“Huh.” I couldn’t help but wonder if the person in charge of Big Thief Hollow was the person Skeeter’s guy was supporting.
Neely Kate studied me with her microscope lens vision. When she studied something that closely, she was practically a mind reader. This time was no exception. “What does huh mean?”
I kept my eyes on the road, trying to play it cool. “It’s just that I’ve learned so much since Momma was killed last May. Who knew this whole criminal underworld mess existed right under my nose?”
“Speaking of the criminal underworld . . .”
I tried to suppress a groan. How was I going to keep my morning with Skeeter from her? I knew she wouldn’t approve, and I didn’t want to lie to her. Instead, the heaven above was looking out for me, and Neely Kate’s phone started to play “Wildflower.”
She released a frustrated grunt and answered, “What’s goin’ on?” Her face puckered in disapproval. “Granny, I told you not to raise a ruckus last night.”
I cast an inquisitive look at her. I’d only met her grandma once—at Neely Kate’s wedding—and she was quite a handful.
“Well, you can’t blame him for wanting you to pay for the damage to the doggone raccoon, Granny. It’s been hanging in that lodge for twenty years.” She paused and rolled her eyes. “No! Do not have Reggie go shoot a raccoon to replace it! Let me talk to him, and I’ll see what I can do.” She paused. “No, I’m not bringing you Big Bill’s hot wings tonight. I don’t have time to sit in the Fenton County General Hospital for hours after you claim the indigestion has given you a heart attack. One of these days you’re really gonna have one, and the ambulance drivers are gonna be sorry that they stop for ice cream at the Burger Shack every time they answer one of your calls.”
Neely Kate sighed as she hung up. “She’s gonna be the death of me.”
“I take it there was trouble at bingo last night.”
“You have no idea. I’m not sure when she’ll ever be allowed back. You might just get out of your promise.” She turned to me with a grin. “No wonder I like you so much. You’re just like my granny.”
I laughed. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment.” I cast a glance at her. “So what’s the deal with you and Tabitha?”
She tried to look innocent. “Nothing.”
“It can’t be nothing if she won’t even talk to you.”
“I’m just takin’ precautions is all.”
“Huh.”
She quickly changed the subject, talking about some new recipes she’d found the night before. “Ronnie refuses to eat them.” She crossed her arms in a huff.
I wanted to tell her that I understood why, but I didn’t have the heart. “Well . . . it does take a more refined palate than most people around here have.”
She waved her hand. “And that’s exactly why I want Mason to try my food. He lived up in Little Rock. He’s more continental than Fenton County folk.”
“You know who you should try?” I said, trying to keep a straight face. “Joe. He lived up in Little Rock for years. He even went to law school there.” I gave a half-shrug. “I bet he’d love it.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I kind of regretted it. Joe showed every intention of staying in Fenton County, and Neely Kate was bound to run into him. She still held a grudge against him for walking out on me back in September. I should have been encouraging her to mend fences with him rather than stirring up more trouble.
“Yeah . . .”
When Neely Kate realized we were close to Big Thief Hollow, she started coaching me on what to say. “Tell her that you know Dolly Parton from school and you’re looking for her because you want help planning your class reunion.”
“Maybe I’ll just wing it. Especially since I thought Dolly Parton was younger than us.”
“So? You have one of those timeless faces.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad one.”
“Oh definitely good,” she assured me, patting my arm. “You use a great moisturizer.”
“Okaaay . . . Anything else?”
“Find out the last time she talked to her, along with anything else that will help us find her now.”
“Got it.”
She gave me directions to a group of duplexes set off a county road. A beat-up car sat in front of the pale blue eyesore on the end; a tree made from blue wine bottles was the only landscaping in the grass-spotted yard. The other duplexes, painted in varying shades of pastel, looked just as neglected. A handful of cars were parked in various driveways.
“Pull in behind the Buick,” Neely Kate said.
I did as she instructed and put the truck in park, turning off the engine. “Are you sure she’s here?”
“That’s her car right there.” She shrunk down in the seat. “I think it’ll be better if I wait here in the truck.”
I opened the door and looked over my shoulder. “Okay.”