Justin appeared a few minutes later when Diesel was begging for another bite of hotcake. Justin saw it and grinned.

“Good morning, child.” Azalea treated the young man to one of her rare smiles. “You set on down here and eat you some breakfast. You need your strength.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Justin said, eyeing the plate of hotcakes and sausage avidly. “Thank you, Miss Azalea. I’m starving.”

Azalea stood, arms folded, watching Justin eat for a moment. Then she inspected my plate. “How about some more?”

I groaned and pushed my plate away. “No, thank you. That was delicious, but if I eat any more I’ll have to go run around the track for two hours.”

The housekeeper cocked an eyebrow at that. She knew I was not a runner. “Just go up and down them stairs a few times. That’ll do it.”

The doorbell rang, and I started to get up from the table.

“You set still.” Azalea motioned me back into my chair. “I’ll take care of whatever heathen that is, ringing the bell this time of the morning.”

“Thank you,” I said. I knew better than to argue with her.

As I watched Justin shovel the food into his mouth with Diesel sitting hopefully by his chair, I heard raised voices come from the hallway. I recognized one of them and sighed.

The voices neared.

“I done told you, girl, you ain’t going in that kitchen. You go and set yourself down in the living room. Mr. Charlie’ll come in there when he’s done finished with his breakfast.”

“Mama, this is ridiculous.” Kanesha Berry sounded angry.

“Git on in there like I told you. Ain’t gonna hurt you to wait five minutes.”

“Oh good Lord. If this don’t beat all.”

Justin stared at me, round-eyed, and I tried hard not to laugh. The stern, commanding deputy of the night before was starting to sound like a petulant teenager.

Azalea entered the kitchen alone, and I hastily drank some coffee to hide my smile. Justin dipped his head down and stuck another forkful of hotcake and sausage in his mouth.

“Miss High and Mighty Deputy is waiting to talk to you, Mr. Charlie, when you be done with your breakfast.” Azalea proceeded to the stove as if Justin and I had heard nothing of the argument between her and Kanesha.

“Thank you, Azalea,” I said. “I’m not exactly dressed for an interview, but I don’t think she’ll want to wait while I shower and dress.”

Something like hmmph sounded from the direction of the stove, and I shrugged at Justin.

“Are you going to your classes this morning?”

Justin regarded his plate for a moment. “I guess so. Do you think I should? Or maybe I should go over to the hospital?”