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Doyle turned around "Lie down, Aast raised his voice so Amy could hear "Don’t listen to Phil You look all you want, honey"

Doyle leaned his head toward Wolgast’s "What are youdoing?"

Wolgast kept his eyes ahead "Relax"

Honey Where had that co in the sa blankets and plastic coolers and lawn chairs Many were holding s strollers: farm people, ranch people, dressed in jeans and overalls, everyone in boots, soast saide puddles of standing water, but the night sky was crisp and dry The rain had pushed through; the fair was on

Wolgast floith the traffic to the high school, where a n read, BRANCH COUNTY CONSOLIDATED HS: GO WILDCATS: SPRING FLING, MARCH 20-22 A e vest waved them into the lot, where a second ast shut off the engine and glanced at Ah the rearview; her attention was directed out the ard the lights and sounds of the fair

Doyle cleared his throat "You’re kidding, right?"

Wolgast twisted in his seat "A to step outside for a second to talk Okay?"

The little girl nodded; suddenly, the two of the, one Doyle wasn’t part of

"We’ll be right back," said Wolgast

Outside, Doylethis," he said

"What’s the harm?"

Doyle lowered his voice "We’re lucky we haven’t seen a local yet Think about it Two irl-you think on’t stand out?"

"We’ll separate I’ll take Aet yourself a beer, have so clearly, boss She’s a prisoner"

"No, she’s not"

Doyle sighed "You knohat I irl"

They were standing very close; Wolgast could sroup of teenagers walked past, and for aup

"Look, I’m not made of stone," Doyle said quietly "You think I don’t kno fked up this is? It’s all I can do not to throw up out the "

"You seem pretty relaxed, actually You slept like a baby the whole way from Little Rock"

Doyle frowned defensively "Fine, shoother on a bunch of kiddie rides Kiddie rides are not part of the plan"

"One hour," Wolgast said "You can’t leave her cooped up in a car all day without a break Let her have a little fun, blow off so about it Then we’ll get back on the road She’ll probably sleep the rest of the way"

"And what if she takes off?"

"She won’t"

"I don’t kno you can be so sure"

"You can shadow us If anything happens, there’s two of us"

Doyle frowned skeptically "Look, you’re in charge It’s your call But I still don’t like it"

"Sixty one"

In the front seat of the Tahoe, they wriggled into sport shirts and jeans while A to do

"You have to stay close," he said "Don’t talk to anyone Do you promise?"

"Why can’t I talk to anyone?"

"It’s just a rule If you don’t proht aback as they rounds The air ith the srease Over the PA syste out nuo Bseven Gthirty Qsixteen

"Listen," Wolgast said to Aht see Can you do that for irl’s hair was a mess He crouched to face her and did his best to s it away from her face Her shirt had the word SASSY on it, outlined with soainst the evening’s chill

"Pretend I’m your daddy Not your real daddy, just a pretend daddy If anyone asks, that’s who I am, okay?"

"But I’m not supposed to talk to anyone You said"

"Yes, but if we do That’s what you should say" Wolgast looked over her shoulder to where Doyle aiting, his hands in his pockets He earing a windbreaker over his polo shirt, zipped to the chin; Wolgast kneas still ar in its holster under his arlove compartment

"So, let’s try it Who’s the nice irl ventured

"Like you mean it Pretend"

"Mydaddy"

A solid perforirl"