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Mabel placed a plate in front of the empty chair beside her.

Four eggs.

Six pieces of bacon.

Biscuits and gravy.

Fried potatoes.

Enough food to feed a patrol.

I sat.

Agnes inspected me while I ate.

“You have gray in your beard.”

“I’m forty-three.”

“That isn’t old.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

“You need a haircut.”

“I had one.”

“When?”

“February.”

“It’s August,” Nora said.

I looked at her. “Whose side are you on?”

“Theirs. It’s safer.”

Wolf nodded. “You’ll learn.”

“Where's Judy?” Wolf asked.

“Already at the Sheriff's Office,” Rylie answered.

Mabel reached across the table and touched my sleeve.

“This shirt has a hole.”

“It’s small.”

“It’s on your shoulder.”

“My shoulder doesn’t mind.”

“We’ll take you shopping.”

“No.”

All three women stared at me.