"You'd better answer it." Elliott noticed the quick look of excitement in his mother's eyes as she nodded towards the phone. "When you answer it, put it on speaker."

Elliott hit the button as he answered. "Hello."

"Smallcox, how are things going over there?" Jamal's voice came clearly through the phone to both of them. There was some background noise, which to Elliott sounded like they might be driving.

"Uh, everything's okay."

"Is your mother still up?"

Elliott met his mother's eyes, and she gave him a quick nod as she brought her hand down between her spread legs, her red-tipped fingernail toying lewdly near the top of her glistening...