Lillie didn’t say a word, walking into the hospital room and taking a seat at Ladarius McCade’s bedside. The kid’s eyes were open, plastic tubes coming out of his nose, while he watched one of those fixer-upper shows on television. Flip or Flop or maybe Masters of Flip. One of those dumbass shows. That was Ladarius. Always looking for new trends in the world of B&E.

“You remember me?” Lillie asked.

He looked her up and down. But didn’t seem to have an answer.

“You should,” Lillie said. “Cut you a few breaks along the way, kid. Until you broke into Dr. Stevens’s old house, pulled the copper wiring from the walls, and tore out those antique light fixtures after he moved up to Memphis.”

“What do you want?”

“Got to get you home, Ladarius.”

“Sheriff Colson send you?”

Lillie shook her head and reached for the U.S. Marshal badge hanging from her neck.

“Just hookin’ and haulin’ today,” Lillie said. “Congratulations. Doc says you should be good to travel tomorrow. I know your grandmother can’t wait to see you. I’m sure she’ll have plenty to say.”

“Ha.”

Lillie leaned forward and pressed the off button on the remote. It was early morning and the room was quiet. A tray of untouched food waited on a nearby table. Rain tapped at the window with gray skies, bare trees across the hospital parking lot. A grand day to be in Texarkana.

“Where are they?” Lillie asked.

Ladarius shook his head. One eye was half-closed and his lip was busted. His lower body had been covered in a sheet, but Lillie knew enough about the damage down there. Those dogs took a good deal of prime USDA right out of his legs.

“I’ll make sure they’re safe,” Lillie said. “Can’t say the same for some peckerwood deputy in Shit City, Texas.”

“How you know they’re headed through Texas?”

“I don’t,” Lillie said. “But y’all were headed west. Right? That was the general idea I heard. You and TJ planned to keep on driving until there was no more road. Maybe make a death pact while you drive off that pier in Santa Monica.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The patrol officer watching the door ducked inside right before the nurse entered. She ignored Lillie entirely as she took the kid’s vitals and made sure he was nice and comfy. Did he need to get more rest? Was he thirsty? Why hadn’t he touched his food?

“I’ll help,” Lillie said, bringing the tray over to his bedside. She pushed the adjustable table over and positioned the tray above his bandaged legs. “Me and Ladarius are old friends. I’ve known this kid since he was stealing tricycles down in Sugar Ditch. Good times.”