Upon her release from prison, she’d chosen Valleysburg to supposedly begin her life all over. I knew exactly what she planned—sit tight until she could get her hands on the money. No doubt she had an accomplice who worked the sidelines.

I’d been given another chance to prove myself to the FBI, and this time I refused to be defeated. I’d been given an undercover assignment to locate the stolen money. I took up residence in the community and set up my role. Shelby had blinded the parole board, Edie Campbell, and Pastor Emory. But I’d expose her. No one had the right to steal from a nonprofit organization that housed, schooled, and fed African orphans.

My cell phone alerted me to a call from Mom with “Hey Jude.” The ringtone always took me back to the days of her at the piano playing and singing Beatles songs. Dad, my two younger brothers, and I learned every word.

“Hi, Denny, this is Mom.”

I chuckled. Who else could it be? “What’s happening with the fam?”

“That’s why I’m calling. Our annual barbecue cook-off is in three weeks, and I wanted to make sure you were coming. Your recipe always wins, but your brothers are perfecting theirs.”

I pictured my dark-haired mom doodling on a scratch pad, her normal manner of doing something while on the phone. “Mom, I’m working undercover.”

“Where?”

“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be undercover.”

A sigh met my ears. “I can always ask. Any chance your case will be closed by the cook-off?”

“I have no idea, but we can hope.” I hated to disappoint her. “But you can tell Dad, Andy, and Brice they will never beat out my barbecue sauce. Mamaw gave me the recipe with the orders it was to be passed down to the oldest son of each generation.”

“Right, and the competition is between the McClure men. You’d think her own daughter would have it tucked away. But I didn’t qualify.” She huffed.

“You know Mamaw.”

“Sweet and sassy. I miss her.”

“So do I.”

“Does your undercover work let you work with troubled teens?”

“No, and I miss it.” I’d been volunteering with Hope for Today’s Youth since the eruption in my life years back.

“All right, Denny. I’ll let you go, but first I have to ask—”

I laughed. “No, I haven’t met a nice girl.”

We ended the call. My family meant a lot to me, but between Andy marrying my ex-fiancée and Brice’s jabs, my brothers had a way of making me feel like day-old coffee grounds.

A vehicle engine rumbled a familiar sound. Through the barn’s opening, I saw Edie Campbell approaching on foot. “Morning, Edie. You doing okay?”

“Better than I deserve. Hey, I wanted to ask you a favor.”

I laid the brush on the trunk outside Big Red’s stall. “I’m listening.”

“I came from visiting Shelby Pearce. Thanks for showing her a warm, Valleysburg welcome.”

“No problem. She’s a nice lady. I intend to visit again.”