Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments: Rose Gardner Mystery #7 (33 page)

He was surprisingly quiet.

“I’m coming to see you to settle this nonsense. Where are you?”

“I’m at the pool hall, but I don’t want you comin’ back here. I’ll meet you at the Sinclair station in twenty minutes.”

“Make it thirty. Now that I know I won’t be kidnapped on the streets of Henryetta, I need to get my truck back.”

“Fine.” He hung up without so much as a goodbye, not that I was surprised. Skeeter wasn’t so fond of formalities, but the conversation had me stumped. He was acting surprisingly docile.

I drove to Maeve’s, calling her on the way to let her know I was coming to get my truck back. Moments after I parked in the alley behind her house, she came out to greet me. I pushed her garage door opener button so I could pull her car in next to my truck.

“I take it the coast is clear,” she said as soon as I climbed out of the car. “You no longer have to hide?”

“No, and while I’m not asking you to lie to Mason, I’d prefer for him not to know about this.”

She smiled and handed me the keys for my truck. “Your secret is safe with me. I’ll help in any way I can.”

I grinned. “Well, in that case I may need you to help with our grocery shopping when things settle down. I hate going to the Peach Orchard store.”

“I thought Mason got your Piggly Wiggly shopping rights reinstated.”

I grimaced. “He did. Until I lost them again.” No need to tell her Mason was the one who’d told them off and pledged never to shop there again.

She laughed. “I’m sure there’s a story there you can tell at Sunday dinner. And of course I’ll help.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a hug and waved goodbye as I got into my truck.

I was nervous about meeting Skeeter, and I knew I needed a plan, but darned if I had one. I knew I needed to stick to my guns about quitting the Lady in Black business, but it didn’t feel right to renege on our deal, even if he was a criminal. Skeeter was right—it didn’t take a genius to see that he was a better option than Daniel Crocker or Mick Gentry.

My anxiety over Maeve’s pronouncement had mushroomed too. It had taken me a couple of hours, but I’d figured out the other powerful man in her vision.
Of course
it was Skeeter. Maeve had told me I was supposed to save them both. The visions I’d had for Skeeter seemed to support the theory that his life and Mason’s were tied together, and I knew both were likely on Mick Gentry’s list. What if playing the role of the Lady in Black was the only way I could save them
both?

A sedan was backed into the space behind the Sinclair station and Skeeter got out of the driver’s door as I pulled in next to him. I was surprised he didn’t drive a flashier car. Or a truck.

He opened my door. “Lady.”

“Just Rose,” I said as I slid off the seat.

Rather than answering, he opened the back door of his car and waited for me get in.

I looked up at him, surprisingly not scared. “Do I need to worry about getting into the back of this car?”

He still didn’t answer, his expression guarded. I had no idea where he planned to take me, but I had my Taser in my purse, should I need it. But I wouldn’t. Skeeter might be a dangerous man, but I knew there was a different side to him—one I had seen but that he usually hid from the rest of world. Maybe that’s why Jed wasn’t here with him.

I climbed in, surprised when he slid in next to me. After moving over to let him in, I waited for him to speak. I’d asked for this meeting, but he’d made sure it was held on his turf. I was okay with that. That’s where the Lady in Black belonged.

He stared straight ahead for several moments, resting his hands on his knees. When he spoke, he didn’t budge his gaze from the windshield. “I may have overreacted this afternoon.”

“You think?” I let out a laugh before I realized what I was doing.

He shot me an irritated glance. “I’m trying to apologize and it doesn’t come naturally, so cut me some slack.”

“Sorry. Go on.”

“You’re more valuable to me than I think you realize. When you interrogate people for me, you’re protected. You’re no good to me dead,” he said, sounding irritated.

“That’s the sweetest thing you could ever say,” I teased.

His gaze found mine. “I mean it, Rose.”

“Skeeter, I realize—”

“Which is why this won’t work.”

I froze. “What are you talking about?”

He ran a hand over his head. “You were right. What I did today was stupid. I can’t afford stupid. Especially not now. This needs to end.”

“What does that mean?”

“I can’t let you work for me anymore. It’s putting you at risk. Hell, Rich Lowry figured it out at Gems. If
he
knew how valuable you are, it won’t take long for anyone else to put it together. Once they do, you’re a sitting duck.” He shook his head. “Shit, you probably already are.” His eyes hardened. “Why didn’t you tell me someone tried to run you off the road?”

“How did you—” I shook my head. He had ways of finding out anything, so there was no point in focusing on the “how” of it. “I don’t think they were trying to kill
me
. I was driving Mason’s car. Whoever has his name on that list was probably behind it.”

“Maybe, but I’m not so sure. They could have been after you.”

“Why would someone want to kill me?”

“To get to me. To get to Deveraux. To get to that damned deputy sheriff.” He cocked his head with an ugly smile. “Should I go on?”

“That’s nonsense. No one wants me dead. Especially over you. No one knows I’m helpin’ you.”

“That’s not true. Your boy knows.”

“
Bruce Wayne?
” I asked, offended. “And he’s not my
boy
. He’s my
partner
and business associate. He’s scared to death for me, and he wouldn’t tell a soul. He’s sure you’ll get tired of me and put a bullet in my head.”

“And you’re not worried that I will?” he asked, his words laced with menace.

“No.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Rose,” he said with a low growl.

“You’ve told me that before, but I’m not scared of you, Skeeter Malcolm. I think
you
underestimate
yourself
.”

His eyes were expressionless as they peered into mine. “I could kill you right now and no one would be the wiser. I know you didn’t tell anyone you were meeting me and no one knows I’m here with you.”

“Not even Jed?”

“Especially not Jed.” He moved closer to me. “I know where his loyalty lies.”

For the first time since I’d pulled up, I was nervous. Skeeter didn’t suffer disloyalty and his justice was harsh. “What in the world are you talkin’ about? Jed is loyal to
you
, Skeeter.”

“He’s loyal to you first.”

I shook my head, tasting bile on tongue. “No, he—”

“I know he called you.”

His sentence hung in the air and I struggled to regain control of my racing heart.

He released a heavy breath and leaned over his legs, his face in his hands. “I knew takin’ over Crocker’s role wouldn’t be easy. I expected to fight for my foothold, even after I won it. I thought your talent could help me, but it’s only brought me more complications. Now I have disloyalty within my ranks.”

I grabbed his beefy bicep, choking on my panic. “Skeeter, please don’t hurt him.”

He turned to me, surprise in his eyes when he saw my tears. “You care for him?” Jealousy slipped into the end, catching me by surprise. Was he jealous I’d usurped his place with Jed?

“How could I not? He’s protected me, Skeeter. He’s put his life on the line for me more than once—on your orders!”

“
You love him?
”

His words boomed through the car and I cringed and dropped my hold. “Love him? No! I love Mason.”

“Then why do you give a damn what happens to him?”

“Because he’s my
friend
.”

“Your friend,” he spat out in disgust.

“Why is that so hard to believe?
You’re
my friend.”

He shook his head with a sneer. “I’m no one’s friend.”

“Not even Jed’s?” I asked in disbelief.

“No.”

I stared at him in shock. “Why not?”

“I told you. I can’t afford to care about anyone or anything.”

My heart was heavy with the implications of what he’d said. “Then what are you fightin’ for? What’s the point of
any
of this?”

He turned to face the front again, leaning over his legs. “Power.”

“Skeeter, listen to me.” At first he resisted when I grabbed his hand, but then I tugged it between both of mine. “A year ago, I didn’t have friends and I was miserable. My mother had convinced me that I was a terrible person and I didn’t deserve happiness. But she was wrong. I don’t know who’s convinced you otherwise, but they were wrong too.”

“Happiness?” he scoffed, trying to jerk his hand away. I wouldn’t let him.

“Skeeter, you have to care about someone or something or what’s the point of any of this?”

He pulled loose and opened the car door and got out. Leaning over, one hand resting at the top of the door, he said, “It’s time for you to go.”

“No!” I shouted. “You can’t just dismiss me like that, Skeeter! I won’t let you.”

He leaned his face into the open doorway. “I just did. You’ve done nothing but throw my world into chaos, Rose Gardner, and I’m done. Get out.”

I climbed out, my temper surging. “You know I’m right, but you’re too scared to admit it.”

“Scared?” he shouted. “I’m not scared of
anything
.” His hand curled around my throat, but it was all for show. He’d used more pressure the last time he’d tried this tactic.

“Is that your answer?” I shouted back. “You don’t like what I say so you’re gonna kill me?”

“Are
you
scared yet?”

“No.” I said through gritted teeth. “Go ahead and do it.”

His fingers curled tighter as he watched my eyes, then he dropped his hand and spun away, cursing a blue streak.

“Are you ready to talk about this like an adult or are you gonna continue to act like a toddler throwing a tantrum?”

He spun back around to face me, his expression full of bewilderment. Then he dropped his hand, leaned over his legs, and burst out laughing.

I put my hands on my hips, still fuming. “What’s so funny?”

He swung a hand toward me as he rose. “You.”

I shook my head, trying to come up with a retort.

“There’s only one other person in my whole life who has gotten away with talkin’ to me like that. Do you wanna know who?”

“Who?”

“My great-grandma Idabelle.”

“Well, then it’s about damn time, don’t you think?”

His laughter died down and he turned solemn.

I walked over to him, stopping a couple of feet away from his chest, and looked up into his face. Part of me questioned why I was doing this. I’d gotten my out. I could have walked away, but I was listening to my instincts, just like Maeve had advised me to do. They were telling me that not only did this man need me, but I needed him too. “I’ll continue to work for you as the Lady in Black until you and Mason are no longer in danger, but I have a few conditions.”

He threw his hands up in exasperation. “I said I’m cutting you loose.”

“No you’re not. You need me right now, and I help my friends.”

“Friends?” He took several steps back and pointed at me. “I’m not your
friend
.”

I advanced toward him, hands on my hips again. “Well, I’m
your
friend, so suck it up and deal with it.”

He burst out laughing again, a real belly laugh that filled the cold night air and brought a smile to my face.

“What are your conditions?” he asked when he settled down.

“You’re not going to punish Jed.”

His face hardened. “I can’t entertain disloyalty, Rose. If my men catch wind that I didn’t reprimand him, I could have a mutiny on my hands.”

“I’m not sure how they’d even find out, but if they do, tell them he works for me now.”

He shook his head in confusion. “
What?
”

“If he’s going to be my bodyguard whenever I’m with you, then I have to have his total loyalty, right? His job is to protect me. In all things. Even when it comes to you.”

He studied me while he scratched his chin. “That works.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief.

“What else?”

“You don’t have any control over me when I’m not the Lady in Black. You can’t boss me around. You can’t send Merv all over town lookin’ for me.”

He watched me for a second. “I’ll agree, but I have a condition of my own.”

“What’s that?”

“I know you’re stickin’ your nose all over the county sniffin’ things out, but from now on, you discuss your extracurricular activities with me.”

“What? I just told you that my private business is off limits!”

He gave me a smug smile. “Are you done with your own tantrum?”

I crossed my arms over my chest and jutted out my hip out in response.

He laughed, a genuine laugh, then turned serious. “I meant what I said the other day. I want you as a partner, Rose. While I understand your reluctance to accept payment or reward, I can give you something that you could find more valuable than monetary gain: Information. Protection.”

The stiffness left my shoulders. This might work. “I’m listening.”

He took a step closer. “I know things in this county. Let me use what I know to help you. And if you’re looking into something, I can tell you if you’re in danger and send Jed as backup.”

I squinted. “You’re suggesting that I snoop on a regular basis.”

His eyebrows rose and he smirked at me. “Don’t you?”

Every time I got wrapped up in an investigation, I told myself that it was a unique situation and it would never happen again. Maybe it was time to accept that these predicaments were part of my life now. “And you’re not gonna try to stop me?”

He laughed. “I’ve learned that trying to stop you is like spitting on a forest fire. So the next best thing I can think to do is offer my assistance. Giving you information isn’t illegal. Besides, as I already told you, you’re good at this. Why would I stand in the way of a God-given talent?”