Skink's best friend is Jim Tile, an African-American State Trooper whom Tyree met on the campaign trail, and appointed to be the head of his gubernatorial bodyguard. After Tyree left office, Tile was one of the extremely few people from his days in Tallahassee he kept in touch with. In books where Skink appears, Tile usually appears too. He makes it a personal priority to stay around his old boss and vouch for his character on the rare occasions when Tyree needs a helping hand.