said. “We wanted to talk to you about Wayne and Cal Reese.”
Her expression flattened, and she shook her head as she began to close the door.
“Please,” Theo said. “We have reason to believe Cal Reese was murdered, and the family has asked us to look into his death.”
She hesitated, the door still open a crack. “Orlando sent you.”
“He mentioned you,” Auggie said. “He told us there was a difference of agreement about a contract.”
“Oh my God.” Genesis shook her head. “He’s still the baby, huh?”
“What do you mean?” Theo said.
“Genesis,” a man shouted from inside. “Who’s at the door?”
“Nobody,” Genesis said over her shoulder. “I said nobody.”
“I heard you,” the man said. “So who are you talking to?” The door opened wider, and the man standing there was tall and big, wearing a button-down shirt and suit pants. He had his graying hair in a tight flattop. “May I help you?”
“We just needed to talk to Genesis,” Auggie said.
“Regarding what?”
“Dad, leave them alone,” Genesis said.
“We’re just asking a few questions,” Theo said.
“I understand that,” the man said. “And I asked you what those questions are regarding.”
Genesis shook her head.
“The Reese family,” Auggie began.
“No,” the man said. “You can speak to our lawyer.”
He shut the door. On the other side, Genesis said something, her tone familiar to Theo: the disenfranchised late adolescent. Her father said something back. Then the deadbolt went home, and Theo looked at Auggie.
“So much for that,” Auggie said.
“We’ll try again later. Is she a student? Do you think we could catch her after class?”
Auggie shrugged. “I’ll see what I can find.”
They were halfway down the drive when an angry shout came from behind them. Mr. Evans, Genesis’s father, was coming toward them in a pair of fuzzy moccasins, and next to him was a younger man who was even bigger—possibly Genesis’s older brother, to judge by how he resembled Mr. Evans.
“Hey,” Mr. Evans shouted again. “Stop right there.”
“Jesus,” Theo said. “Keep going. Get in the car.”
“What?” Auggie said. “Are you kidding?”
“You promised, Auggie. You promised to do what I tell you.”
“Theo, please don’t do this. Please.”
“Auggie—”
“Please. I’m not trying to go back on my promise. I’ll do it if you say, but please don’t make me.”
“If one of them throws a punch, you run for the car.”
Auggie was silent.
“Auggie?”
“Yes. Yeah. You’re in charge.”
Theo glanced over. “Why am I troubled that this was so easy?”
“Because it’s a good plan. I’ll get to the car, and then I’ll run them over.”
“Jesus Christ,” Theo whispered.
“Young man,” Mr. Evans said as he got closer, “I want you to listen very carefully to me. You go back to those scorpions, and you tell them that if they think they can intimidate my daughter, they’ve got another thing coming. I’ve already called the police, and you can expect me to file a full report. I have your descriptions, and this will be added to part of the lawsuit. You boys have stepped in it. You’ve really stepped in it. If you weren’t in it before, you are now.”
“Mr. Evans,” Theo said.
“If I want you to talk, I’ll tell you to talk. Do you understand? Get in your car, turn around, and go straight back to them. We don’t scare. And I won’t stand to have my children threatened in my own home. Is that clear?”
“Mr. Evans—”
“Yes or no.”
“I understand that you’re upset, but—”
“Yes or no.”
Theo looked at Auggie.
“Yes,” Auggie said.
“Now take a good look at this.” Mr. Evans reached into the pocket of his suit pants and pulled out a revolver. A .38, Theo guessed. “Do you have any questions about this?”
“We wanted to talk to Genesis about—”
“Yes or no.”
“No,” Theo said.
“This is what you’re getting if you come back. I don’t care if they put me away for it. You, or anyone like you, show your face around here again, and I’ll put all six bullets in you. I don’t want you to have any doubt about that. Wise, make sure they understand.”
The younger man, Wise, glanced at each of them. Theo recognized the look. This guy was young, inexperienced, frightened, and trying to be tough. Theo had seen the look on his own face growing up when he’d gotten dragged into fights that Jacob and Abel started. He’d seen it on Luke’s face when Luke had gone drinking with Theo and some of the guys he logged with. He’d seen it when Luke got in too deep over and over again. He’d seen it on Auggie’s face when Auggie had faced