I shoveled a piece of pie into my mouth and glanced at the floor, each of my chews happening slower than the last to buy me more time. The pie was exquisite even though the diner looked like it hadn’t been renovated since the fifties. The place was clean, and the food was good, so I didn’t question it. I’d seen weirder in Pelican Bay.

Everyone seemed to know Frankie, and judging by the size of his smile, he felt safe here. So that was good enough for me. I shoveled in ...