How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Only Mr. Jesse hung behind. "Don't see why folks care about a murder a half day from here when they don't give a Fig Newton about my boat," he said, pushing his three dollars across the counter and holding out his hand for change. (2.118)
Leave it to someone as selfish as Mr. Jesse to not care that another human being has been murdered. Instead he's wondering why the police don't concentrate on the real injustice here—the fact that his boat's been stolen.
Quote #2
He shook his head and his lips went tight. "I don't know. The police are wondering the same thing," he said, "not that they have enough sense to figure it out. Never underestimate the idiocy of our criminal justice system, Soldier." (6.13)
The Colonel doesn't have that much faith in the criminal justice system and doesn't think that the police will be that helpful in finding Mr. Jesse's murderer. Instead, he trusts his eleven-year-old kid more.
Quote #3
"Oh for heaven's sake," Miss Lana said, her hands going to her hips. "That house is Rose's, not yours. Her father left it to her. If it wasn't for her good name and good graces, you'd have been locked up years ago. You never gave her anything except a couple of good-looking kids, a mountain of bills, and a heart turned to stone with grief." (12.95)
Miss Lana is usually super nice to people, but she decides to tell Mr. Macon how it is when he complains about Miss Rose kicking him out: He deserves her telling him to leave after all that he's done.
Quote #4
"Rose, I'm not going to lie. We don't have many leads. If you'll agree to this, we'll watch Dale like he's our own until this case is closed," he said. "And we'll hope Mr. Jesse's real killer makes a mistake—either because he thinks he's in the clear, or because he doesn't like someone else taking credit for his work. Either way, mistakes work in our favor." (13.115)
Detective Starr doesn't have many clues to go off of, so he's going to have to use some unconventional police work methods. It's a good thing that Dale and Miss Rose are willing to play along with him.
Quote #5
"Rose, we're doing everything we can to find your friend," Starr said. "I have people scouring the woods, and we've set up roadblocks on US 264 and I-95. Deputy Marla is preparing to search the area's vacant houses and barns. Rose, has Lana mentioned having difficulty with anyone? At the café, or in Charleston?" (18.88)
Once Miss Lana goes missing, Detective Starr immediately snaps into action. He's not going to let her just disappear without a trace like that—this guy's going to do his job and bring her home.
Quote #6
"Are you two sure?" Starr demanded, and we nodded. He ran his finger across his eyebrow. "Better safe than sorry," he said. "Marla, notify the Highway Patrol. Tell them Robert Slate has a hostage and may be headed to Winston," he said. "And tell them he might be driving one of Dolph Andrews's missing cars. (18.112)
Detective Starr is actually really capable of real police work and knows what he's doing. It's not his fault that he trusts the wrong person in tasking Deputy Marla with tracking down Robert Slate.
Quote #7
Sam slit open a honey bun with his pocketknife. "Mo, if I could I'd go over there and snatch a knot in whoever's taken Miss Lana. If you ask me…"
"Have a Nab," Lavender interrupted, holding out a pack of orange crackers. "Starr's got this under control, Sam. All we got to do is keep cool. Right, Mo?" (21.30-31)
Even Lavender's friends—who don't hang out with Mo all that much—would be willing to take down Robert Slate for her sake. But Lavender thinks that talking about vengeance and going rogue isn't going to help matters. Oh, if only he knew what Mo and Dale were planning…
Quote #8
"You thought maybe the Colonel was in on the heist, so you had the number run without telling me," he said, his voice flat. "What if it had come back the other way? What if it was a part of the loot? Were you going to tell me then?" When I didn't answer, he shook his head. "I thought we were partners," he said. (22.69)
Dale is totally hurt that Mo went ahead with the investigation without him. After all, they're supposedly partners in their little detective agency. So how could she go behind his back and check out the Colonel without him knowing?
Quote #9
She narrowed her eyes. "Let's see. Marla sat at my table and plotted against us, helped kidnap my friends, and held a gun on you and Dale. If you flattened her tires, Mo, I believe I could take it in stride." (25.21)
Miss Rose isn't usually one to condone her kids destroying other peoples' property, but this time she'll give them a pass. Deputy Marla totally deserves every bit of inconvenience Mo and Dale put her through.
Quote #10
Slate and Deputy Marla were charged with kidnapping the Colonel and Miss Lana, and with murdering Mr. Jesse and Dolph Andrews. Mr. Macon turned state's witness. (29.5)
Everyone gets what they deserve at the end of the book, much to Mo's satisfaction. And even though Mr. Macon doesn't get jail time like the others, he's at least out of the picture when it comes to Dale and Miss Rose.