Bluebird, Bluebird

Darren stops at Geneva Sweet’s Sweets and takes in the unique, dated décor. Lark is a small town with a population of less than 200. It reminds him of Camilla, where he spent his childhood. He is hungry from his travels and orders a large meal, watching out the window while he eats. The town consists only of the café, one large house across the highway, and Jeff’s Juice House, a bar down the road. The Attoyac Bayou runs behind the restaurant. Two police cars are parked outside. Darren moves to the counter and sits near a regular, an older man named Huxley, who is reading a newspaper. Darren asks about the large police presence. Both Geneva and the older man do not answer, but a younger man named Tim responds by saying that a young, white woman died nearby and that she had a child. Geneva adds that her name was Missy but shuts down the conversation. Darren goes outside to smoke as part of his disguise. The fake smoke break gives him an excuse to scout around the building. Most of the land around Geneva’s is vacant except for a large mobile home where Geneva lives. He can smell the decaying body recently pulled from the water and is sickened. Geneva’s cook watches him. Sheriff Van addresses Darren and Darren must remind himself to not reveal his identity as a Ranger.

On instinct, Darren opens his mouth to explain himself, but then thinks better of it, knowing he’s not wearing his badge or on official business. Darren feels unwell due to his heavy meal and the need for a drink. Wendy appears and asks him for a cigarette. Wendy reveals that Michael Wright was in the café last Wednesday. She says Geneva rents out the trailer where she resides and keeps some of her late husband’s belongings. The tall, large white man named Wally joins the conversation. He thinks there is a serial killer on the loose. Geneva and her cook watch the police officers conducting the investigation. The Sheriff approaches and Darren recognizes the report between Wally and the Sheriff. Van Horn wants a list of everyone who has been in the café recently. He notified Missy’s husband of her death and is awaiting identification of the body. Darren notes that it was likely Geneva who found the body. Wally and Geneva have a tense conversation where she mentions his father.

Wally, or Wallace Jefferson III, is a well-dressed man and the Black patrons do not appear to want to be near him. He owns the home across from the restaurant. Darren notices the peculiar relationship between Geneva and Wally as she serves him. Darren asks to borrow the phone so he can look in the local phonebook for Keith Dale’s address. The mood in the café is tense as Wally and Tim have a heated exchange. Huxley speaks up and mentions there has not been a situation like this since Joe passed away. It is unclear if he is speaking of Geneva’s husband or son, but she quickly ends the conversation. Wally has previously offered to buy Geneva’s place and he extends the offer again. Darren leaves intending to go to the bar where Missy was last seen. He has a strong urge to drink. During Darren’s time in the café, he flashes back to the first time he saw a Ranger badge when he was 12 years old, and his Uncle William took him on a ride to a town called Shepherd. He remembers the respect the badge garnered for his uncle. He also thinks about the love triangle between Clayton, Naomi, and William and how it ruined the twins’ relationship. Clayton loved Naomi, but she married William while Clayton was in law school, and he never forgave his brother for it.