“Morning, Big Momma,” Quinn said. “Y’all out hunting?”

A nice-sized doe lay slumped over the back of one of the other four-wheelers, glassy-eyed and tongue hanging out. The other two women were nearly as big as Tabitha with their backsides drooping off each side of the narrow seats. They couldn’t be much older than Quinn but had weathered faces and almost colorless eyes, hair a strawy mix of white and yellow. One of them appeared to have sideburns and the faint tracing of a mustache.

“Found this doe on the road,” Tabitha said. “What of it?”

“I’m not a game warden,” Quinn said. “I came to talk to you about Gina Byrd.”

“I know she’s dead,” Tabitha said. “I know someone done killed her sorry ass. You want me to go hang my head and cry about it? Shit.”

The two other big women stayed put on their four-wheelers. The skinny girl had come out onto the porch, still shivering while watching the action from the stairs, her stringy red hair blowing over her pale white face. The leafless trees around the property swayed in the cold wind.

“Also just heard your mother died recently,” Quinn said. “My condolences on both.”

“Sad about Momma,” Tabitha said, sucking down the cigarette to a nub and pitching it at Quinn’s feet. “My asshole half-sister stuck her in a real shithole. Wadn’t for that, she’d be alive today.”

“Was that up in Corinth?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Newspapers called that place Motel Hell. You know, like that movie where them folks eat their guests like a pork supper?”

“I may have read something about it.”

Big Momma reached for a pack of cigarettes and set fire to the end of one with a small, skinny lighter. “Something on your mind, Sheriff?” she said. “Or did you just come on out to offer your fucking thoughts and prayers? Because I’m about to freeze my big-ass titties off out here while we shoot the breeze.”

Quinn scratched at his cheek, looked down at the dust on his square-toed boots and then back at Big Momma. It wasn’t easy looking that woman in the eye, but he did his best. Her eyes were so tiny they were almost lost in the expanse of her face, jowls drooping as she sucked in more smoke.

“Appears you’ve been having a real time around here,” Quinn said. “Nice swimming pool. Some new four-wheelers and a big boat. Yep. Y’all are living the life.”

“Don’t see how that’s any of your concern.”

“Just wondering how things turned around for you,” Quinn said. “Last time I saw you, you were worried about some man from over in New Albany foreclosing on your land.”

“Not no more,” she said. “That shit’s all over.”

“Lucky you.”

“Ain’t no luck about it,” she said. “Paid that shit off with the settlement my lawyer got. A little left over for a few toys. No crime in that. Is it?”