Jack bounded to LeVar and stood on his hind legs, licking the teenager’s face as Serena kept a healthy distance.
“It’s cool, Ma,” LeVar said. “He’s friendly.”
Serena set a sweet potato pie on the picnic table as Raven made introductions. Raven’s sapphire nails matched the lake, and her jean miniskirt ended an inch above her knees. Whenever Raven moved, Darren followed the private investigator with his eyes. Thomas stifled a grin and made his way to the gathering, where he accepted a hug from Raven.
“Thank you so much for inviting my mother.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Where’s your partner in crime?”
Raven rolled her eyes.
“Chelsey couldn’t come.”
“Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?”
“Something tells me you already know the answer.”
Thomas pulled Raven aside.
“I ran into Chelsey at Lizzie Todd’s apartment this afternoon.”
“Ellie Fisher’s roommate?”
“Chelsey mentioned Damian Ramos. If this guy had anything to do with Ellie Fisher’s disappearance, Wolf Lake Consulting needs to keep us in the loop.”
“One hand washes the other, right?”
“I can’t promise Sheriff Gray will extend you the same courtesy. But you can count on me.”
Raven met his eyes and nodded.
“You have a deal, Deputy Shepherd.”
When LeVar slapped Thomas on the back, Raven strode to the picnic area and joined the others.
“Speaking of dawgs, it’s my man, Deputy Dog.”
“How are you, LeVar? I haven’t seen you in…” Thomas closed his eyes in mock concentration. “Almost twenty minutes.”
“Miss me that much?”
“Right. Hey, I have a cooler full of drinks in the trunk. Help me carry it to the picnic table.”
“I got you.”
Ice, already melting in the July heat, sloshed inside the cooler as they set it beneath a leafy maple tree. From the corner of his eye, Thomas noticed Darren’s wariness when he glanced at the former gang member.
“Thanks, LeVar. Tell me something. Is your sister seeing anyone?”
“You interested, playa’? Be careful with her. She’s the killer in the family.”
“Do me a favor.”
“Sure thing.”
“My buddy, Darren—he’s the one flipping burgers and steaks. Introduce him to your sister.”
“Don’t they already know each other?”
“Not well. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to break the ice.”
“You mean set them up.”
“Just get them talking. Work your magic.”
“Aight.”
When LeVar’s eyes traveled to the state park ranger, Darren dropped his attention to the grill.
“He don’t seem like he wants anything to do with me.”
“He’s standoffish until he meets people. Come on, LeVar. Play matchmaker.”
“All right, Deputy Dog. If you say so.” LeVar whistled at Raven, who shot him a don’t-mess-with-me glare. “Raven, we got business to discuss.”
Thomas sat across from Serena while Naomi set paper plates on the picnic table, weighting them down with utensils. Jack had made a new friend and wouldn’t leave Serena’s side.
“I’m Thomas,” he said, reaching his hand across the table.
Serena took it.
“I remember you from the hospital, Deputy. You saved my life.”
“The paramedics saved your life. I just made a phone call.”
She laid a hand atop his.
“That’s not how my son tells the story. Thank you for everything. Especially for giving LeVar a fresh start and a roof over his head.”
“Your son is a special man. You should be proud.”
“He’ll have his GED before summer ends.” Serena’s eyes glassed over. “I’m the one who held him back all these years.” She set her hands on the table and lifted her chin. “But I’m better every day, and I have my children to thank for it. And you, Deputy Shepherd.”
“Call me Thomas, please. How are you feeling?”
She blew air out of her bottom lip.
“Some days, like a million bucks. Others, I’m wound tighter than a two-dollar watch. My daughter keeps me grounded, and I found Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Kane Grove.”
At the grill, LeVar, Darren, and Raven chatted and laughed. Now that Darren and Raven were talking, the state park ranger’s stance on LeVar thawed.
“My boy grows every day,” Serena said. “We just needed to get away from Harmon. Look at him. Three months ago, he ran the streets with Rev. Now, he’s hanging out with law enforcement and talking about college classes.”
Scout, who’d wheeled herself beside the trees to watch the boats float across the lake, returned to the table.
“You’ve met my neighbor, Scout?” Thomas asked Serena.
“Briefly,” Serena said.
“Scout’s a budding detective. Maybe even an FBI profiler. Tell Mrs. Hopkins how you catch criminals on the internet.”
As Scout and Serena struck up a conversation, Darren and LeVar carried the steak, hamburgers, and hot dogs to the table. Raven slid beside her mother. Then Darren, wearing a permanent grin, sat next to Raven. They passed fruit salad, rolls, and meat around the table, the easy conversation flowing like fine wine. Moments like this made life worth living, Thomas thought, as he broke a piece of hot dog and tossed it to Jack.
“So,” Darren said, giving LeVar an amused grin. “Tell us what it’s really like living with Thomas.”
LeVar set down his hamburger, finished chewing, and swallowed.
“He’s not so bad for a cop. Though Scout and I need to teach him about hip-hop. He still thinks Kid ‘n Play are a thing.”
“That’s not true,” Thomas said, pointing his fork at LeVar. “Besides, there’s no way I could rock a high-top fade with this hair.”
Laughter rolled around the table.
“But seriously, I owe him more than I could ever repay. I’ve never been happier.” For a moment, Thomas spotted a tear in LeVar’s eye. The teenager wiped his forehead to conceal his emotion. “Dude even got me a job at the Broken Yolk.”
Naomi sipped her Coke and said, “We love that place. Best coffee and donuts in the state.”
“I didn’t get you the job,” Thomas said, giving LeVar a pointed look. “That was all you.”
“Yeah, but you introduced me to Ruth. No way Mrs. Sims would have hired me, if you hadn’t talked me up like I was running for mayor.”
“How do you like working at the Broken Yolk?” Darren asked.
“I love it. But I won’t be there much longer.”
“Why is that?”
They all stared at LeVar now.
“You haven’t heard? Ruth is closing shop. I didn’t want to say anything. But that place is bleeding
