At that second I felt my phone begin to vibrate. I plucked it from my pocket, looked at the screen, and brought it to my ear.

“Yeah, it’s Kennesaw,” I said.

I listened a few seconds.

“Slow down, Danny Ray. And say that again.”

I listened.

“Are either of you hurt?” I asked. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

“Sorry, Patricia,” I said as I stood and put some money on the table. “We’ve got to go—er, I have to go. But I think you’ll want to come, too. You’ll probably be called on this anyway.”

“What is it?” she asked as she grabbed her jacket and purse.

“I think it was Leon Wren. And it seems this time, he finally killed my truck.”

We ran out to my car, and I put the pedal down. Patricia flashed her badge, and the cop at the barrier waved us through the police barricade. I parked just down the street from the nearest fire engine, and we walked to the smoldering ruins of what was once an auto shop and, out back, Danny Ray’s home. It was now just so much charred concrete block and collapsed angle iron. I found Danny Ray and Parker standing on the sidewalk watching the firemen prowl through the rubble, hosing down the hot spots.

“Danny Ray—Parker, y’all remember Detective Latham, don’t you?” I said as I put a reassuring hand on Danny Ray’s thin shoulder.

“Miss Patricia,” Parker said, taking his hat in one hand and Patricia’s in the other. “I’m glad to see you again but sorry for the circumstances.”

“Hello, Mr. Wells—I mean, Parker,” she said as he began to protest.

“Mr. Pledger,” she said as she turned to Danny Ray.

Danny Ray nodded and then ducked his head. I looked closely at my friends. Both men were smudged with black soot and I could smell the stench of scorched hair.

“You sure you’re both all right?” I asked. “Have you been checked out by the medics?”

“Yes, Kennesaw. The EMTs gave us a good going-over. We’re okay,” Parker replied.

“I’m going to check with the investigator. I’ll see you in a little bit,” Patricia said as she turned on her heel and strode to a nearby unmarked police car.

“What the hell happened?” I asked.

In what had once been the service bay of the shop, I finally identified the mangled carcass of my Bronco. Ashes to ashes, I thought.

“Danny, help me out if I leave anything amiss,” said Parker.

Danny Ray looked up and, nodding his head, spoke for the first time. “’K-k-kay,” he stammered.

“We worked at the boat until after dark and then stopped here so that Danny Ray could retrieve something from his trailer before we went to supper.”

Danny Ray nodded his affirmation of Parker’s words.