annabelle put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure my dad was just trying to help.”

Shirley wiped her eyes dry and sucked in some fresh air, calming down. “I know that now. And he was right. Somebody killed Willie, sure as I’m sitting here talking to you.”

“Do you have any idea who would’ve done that?”

“I got ideas, sure.” Shirley’s cheeks quivered.

“Can you tell me?”

“Why?”

“Shirley, whoever killed your son might have gone after my father because he was trying to help Willie.”

“Sure, that makes sense, I guess. Oh, I don’t know. Just don’t know anymore.”

“I’ll try to help too. If you can just trust me.”

Shirley gripped Annabelle’s hand. “Lord, girl, do you have any idea how long it’s been since I trusted anybody around this damn place?”

“Trust me and I’ll help you. I promise.”