Lena said. “Don’t let Maynard eat off the plate. You’re getting him in bad habits.” “Lena, girl, you need another beer.” Judith gouged soft white bread balls from the belly of her pizza crust. “I can’t get the little boy out of my head. Rick, let’s go to Knoxville and look for him.” “Look for him where, Jude? Lena’s right, Mendez has to handle that end.” Maynard stepped delicately from Rick’s lap onto the kitchen table. Lena scooped him up. The cat purred and wrapped his paws around her neck. “Hugs her when I give him pizza.” Rick shook his head. “Lena, did you listen to all those messages on the machine?” “All of them.” “You said you tried to set up a trade. Insurance money for the kid. Hayes say anything about it?” “Nope. I’m kind of surprised. I figured he’d of set something up by now. I don’t like waiting around for him.” Rick scratched his head. “Why don’t you leave him a message?” “With who? Satanists-R-Us?” “On the computer, sweet bee.
