* * *

Laurel Lorde was on her way into Blessings. Her cleaning business had grown to the point that she had hired three women to help. She had two women to a crew, and her first crew was already on the job. Laurel was on her way in to meet the third employee, who worked with her. They were meeting at Peanut and Ruby Butterman’s house, and she was already planning her day as she drove.

She was nearing the city limit when she saw a gray Ford Focus parked on the side of the road. She slowed down to see if someone was inside and needing help, but when she saw it was abandoned, she kept driving.

As she took the last curve into town, she saw one of the police cruisers parked at the city limit sign and frowned. They never did this unless they were on the lookout for someone.

When she saw it was Deputy Ralph, she waved. He waved back, and she kept driving until she reached the gas station at the edge of town and stopped to fill up.

She got out with her credit card, swiped it, removed the gas cap, and started to fill the tank. While she was standing there, another patrol car drove past.

Johnny Pine was on the other side of the pumps filling up his work truck.

“Hey, Johnny, what’s with all the police cars today?”

Johnny turned around. “Oh, good morning, Mrs. Lorde. There’s supposed to be an escapee from Coastal State headed this way. The police are all over the place. Keep everything locked up today, okay?”

“Who escaped?”

“Hoover Slade.”

“Oh no!” Laurel said, and immediately thought of that abandoned car.

Hoover’s brother, Truman, had once caused a lot of trouble for her family. As soon as she finished fueling up, she got in the car and called her husband, Jake.

Jake answered. “Hey, babe.”

“Hi. I got to town and see police cars patrolling all over town. An escapee from Coastal State is reportedly heading to this area. Make sure your truck is locked, and keep the doors locked at home. You know how you get when you’re working. You zone out to everything else.”

“Yes, I will. You do the same. You only clean the one house today, right?”

“Yes, Peanut and Ruby’s house, but there’s something else. The escapee is Hoover Slade. Truman’s brother.”

“Okay, I know where you’re going with this, and I’ll be careful. But after all this time, I seriously doubt that his escape has anything to do with us.”

“Yes, maybe you’re right. I just remember how much Truman wanted to get back at you.”

“And I put the fear of God in him when I followed him all the way to the Georgia–Florida line. This has nothing to do with us, I promise. But thanks for the heads-up anyway, and call me when you’re about to leave town.”

“I will. I love you, Jake.”

“I love you more,” he said. “Now go make dust fly and stop worrying.”