“Mary Nell, I’d like to, but Harper and I have to go back to the motel and make some phone calls,” Tolliver said. I could see him casting around for something to say that would simultaneously salvage her pride, get him off the hook, and mollify the angry columns of testosterone that were glowering at us. There was nothing that would serve all three functions.

“Maybe Mary Nell would like to have supper with us tonight,” I said unwillingly. It was not so much that I was trying to show the girl some mercy; if she got angry with us, her anger would give the boys permission to attack.

I saw the conflict on Mary Nell’s face pass in a flash; it was I who had asked, which negated the value of the invitation, but it did save her face, to some extent. “That would be wonderful,” she said, giving me the barest glance. “I’ll see you at six at the Ozark Valley Inn.”

I had no idea where that was, but I said, “See you then,” and Nell walked away to her car very quickly, her head held high. Just as quickly, Tolliver and I got in our car and drove away, stopping at the next light to buckle our seat belts.

Tolliver looked angry and embarrassed. “Too bad you don’t want to be in a boy band,” I said, after a minute of riding in silence. “You’ve obviously got the charisma.”

“Oh, shut up!” he said. “How about you? You gonna be one of the Babes of Law Enforcement?”

“Well, at least Hollis is legal age. . . .” I began, but then I couldn’t help smiling.

Tolliver managed a small upcurve of the lips. “Where the hell is the Ozark Valley Inn?” he said.

“I have no idea, but we better find it by six o’clock. Gosh, I have a headache. I sure hope it doesn’t get so bad that I have to bow out of the dinner. . . .”

“You do and you die.”

We picked up salads for lunch, and took them back to the motel. The phone rang just as we were settling down to read. We were in my room, so I answered.

“This is Hollis. Do you want to go to supper with me?”

We could double-date with Mary Nell and Tolliver! Wouldn’t that be fun? I bit my lip to suppress the idea. “I’m busy for supper,” I said hesitantly, knowing I should turn him down flat, but tempted nonetheless.

“A drink afterward?”

“Yes,” I said cautiously, after I’d thought about it.

“I’ll pick you up at the motel. Eight o’clock?”

“Okay, see you then.”

“All right. Goodbye.”

I said goodbye, too, and hung up. Tolliver was eyeing me sardonically. “Let me guess, Cop Boy?”