Somewhere along the line, it occurred to him that he hadn't spoken to Virgil Flowers. He'd probably taken the day off, and knowing Flowers, he'd done it in a boat. The thing about Flowers was, in Lucas's humble opinion, you could send him out for a loaf of bread and he'd find an illegal bread cartel smuggling in heroin-saturated wheat from Afghanistan. Either that, or he'd be fishing in a muskie tournament, on government time. You had to keep an eye on him.
In the narrative, a character realizes that he hasn't communicated with Virgil Flowers, possibly because Flowers is taking a day off. Understanding Flowers' personality, the character speculates that he is likely enjoying time on a boat. Florals’ knack for finding trouble is well-known; even a mundane task like getting bread could lead him to uncover a major crime operation.
The character humorously reflects on Flowers' tendency to turn any assignment into an adventure or distraction, possibly entering a fishing tournament instead of focusing on work. This trait highlights the importance of keeping track of Flowers, as he is unpredictable and often involved in unexpected escapades.