Patricia gave me a quick smile. “Yes, I’d like to come with you. And anything I can do to help—unofficially of course—I will. But is this one of those ‘speaking in tongues’ churches?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding in affirmation. “I’m pretty sure it is. So it may get a little wild if everyone gets worked up, and in the spirit.”

“Okay, but next time you ask me out, I get to pick where we go.”

“You’ve got a deal,” I replied with a smile of my own.

At that instant I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Very few people have my number, and I never interrupt a conversation with a live human to stop and take a phone call. So I just let the phone buzz until it went dormant again. I would see who it was later.

“Shall we go?” I asked, looking around for our waitress.

“We’d better,” Patricia replied as she glanced at her watch. “I need to start earning the big bucks the City of Savannah is paying me.”

I settled the bill, and afterward a smiling Rhonda ushered us from our table and wished us a speedy return. The rain was still pounding relentlessly as we dashed to the car and dove inside. While Patricia drove I retrieved the phone message. I listened to it once, and then to make sure that I had heard correctly, I listened again. I closed the phone and put it back in my pocket just as Patricia stopped at a light.

“Anything wrong?” she asked, glancing over.

“I don’t think it’s anything good,” I said, meeting her eye. “That was Sheriff Zimmer. He was calling to let me know that Leon Wren bonded out of jail a little while ago.”

Patricia stared at me. I saw the light turn green. “Go,” I said.

Patricia gave her attention to the street again and asked, “Who got him out? That’s always worth knowing.”

“That’s the really interesting part,” I replied. “The person who posted bond was Joree’s son, Junior Causey—Tonya’s brother.”

“What do you do now?” Patricia asked as she maneuvered around a double-parked delivery truck.

“I think it’s important that I speak with Sandy Willis. I think it’s possible Wren might try to intimidate her.”

“For what reason? You told me the sheriff saw the altercation between you and Wren—so she’s not important as a witness,” Patricia responded.

“I know. But I have a feeling he’s the type who likes frightening smaller folk. And I’ll bet he especially enjoys scaring girls.”

Patricia pulled to a stop behind my car. “Anything I can do at this point?” she asked as she turned slightly and we faced each other.

I smiled and shook my head. “No. Not now. But how about I pick you up at your place tomorrow? We need to leave about six. What time do you get off?”