Ladarius laughed. He looked off at the basketball court and waved to a couple boys shooting hoops. It was a bright, sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. She figured she might stop off for barbecue at McClard’s before riding back. She had the next four days off and Rose had already planned out their itinerary: zoo, botanic gardens, Pink Palace, and maybe a hike along the Wolf River and lunch at Las Tortugas. That kid loved some tamales.

“You taking me somewhere?” Ladarius asked.

“Nope,” she said. “Just figured I’d check in. I promised your grandmomma I’d look out for you.”

“Momma Della Mae won’t speak to me,” he said. “I tried calling her, too.”

“That woman has her ways,” Lillie said. “Be patient. You’re gonna be just fine.”

Ladarius glanced away for a moment, looking like he might get emotional. Lillie wasn’t expecting that and for a hot second regretted her ride over from Memphis. She didn’t plan on spending her day crying around a juvie basketball court.

“I ain’t worried about me,” he said. “I’m worried about TJ.”

Lillie smiled and shook her head. Damn, that kid was pussy-whipped.

“What is it?”

“That man TJ shot at the truck stop was a shitbird pedophile.”

“So?” he said. “Doesn’t make it legal what she did.”

“He tried to molest Chastity Bloodgood in the cab of his truck and was coming for TJ,” she said. “TJ didn’t have a choice. Did you know his truck was called the fucking Purple People Eater?”

“The word of two kids won’t mean shit against a full-grown man.”

“Maybe,” Lillie said. “But dash cam footage doesn’t lie. The whole thing was caught on video by the truck right up behind them. You can see that son of a bitch grab Chastity by the neck and come right for TJ. Sorry you don’t have a phone to see it. That whole show is online now. You should’ve seen the crowd at TJ’s last appearance before the judge. Standing room only. Everyone holding up signs. FreeByrd T-shirts. Damn. I wish I got a piece of that action. Whoever is printing those must be making a mint.”

Ladarius nodded. Lillie folded her hands in front of her, watching the boy’s face, recalling the few times she’d busted him when she was with the sheriff’s office. He’d always been polite and respectful, promising he’d go straight and stay away from his Uncle Dupuy. She knew that wasn’t going to happen then and wasn’t going to happen now. There’d be another time between them, Ladarius running from the law again, and holy hell, how Lillie didn’t want that to happen. She kinda liked the kid.

She reached into her leather jacket and passed along a business card. Ladarius read it and looked up at Lillie.

“Who’s this?”