“Vardaman said they acted under their own volition,” Caddy said. “He claims that the Watchmen Society is in no way affiliated or endorsed by his campaign.”

“Bullshit,” Tashi said, trying to keep her voice down. “They worked all his rallies. The one they found dead in that creek? He was the ringleader, hosted some kind of website that pushed all kinds of nutso conspiracy theories.”

Caddy looked worn and tired, eyes red and heavy, as she touched a gold cross that hung around her neck. A heated debate going on in the television, more about the fifteen-year-old getting a job, maybe volunteering at a soup kitchen, and giving up her dream of owning that Mercedes. Dr. Phil telling the girl he once waited on cars at the A&W Root Beer while wearing roller skates. “Roller skates!” Dr. Phil repeated with pride.

“That man has no moral center,” Tashi said. “He doesn’t care what happened to Brandon. And apparently this state doesn’t, either. They just want to hear him talk and promise they can return to a time that never existed. What’s the point of reporting it? What’s it all matter? Didn’t make a damn bit of difference.”

The bratty girl on television was arguing that a thousand-dollar allowance was nothing. She couldn’t live like that. “When you indulge her,” Dr. Phil said, “you’re doing that to make yourself feel better. She doesn’t need a job babysitting. This girl needs a job in the world.” Thunderous applause, everyone in the studio audience pleased with Dr. Phil’s direct and personal advice. Tashi was pretty sure the girl was screwed. She wasn’t going to get that damn G wagon Mercedes.

“How’s Quinn?”

Caddy didn’t answer the question, just gave a soft smile, eyelids puffy and heavy. “I think you’re wrong.”

“About what?”

“That nothing matters,” Caddy said. “It all matters. If nothing matters, we all better just give up and quit. I’ve done that before and I’m not doing it again.”

“We’re putting together the podcast now,” Tashi said. “Some of the producers want to move it up a few months on account of everything that’s happened. The coverage we’ve gotten about Vardaman’s ties to Brandon. Maybe it will help.”

“This isn’t the end of that story.”

“I know.”

“What y’all did just kicked things off,” Caddy said, staring straight ahead, beyond Tashi and over her shoulder. “Y’all did good. But there’s a lot more to this than Brandon Taylor. These people in Jackson running things don’t give a damn about anything except for filling their coffers while people go hungry.”

“Quinn will be OK?” Tashi said. “I heard he’s going to be OK.”

“We all have a purpose,” she said. “No matter how folks try and use us. We all are part of His will.”