He was nearly close enough for Quinn to reach out and snatch his ass. And then Quinn’s cell phone went off. “Everything Is Beautiful” rang out up and down the creek.

*   *   *

“Not answering,” Maggie said.

“Where’d he go?”

“Remember that trouble out at Vienna’s Place?” Maggie said. She and Boom waited at a booth at the El Dorado, Caddy taking the kids for one last stretch of door knocking a few blocks away. The restaurant smelled of tortillas and fried meat. At the next table, a woman from the bank was having a birthday party. The waiter put a sombrero on her head and served her a drink with the colors of an American flag.

“Sure,” Boom said. “Boyfriend making trouble for one of the dancers. Pulled a gun on Quinn.”

“That’s the one,” Maggie said. “So this guy bailed out and has been harassing this girl. She’s had Quinn on her speed dial, calling Quinn every time he tries to make contact. But Quinn said she was shacking up with some new guy and that the old boyfriend didn’t know where she lived. I don’t know what happened, but he said he had to go out there. Tonight.”

“She asked for him personal?”

“I guess.”

Boom nodded, not saying anything, just kind of staring off into the street, all the pretty lights on the town square. Rain just starting to fall in Jericho, kids and parents making a run for it from the gazebo back to their cars. Some running into the El Dorado, looking for shelter. Several waiters and cooks walked up to the next table, singing “Feliz Cumpleaños.” Shaking maracas, banging on the table, the whole damn deal.

“I’ll call Cleotha.”

Boom nodded.

“You don’t like it.”

“Call Quinn again,” Boom said. “And then call dispatch.”

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

“He’s fine.”

“I’m starting to get paranoid,” Maggie said, dialing her phone as Boom stood up and reached for his Carhartt jacket, sliding in his good arm, the right side pinned tight to the coat. The big gun stuck in his leather belt.

Quinn’s phone went right to voicemail. Maggie called dispatch right away, getting Cleotha and asking where Quinn had called in from last. She looked up at Boom as she repeated the address out on Perfect Circle Road.

“Don’t you worry,” Cleotha said. “Kenny done gone with him. Make sure that crazy woman and her boyfriend don’t give him no trouble. I’ll get him on the radio and tell him to call, Miss Maggie.”

Maggie put down the phone and looked up. Boom was already gone, darting across the slick streets to where he’d parked his GMC pickup. The trees blowing sideways as leaves shook loose and free like confetti.

*   *   *