John got up and leaned across the table toward Meg. “Listen to me now, Meggie. Nothing in this world would ever convince me to sit here in the Hound Dog, of all places, and talk to you or anybody else about Miss Zula’s private life. She deserves better than that, and you know it.”

Meg held her head high and backed down not one inch, which surprised Angie and alarmed her too.

“No, you listen,” Meg said. “From what I understand, documentary film is about a story. And this sounds like a story to me, John Grant, one that in’t going to go away. And while we’re talking about stories that won’t go away, think about this: you’re supposed to be getting married to Caroline Rose on Saturday, but you’ve been making eyes at Angeline there all week, and Caroline is run off to a convent someplace. Don’t think folks haven’t noticed. In’t that so, Win?”

Wyeth said, “Meg, sugar, you are determined to offend everybody at this table. I’m going to drag you off to the dance floor before you get yourself strangled.”

Everyone watched Meg let herself be cajoled away to the dance floor. Or almost everyone, Angie thought. Win Walker kept his gaze firmly on her, his expression implacable.

SEVENTEEN

Ogilvie, Georgia. Bearing Cross Church of God in Christ; Big Creek Baptist Church; Christ Church; Church of God of Prophecy; Church of God; Church of Jesus Christ of LDS; Elizabeth Chapel Church; First African Baptist Church; First Baptist Church; First United Methodist Church; Friendship Baptist Church; Blue Ball Free Will Baptist Church; Ogilvie Church of Christ; Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church; Ogilvie Church of God; Ogilvie Methodist Church; Old Pine Grove Church; Our Lady of Divine Mercy Catholic Church; River Run Baptist Church; Seven Star Missionary Baptist Church; Turn Around Circle Gospel Fellowship; Unitarian Universal Fellowship.

Hey,” Tony said to John about a half hour later, “you know Angie isn’t coming back, right?”

They were alone at the table, the two of them hunched over beers. After Jude had dragged Rivera away and Win had disappeared into the crowd, Angie excused herself, too, and went to the bathroom.

“I was starting to wonder,” John said.

“Yeah, well, the van keys are gone,” Tony said, patting his pockets. He took a huge swallow of beer, narrowed one eye in John’s direction.

John lifted up Angie’s purse to show Tony. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

“Sure,” he said. “She wants you to come after her.”

“Huh.” John looked at the small leather sack doubtfully. “I’ve never been good at reading the signs.”

“This one is in blinking neon,” Tony said. And: “Don’t screw this up.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling myself all day.”

“So you’re going after her,” Tony said. “Good. You can give me a ride home.”