“Not a hell of a lot else in Forrest City,” Bubba said. “I think I heard they were getting some Little Debbies for the kid. That boy kept on cussing about how hungry he was. I tried to give him a damn donut, but he wouldn’t take it.”

Lillie nodded. Charlie headed out the door, back to the car. When Charlie Hodge was done, he was damn well done and on to the next thing.

“Let me ask you a question,” Bubba said. “Is there some kind of reward for them kids? For information leading to their arrest and all that?”

“Probably,” Lillie said. “But what do I know? I’m just some woman grateful to have a job. You men do all the work.”

“You seen the sign?” he said. “That’s just a little joke between me and my boys. Don’t make too much of it.”

“Sure,” Lillie said. “Every great man has a woman behind him, propping his ass up.”

“You’re a good-lookin’ woman, Miss Virgil,” Gage said, smiling. “I’m sure your husband appreciates it.”

“I’m not married.”

“Good-lookin’ woman like you?” he said. “Federal goddamn marshal? Shoot. How’d you like to join me for an early dinner over at Iguana’s Tex-Mex? Have us some cold margaritas and a few of them deep-fried chimichangas. Maybe head on down to Frog’s for some karaoke? You look like the kind of woman who sure could belt out a good ole country song. Me and you doin’ some ole-school Kenny and Dolly would just about bring the place down.”

“Tell you what,” Lillie said. “You head on over and I’ll meet you there later.”

Bubba looked a little skeptical. “You’re pulling my chain?” he said. “Aren’t you?”

“If I pulled it any harder, Bubba, you’d go cross-eyed.”

“Damn,” he said. “I like a woman with some spunk. But not one that carries a Sig Sauer on her hip. That’s what it is, ain’t it?”

“Yep, a .357,” Lillie said. “Sure you can’t help us out some? I would indeed appreciate it.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “I mighta heard a word or two about California.”

“California?” Lillie asked. “There you go. I knew you had in you. Two-time business-of-the-year award winner like yourself.”

“One of those girls mighta mentioned something about driving until there weren’t no road left,” Bubba said, rubbing his dirty neck. “Wanted to know how far it was to Los Angeles. Truth is, I don’t think those kids had much money left after they paid me.”

“Anything else?”

Bubba stepped back and opened his arms wide. “All I got, Miss Virgil,” he said. “Sure you can’t stay a while? ‘Islands in the stream. That is what we are.’ Or ‘We’ve got tonight. Who needs tomorrow, babe. Why don’t you stay?’ ”

“You’re a real sweetheart, Bubba,” Lillie said. “A grease-stained romantic.”