“He seems like the playful type. Would he go for, hmm, something like a Remote Control Indoor Helicopter?”

“Nothing doing. My mother has a world-class collection of china knickknacks.”

“How about a Little Black Book Incinerator?”

Parr’s dark eyebrows went up. “They have those?”

“For gag gifts, yeah. Saw one somewhere. Although no one has little black books anymore. The incriminating evidence is all on smartphones.”

Parr shook his head. “Still, he’d think it was funny.”

“But Mary Beth wouldn’t,” Gail said thoughtfully. “So scratch that idea. Give me time, I’ll come up with something.” She rose from her swivel chair, smoothing her pencil skirt over her slim hips. The womanly gesture attracted his gaze but only fleetingly. She hadn’t done it to turn him on, as far as he could tell.

“All right. Do I have enough frequent-flyer miles to get to Mississippi for free?”

She returned to her desk and pulled up his travel file. “I know, I know. The checks haven’t come in and you’re not rich yet. Let me see. Yes. You do. How long are you staying this time?”

“A few weeks. The contracts are signed but the demolition at the site will take about that long. So that’s a window of opportunity.”

Gail narrowed her eyes at him. “To do what?”

“Remodel my mother’s kitchen, among other things. I’m going to call around, see if any of the guys want overtime pay to do the job. I could use locals but I prefer a crew I’ve worked with. Maybe they could drive down in my truck and one of theirs, and I’ll fly.”

“I’m sure you’ll find takers. And while you’re gone . . . well, leave me a list of things to do.”

“Of course. I trust you.”

She twirled in her chair. “I intend to take full advantage of that trust, Parr Weston.”

“Yeah?” He shot her an amused look. “Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. And pay the bills as soon as they come in.”

“Yes, boss.”

Parr was in his pickup truck, balancing a take-out cheeseburger on the dashboard to pick up a call with a Mississippi area code.

“Mom. I was just eating.”

“Hope it’s a balanced meal.”

He almost laughed out loud. “As a matter of fact, it is. But never mind that. How are you?”

“I’m all right.”

They exchanged small talk long enough for the cheese on the burger to congeal. Parr sensed that his mother wasn’t ready to divulge the real reason for the call, but he wasn’t impatient. Finally she stopped and took a breath.

“Are you really coming down here?”

“Of course. You have my flight information, right?”

“Yes, I got the e-mail. But, Parr—”

“What?” He selected a french fry and bit off the end. Stone cold. Oh well.