Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (20 page)

He was quiet for a moment. “I see your point. If I can make this work with as minimal involvement from you and risk to you as possible, are you on board?”

“According to our bargain, you can request my help whenever and however often you want, Skeeter.” I tried to keep the bitterness from my voice.

“Screw the bargain. I need you committed.”

“Does that mean you’re letting me off the hook?”

He studied me again, his face devoid of emotion. “Do you want to be set free from your agreement?”

It was a tricky question. “A deal’s a deal, Skeeter.”

He stood and released a loud groan as he moved to the center of the room.

“Doesn’t having a woman as a partner make you look weaker?”

“Strangely enough, no. You’re strong enough to draw their interest.”

I stood and walked over to him. “I realize you have a lot to lose, but so do I. You chose this life. I fell into it by accident. How long would I have to commit to this role?”

“Until Gentry is gone?” But he seemed unsure, which meant he wasn’t giving me an end date.

“And what about the man calling the shots? Won’t he just take Gentry’s place once his stooge disappears?”

“He’s hiding for a reason. He wants to stay in the shadows. He won’t make himself known.”

“I don’t know.” I turned away from hm. “I’m not saying no, but I’m asking for some time to think about it. It’s a big decision.”

“I’ll give you twenty-four hours. Call me with your answer.”

Only twenty-four hours? If I committed to this and got caught, I could face prison time. Not even Mason would be able to save me…that was, assuming he’d still
want
to help. He’d probably leave me and never look back. But I also had the chance to help him and whoever else was on that evil list. Could I really afford to say no? “Fine. Twenty-four hours. So are we done?”

His mouth turned down into a frown. “You’re free.”

I started for the door, but a sudden thought made me turn around to look at him. “Why didn’t you let Jed stay?”

His jaw worked for a moment, then he said, “Jed doesn’t know anything about our arrangement.”

“But he knows you saved Mason from the fire. He helped you pull him out.”

“He thinks I only did it to help you.”

I wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Why keep it from him? I thought you could trust him.”

“I trust him implicitly. But this is between you and me. No one else needs to know.”

I nodded. I had a feeling he’d made that decision for my benefit and not his own. The gesture wasn’t lost on me. “Thank you.”

“Rose.” He moved to his desk and opened a drawer. “What you said earlier is true. If Gentry has a hit list, there’s a very good chance Deveraux’s name is on it.”

My stomach cramped. “I know.”

“If someone tries to kill him, they might think you’re in the way.” He pulled out a small handgun and shut the drawer. “I want you to take this.”

I shook my head. “I can’t carry a gun around.”

“You need to protect yourself.”

“I don’t even know how to use it.”

“Then go to a gun range.” He shoved it toward me. “Take it.”

“That gun isn’t in my name. I can’t risk Mason finding it and I don’t want to lie about where I got it. I’ll get my own weapon.”

His gaze found mine. “Get it by tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

He put the gun back in his drawer. “You can tell me that you have it when you call me with your answer.”

I nodded. What had I just agreed to? And more importantly, what was I about to get myself into? There was no easy choice here. No black and white. And as I walked out of the room, I couldn’t help wondering if Dora had found her own slippery slope of right and wrong. And I couldn’t help remembering where it had landed her.

In a grave.

Jed didn’t look happy when I walked out of Skeeter’s office. He was pacing in the rec room and his head jerked up as soon as he heard my approach.

“Can you take me back to my truck?”

“Sure thing.” He glanced behind me, and I looked back to see Skeeter standing in the doorway.

“Any word from Merv?” Skeeter asked.

“They’re at Pedro’s, but so far nothing.”

Skeeter nodded. “Let me know if it changes.”

“Will do.”

I shivered from the cold as Jed and I crossed the parking lot in silence. If I continued to do this, I was going to have to get Lady a coat. As Jed opened the back door, I asked, “Can you get my clothes? I’ll change in the back. The windows in my truck aren’t tinted.”

He stumbled and circled around to the trunk. His brow was furrowed when he handed me the bag. “Why are you still outside the car?”

“I need you to unzip me.”

“What?”

“The dress is too tight for me to do it on my own.”

I presented my back to him and he unzipped me halfway down before climbing into the driver’s seat.

I waited until he was on county roads outside of town before I reached around and unzipped my dress the rest of the way. When I got it to my waist, I pulled my sweater over my head, then shimmied the rest of the way out of the dress.

Jed had been quiet the whole way. I could tell he was bothered by my time alone with Skeeter, but I wasn’t sure why. Did he not trust Skeeter or did he not trust me?

“Why are you helping Skeeter?” he finally asked while I was trying to tug on my jeans. “The first time you wanted your money. The second you were trying to protect your boyfriend, but why now?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer him. If Skeeter wasn’t willing to tell anyone the truth about our arrangement, I didn’t want to be forthcoming with the information either. “Mason’s still in danger. I’m positive his name is on Gentry’s list along with Skeeter’s. By helping Skeeter, I’m getting information that will benefit Mason.”

“But you can’t tell Deveraux anything about what goes on while you’re Lady.”

“I know, but I can still figure out a way to tip him off to Gentry.”

He looked in the rearview mirror, catching my gaze. “Skeeter isn’t a long-term kind of guy.”

“What’s that mean?” I asked in confusion.

“It means plenty of women have been hurt by Skeeter Malcolm.”

“Oh!” My eyes widened. “You think I want to sleep with him?” I asked in disbelief.

He didn’t answer; he only averted his gaze from the mirror.

“No! God no. I’m with Mason. I wouldn’t dream of cheating on him. And Skeeter’s not interested in me that way.”

He didn’t respond for several seconds. “Just be careful, Rose.”

“What does that mean?”

He pulled into the Sinclair station parking lot. “I’m gonna follow you to your farm.”

I slipped my foot into a boot. “Why?”

“Things are unsettled right now. I don’t think anyone followed me, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.” He paused. “You have my number and Skeeter’s. If you ever feel unsafe, call us.”

Fear prickled the hair on the back of my neck. How had I managed to forget that working with Skeeter was dangerous? But Mason was in more danger than ever, and I’d just found out information that might affect him, not to mention anyone else on Mick Gentry’s list. I needed to get home and find a way to tell Mason about my vision without giving away my extracurricular activities.

I pulled on my other boot and opened the car door.

“Rose.”

I pulled the door shut and waited.

“You did great tonight. I can tell Skeeter’s impressed, and you earned those men’s respect.”

“That’s what Skeeter said.”

“Reconsider doin’ this.” Both hands gripped the steering wheel. “It’s a rush in the beginning, but soon you’ll grow weary of it. Skeeter would skin me alive for tellin’ you so, but you need to get out now, before you get buried too deep. This isn’t your world, Rose.”

He was right, of course, but it wasn’t that simple. “Thanks, Jed. I’ll think about what you said.” I had lots of pondering to do. Especially over the next twenty-four hours.

I grabbed my bag and climbed into my truck. When I took off, Jed followed an inconspicuous distance behind me. I turned into my driveway a few minutes after ten. Jed drove past and I pulled out my phone to text Neely Kate.

I’m home safe and sound.

I’m just getting home after dropping Granny off. How’d it go?

Good,
I texted back
. I’ll fill you in tomorrow. xoxo

I was worried about her. Given how tired she’d looked all day, I didn’t like the thought of her being out this late. But I didn’t have time to think about it. Muffy’s face was pressed to the living room window and she was barking her head off. Mason’s car was already parked in front of the house, so he had to know I was home.

I stuffed my bag of Lady in Black clothes on the floorboard of the backseat and headed inside. Mason greeted me at the door, sweeping me into his arms and giving me a sweet kiss that reminded me how much I loved him.

“Did you have fun at Bingo?” he asked.

I forced a laugh and hoped it wasn’t too obvious I was faking it. “It was an experience, all right. Neely Kate’s granny takes her Bingo seriously.”

“Did you win?”

“Apparently, I’m unlucky at Bingo but lucky in love, which is all that matters.” I kissed him again to prove the point.

“How’s Neely Kate?”

I pressed my cheek to his chest and slid my arms around his back. “It’s hard to say. Better, I think, but she gets really tired, and one minute she’s fine and the next she’s upset. I think it helped her to be out with friends today, but she’s still a ways off from being okay.”

He kissed my forehead. “You’re a good friend.”

“I’m trying. I hope I’m doin’ enough.”

“I’m sure Neely Kate thinks you are.”

I looked up at him. I needed to figure out how to tell him about the vision. “How long have you been home?”

“Not long. I took Muffy on a short walk when I got home, so she’s ready for bed.”

“Good, because I’m exhausted.” I paused. Since there was never a good time to bring up your boyfriend’s potential murder, now seemed as good a time as any. “Mason?”

He gave me a kiss as his fingers lightly stroked my neck. “Hmm?”

“Has there been any progress in catching Mick Gentry?”

His hand stilled. “Why?”

“I just have a bad feeling about him.”

“Just a bad feeling or something more?” When I didn’t answer, he lifted his head to look into my face. “Did you have a vision?”

At least I could tell him the partial truth, but I was going to have to fabricate part of it, which gnawed at my gut. “Yeah, on the way home from Bingo. I stopped at the gas station. There were several men around, so I’m not sure which guy prompted it.”

“What did you see?”

“I was in a bar, next to another guy sitting at the counter. He had a ball cap pulled low, trying to hide his face. I’m positive it was Mick Gentry.”

He straightened. “You saw Mick Gentry in a vision?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you walked through the door?” he asked in alarm.

“Telling you five minutes ago wouldn’t matter a hill of beans.” I frowned. “And the vision sickened me…I wanted a moment to enjoy your welcome home.”

“What did you see?”

“He was telling someone he had a list of people he was supposed to
take care of
, but he was waiting for confirmation. I got the impression it was a hit list.”

“Did he say who was on the list?”

This was where things got tricky. I didn’t want to lie, but would I be putting Skeeter at risk if I mentioned his name? I decided to do it anyway. Maybe it would help Mason catch Mick, and I wouldn’t feel as much pressure to help Skeeter directly. “Skeeter Malcolm.”

His face paled. “You’re positive?”

I nodded, but his reaction worried me. Why would he be so concerned over Skeeter? “Yes, but Mason, if he has a list, you’re sure to be on it after what happened at Gems.” I grabbed his shirt with both hands. “What if my accident was related to this list?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

“He was waiting for someone to tell him when to start,” I added.

“And you have no idea who?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

He gently grabbed my shoulders. “Was there anything else? I know you said he was in a bar, but did you recognize which bar? Was there a sign or something?”

Skeeter had sent his men to the bar, but what difference did it make if Skeeter caught him or the sheriff’s department? I may have had the vision at Skeeter’s request, but I owed it to Mason to tell him everything I could to save his life. “There were Mexican decorations on the wall—a hat and maracas. And I think saw a sign…Pedro’s?”

His eyes lit up and he leaned over and kissed me hard before grabbing his phone out of his pocket. He started to place a call and stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head and took a step backward. “Nothing. I just better make this call in my office.”

“Why?”

“Fenton County business.”

“But I gave you the lead!”

He ignored me and headed into the library, closing the door behind him as he held the phone up to his ear. He paced as he talked and lifted a hand to the back of his neck. I wondered if I should head upstairs and get ready for bed so I could give him some privacy, but I was still aggravated he was making his call behind those doors. I wasn’t going anywhere.