I was zoned, thinking about Galen and everything, as Mel drove us to Satinka's place. I hadn't even noticed what direction we were headed leaving downtown. I vaguely recalled seeing the Michigan School for the Deaf but when we turned off Miller Road into Satinka's neighborhood I was suddenly at full attention.

Satinka Tala's mansion sat in the richest neighborhood in Flint, Woodcroft Estates. In any other area, the homes would be worth half a million and up. Hell, they used ...