Lillie took a deep breath. Jerry Lee lay panting on his side while Rose cuddled up next to him. Rose had on a little red ski hat with a toggle ball on top. Her cheeks red and flushed from the running and the cold wind. “Did you contact the bank?” Lillie asked.

“Yep.”

“And?”

“I’m waiting on the judge to see Gina’s records,” Quinn said. “I’m also planning on riding out to see Tabitha Threadgill and see what she knows.”

“Big Momma?” Lillie asked. “Lucky you. There are parts of Tibbehah County I really miss. Mornings at the Fillin’ Station. Getting fried catfish over at Pap’s. But making midnight calls on Big Momma for beating the holy fuck out of her girlfriends ain’t one of them.”

“She’s Jerry Jeff Valentine’s half-sister.”

“I know exactly who she is,” Lillie said. “You don’t need to go and tell me about Tabitha Threadgill. I was hog wrestling that fat crazy bitch while you were ogling shaggy goats out there in Kandahar.”

“Is that what I was doing?”

“What else are a bunch of red-blooded Army Rangers gonna do for fun while on deployment?”

“I’ll be sure not to brief you on what I hear.”

“Call me when you clear those kids,” Lillie said. “In the meantime, you better watch your narrow ass with Miss Threadgill. That woman makes Fannie Hathcock seem like the fuzzy-ass kitty cat.”

“Some days I do miss your way with words, Lillie.”

“And other days?”

“Other days I’ve learned to be my own counsel.”

“Glad to hear it,” Lillie said. “I knew I trained you right.”

Lillie looked at her watch and waved for Rose come on back. Lillie walked toward her car and into the wind, looking at the monorail out to Mud Island and at the old Pyramid that been turned into a Bass Pro Shop and fancy redneck motel. The Mississippi moved fast and strong down to New Orleans, branches and stray pieces of trash caught in the flow.

“One more thing,” Quinn said.

Lillie waited, her back to the river and the wind.

“Why’d you name your dog Jerry Lee?” Quinn asked.

“Why else, son?” Lillie said. “Because he’s a stone-cold killer.”

*   *   *

“Baby,” Ladarius said. “I know we just met. But do you mind taking that gun out of my face?”

“You got five seconds to explain who you are and what you’re doing here or I’m hitting 911.”

“Come on now, missy,” Ladarius said. “Let’s all be cool for a second.”

“Walk one more step and I’ll show you cool,” the girl said. “My father just bought me this Smith & Wesson and I sure as hell know how to use it. Now answer my GD question.”