Quinn took a seat at the first table by the front door. Lovemaiden, who had been all in a rush, reached for his reading glasses and the laminated menu. He scoured the daily specials, lips moving as he did so.

“Sheriff?”

Lovemaiden looked over his half-glasses, his face jowly and hangdog. He had huge blue eyes and broken blood vessels on his cheeks. His hair combed back off his immense forehead. “That McCade boy planned this killing a while back,” Lovemaiden said, leaning into the table and whispering the words. “Seems it was his idea after the girl’s mother and Pratt made trouble for them.”

“Gina Byrd didn’t have trouble with Ladarius McCade.”

“Bullshit,” Lovemaiden said. “What kind of momma would want her little girl shacking up with a thug like that kid? He spent more time in juvie than he had in social studies. If you don’t believe me, I got someone you need to talk with.”

“Who?”

“A boy did business with McCade,” Lovemaiden said. “Thieving. Stealing cars and raising hell. Spent some time with McCade up in Memphis at one time or another. Ladarius told all in a real heart-to-heart one night. Kid coming to tears saying TJ Byrd was a girl like no other. A pussy made of solid gold.”

“I don’t appreciate that kind of talk,” Quinn said. “Especially about a minor. How about you tell me exactly what he said.”

“Oh,” Lovemaiden said. “Nothing but damn well near everything. It was the kid’s idea to chop up Gina Byrd like a goddamn Thanksgiving turkey and stick her parts down in a bleach barrel. Ladarius planned to get the body out of Tibbehah County so he’d never be tied to the crime.”

“What’s the kid’s name?” Quinn asked.

“I left the whole report with your woman Cleotha at the front desk,” Lovemaiden said, grinning wide. “I just wanted to relay the good news live and in person. Okay? A courtesy from one sheriff to another. Now, do you mind if I order? I’ve been up all night working this gosh-dang mess and sure could use a bite.”

Quinn stood up and tapped at the menu on the table. “Try the country fried steak with gravy.”

“Good as the Rebel?”

“Better,” Quinn said. “I’ll call after I take a look at the report.”

Lovemaiden grunted as Quinn picked up his coffee mug and turned to the back of the restaurant. Maggie had Halley up in her lap, nursing her under the privacy of a light blue blanket, old people still scandalized at the sight of breastfeeding in the city limits.

“Is that Lovemaiden?”

“Live and in person.”

“Did he find something?”

“Nope.”

“Why’d he come to see you?”