Caddy swept the pile onto a piece of cardboard and dumped the dirt and glass into the trash can. Bentley walked over and took the broom from her hands. Up close in the fading sunlight, she could tell he’d been crying. He didn’t say a word, only turned from her and started on the floor, working as he had for the last several months, following along and trying to help with the chores.

“My father said they didn’t have a choice,” Bentley said. “He said it had gone too far and they had to work with a bad situation. They can’t control Vardaman anymore. He’s running everything now. But this thing I told you about? About your brother? I can’t be a part of that. I told my father I’m done. I quit the foundation. I quit everything. I want to be here with you. I don’t want their money. I don’t want to be around my father ever again.”

Caddy had been holding her breath, watching him sweep, sloppy and not even knowing how to gather the dirt, before she inhaled deeply. “Do I look like I give a damn about Vardaman?” she asked. Her mouth felt dry and dusty, and her own words sounded strange. “I want to know who the hell you think you are to con me and my family. To slip into my bed, whisper shit into my ear, spy on my damn brother. Who are these people you work for? What the hell do they want?”

“I can’t stop what’s happened,” he said. “It was wrong.”

“Damn straight it was wrong,” she said. “This is a sacred place for me. I opened up to you and told you all about what I’ve been and what I hoped to do. That must’ve been damn funny to you. Some piece of country stripper trash who’s found the Lord. Did you have to sleep with me or was it just something to do while you kept tabs on me down here? Maybe you were just bored?”

“I wanted to be with you, Caddy,” he said. “I came here for the wrong damn reasons, but you set me straight. That’s why I’m back here now. I wanted to tell you what I’ve done and warn you about Quinn. These folks are serious. Just let me stay here. I’ll sweep the floors, I’ll take out the garbage, I’ll fix the roofs and do the laundry. Just forgive me.”

Caddy snatched the broom out of his hands, tired of watching his bad technique. She held on to the handle and stared at him. “What do you know about Quinn? Or is that just another lie?”

“They want him gone.”

“Who?”