Caddy held up the flat of her hand. “You want to talk to Ansley Cuthbert?”

Tashi nodded. “Very much so.”

“Would that make you leave Quinn the hell alone?”

“She disappeared right after Brandon and now a young woman’s body has been found. You don’t think that has to mean something?”

“I know Ansley Cuthbert,” Caddy said, folding her arms over her chest. “We were in the same class and got to be pretty damn good friends up in Memphis. That girl was wild as hell. I can promise you one thing. She sure as shit didn’t die back in ’97 if she was up in Memphis partying with me fifteen years ago. We worked at the same clubs, dated some of the same men, were pretty much inseparable until I decided to get my ass clean.”

Tashi looked disappointed her theory was being shot to shit but interested at the same time. Her chin tilted upward, the fluorescent lights overhead reflected off her chunky glasses, old-school sneakers on her feet. “Can you help us find her?”

“I haven’t seen Ansley Cuthbert for almost ten years.”

“That’s a lot more recently than most,” Tashi said. “If you could maybe tell us where to look or anyone who might have kept in touch.”

“Did you try the Memphis phone book?” Caddy said. “Y’all are some damn reporters.”

“We called every person we could find with that name in the South.”

“Could still be in Memphis.”

“Where did you two work?”

“Oh,” Caddy said. “A real fine place right near the airport. Ever heard of a gentleman’s club called Dixie Belles? She used to put on a hell of a show to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog.’ Knee-high fur boots, black leather bikini, and a damn bullwhip. I don’t know where Ansley’s gone, but ten to one she’s still in the life.”

“Will you help us?”

“Like I said,” Caddy said. “Will you leave Quinn alone?”

“All depends,” Tashi said, shuffling her black Chuck Taylor sneakers, trying to look tough. “On what she has to say.”

*   *   *

“Don’t y’all dare use my damn name,” Curtis Creekmore said. “I don’t want to be listed as no CI, neither. I don’t want you even thinking about putting my ass on the stand because I swear to Holy Christ I will deny every damn word I’m about to tell you. What we talk about in Coffeeville damn well stays in Coffeeville. Just between me, y’all, and these here chain saws. We got a deal or not?”

Quinn looked to Lillie and she shrugged. “I guess so,” she said.