Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans (14 page)

Neely Kate didn’t seem to know how to handle a Joe who was looking out for her safety. She was too used to being angry with him.

Joe turned his attention to me. “The real question is, what did you say to set her off?”

“Me?” I shouted. “Why do you assume it’s
me?
”

“Isn’t it always? I have a group of older women who all corroborate that you came into the community center to talk to one Ms. Tabitha Stone, the suspect who allegedly attacked Neely Kate. Do you deny it?”

And here I thought he was actually being nice for a change. “I’m not saying another word until my attorney gets here.”

“You can’t use the man who’s gonna file charges against you as your personal defense attorney.”

“Who says I need one?” I lifted my eyebrows. “I thought you said the witnesses said we were completely innocent.”

“The witnesses said
Neely Kate
was completely innocent. You, Rose Gardner, rarely are.”

Neely Kate snorted.

I gave him an indignant look. “I’m waitin’ for Mason.”

Mason arrived five minutes later. As soon as he got out of the car, his gaze scanned the growing crowd until it landed on me.

Joe was talking to a group of older women, but he watched as Mason made a beeline toward me and Neely Kate. As soon as he reached me, Mason pulled me into a tight hug and looked over his shoulder at my friend. “Are you girls okay? Neely Kate?”

“I’m fine, Mason,” Neely Kate said. “Really. I’ve called the doctor, and he says not to worry as long as I don’t notice any problems. Thanks for sending Joe.”

“I was worried. I know the deputy is ambivalent toward Rose—”

I broke away and put my hands on my hips. “Joe pretty much said the same thing. Why does she hate me? I’ve never even met the woman before she showed up at our house the other night.”

Mason turned sheepish. “She knows . . . your dating history.”

“What does that mean?”

“She knows you dated Joe and then started dating me a month or so later. I’ve been told that she thinks you’re a badge bunny.”

“A
what?
”

He looked embarrassed. “She thinks you’re fixated on law enforcement officers.”

I shook my head. “That doesn’t make any sense. You’re not a law enforcement officer.”

He shrugged, his cheeks beginning to go pink. “But I am
in
law enforcement. I file the charges.”

I knew him well enough to know he was keeping something from me. “There’s more. What aren’t you sayin’?”

“Some of the other deputies have told me that she thinks you fabricate or set up situations to get yourself into trouble so the police will be called.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” Neely Kate shouted. “Is she
crazy?
”

The deputy turned to stare at my friend, and I grabbed Neely Kate’s arm. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not!”

It wasn’t, but I was used to people thinking the worst of me. So why did it still hurt so much? “Who else thinks that?”

“No one, Rose.” Mason pulled me into another hug. “No one that I know of.”

“Would you tell me?”

“Yes. I would.” He kissed my forehead and pulled back.

“Oh, my stars and garters,” Neely Kate exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes. “She’s jealous!”

“What?” I asked, glancing up at Mason. His cringe confirmed it.

“He
was
the second most eligible bachelor in Fenton County,” Neely Kate said, “before
you
took him off the market. It’s not too much of a stretch to figure out that Abbie Lee Hoffstetter wants your boyfriend.”

Mason looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. “I’m gonna get Joe over here so you two can give your statements, okay?”

“Yeah.”

He lifted my chin, searching my eyes. “Are you okay? Really?”

I took a second to answer. “Yes, but I need you to know that this wasn’t my fault, Mason.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “I know that. I never doubted you, Rose.”

“Thank you.”

He gave me a gentle kiss and left me with Neely Kate. A few moments later, he and Joe walked back together. They didn’t exactly look comfortable standing so close to each other, but at least they weren’t about to start a brawl of their own.

Joe studied Neely Kate and me for several seconds, then turned to me. “Ms. Stone says you were asking about Dolly Parton Parker.”

“I was.”

“You don’t know either of these women. What are you up to?”

My chest filled with indignation. “You very well know that Dolly is Neely Kate’s cousin. I asked you about her just yesterday. We’re trying to find her.”

“So what are you doing down here at a place that was busted for meth distribution just a week ago?”

“I came here to ask Tabitha if she knew where Dolly was. I went to her house first and her . . . boyfriend told me she was here. Since all y’all won’t look for her, and Neely Kate’s got a bad feeling about her disappearance, we figured someone had to check it out.”

“And did Ms. Stone tell you where she was?”

“No, she didn’t know. Which is another reason why y’all need to be looking for her.”

“The fact that she’s missing doesn’t mean she’s in trouble.” Joe grunted in frustration. “You have to take her history into consideration. She’s run off before. Neely Kate having a feeling that something isn’t right doesn’t mean I can take deputies off cases with real evidence to go on a wild goose chase.”

I started to protest, but Joe held up his hands. “There are only so many deputies, Rose. Our resources are limited.”

I glared at him. “Yet Deputy Hoffstetter has time to stalk me.”

He sighed. “She wasn’t stalking you. She was doing a drive-by of the community center. I told you that we had a big bust here last week.”

I scowled. His explanation sounded plausible, but I wasn’t sure if I bought it. “Mason?” I asked, turning to him.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I’m going to have to side with Joe on this one. Dolly’s run off before, and the sheriff’s department has its hands full with other, more pressing cases.” He glanced at Joe. “If she doesn’t turn up in a few more days, maybe you can reconsider.”

Joe gave a brisk nod. “Let me know if she hasn’t turned up by Friday afternoon, and I’ll see if I can spare someone.”

I could see their point, even if I didn’t like it. Friday afternoon was two days away.

“I’ve got to get back to the office,” Joe said, glancing at the crowd before turning to look at me. “Rose, I’d tell you to stay out of trouble, but that would be wasted breath.” Then he walked off before I could respond.

Mason looked like he wanted to go after Joe and throttle him.

“Mason, I’m going to keep looking for my cousin,” Neely Kate said defiantly.

He nodded, his anger fading. “There’s nothing wrong with you looking for her. Just try to steer clear of people who have a personal vendetta against either one of you, okay?” He grinned. “And I thought everyone liked you, Neely Kate.”

Neely Kate crossed her arms over her chest. “She tried to steal my husband days before my wedding. Ronnie dated her in high school. She hates me because Ronnie chose me.”

Mason’s grin widened. “And that confirms what I already knew: Ronnie is an intelligent man.”

“I know, right?” Neely Kate beamed. “But that’s why I had Rose talk to her. I figured Tabitha wouldn’t tell me a thing.”

Mason put his arm around my waist and tugged me to his side. “I know you didn’t do anything wrong, but I feel the need to reiterate that if you continue to pursue this matter, you shouldn’t put yourselves into dangerous situations.”

Neely Kate nodded solemnly. “We’ll steer clear of crazy ex-cons in the future.”

What
had
Tabitha done that made her an ex-con?

“I have to get back to work,” he said, leaning over to give me a kiss. “Check in with me today so I know you’re safe, okay?”

I looked up into his face, feeling so lucky that this man was mine. “I love you, Mason.”

He pulled me flush against him and gave me a toe-curling kiss, right there in front of everyone. Then he lifted his head with a grin. “I’m counting on that.”

“Deputy Abbie Lee is fuming right now,” Neely Kate laughed.

I didn’t even look at her; I just watched Mason walk back to his car, still in a daze. Neely Kate looped her arm through mine. “Come on, love bird. We’ve got work to do.”

We got back in my truck and I turned to her. “Tabitha really doesn’t know where Dolly Parton is. Apparently she hasn’t talked to her much since your wedding.”

“Dolly picked me over Tabitha?” she asked in surprise. “She didn’t tell me.”

“It sounds like it. But she told me something that doesn’t mesh with what Billy Jack told us. He said Dolly broke his TV on the way out the door, but Tabitha said she heard from a friend that Dolly had broken it a couple of weeks ago.”

“Why would he lie? What’s he hiding?”

“I don’t know, but Tabitha said your cousin was working somewhere new. A place called Gems.”

Neely Kate tapped a finger to her cheek. “I knew she’d started working there, but I’d hoped she’d come to her senses and quit. I suppose we should go there next.”

“Sounds like it, but don’t you need to go back to work?”

Neely Kate shrugged. “I think maybe I can sneak away for another hour or so before Stella the Hun realizes I’ve gone.” She forced a smile. “So let’s go to Gems.”

“There’s only one problem: I’ve never heard of it. Do you know where it is?”

“It’s down Highway 79, outside of Holler Creek.”

I pulled out of the parking lot and headed straight for Holler Creek. “Tabitha mentioned that Gems wasn’t a good place to work. Something about her boss, Mud, being up to no good. Do you know what that’s about?”

“No,” she said, looking out the window, deep in thought. “But I’m not surprised. It’s a new place and maybe a little shady.”

It
was
southern Fenton County. “Do you think it’s safe?”

“Yeah.” She waved her hand. “I think it’s fine.”

Neely Kate’s phone went off, filling the truck cab with her ringtone. The cringe on her face when she glanced at the screen was at odds with the happy song still filling the car. “It’s the courthouse.” She pressed the screen and held the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

The shouting from the other end was almost loud enough for me to hear each and every word.

Holding the phone away from her ear, Neely Kate said, “I had to run an errand. I told—”

There was more shouting and then nothing.

“What happened?” I asked as she lowered the phone.

“The good news is I don’t have to worry about getting back to work. I just got fired.”

“Neely Kate. I’m so sorry.” I reached over to grab her hand. “Maybe I should take you home. The whole day has been pretty traumatic.”

Her mouth tilted up into a grim smile. “Rose, you and I both know how much I hate that job. Let the old Nazi have it.”

Despite her words to the contrary, I knew Neely Kate was upset at the prospect of being unemployed. “Maybe Joe can tell her about why you were late if she—”

“It’s okay, Rose. I’ll be happier without that job.”

I had no doubts about that, but she wasn’t the only person it concerned. “What will Ronnie say?”

She smiled even though her eyes brimmed with tears. “That’s just it. Ronnie won’t care. He’s been bugging me to quit for months.”

“Well, see there? You hated your job, and Ronnie wanted you to quit. It’s a win/win situation.”

“But I wanted to decorate the nursery for little Ronnie Jr. I want to get him new furniture, not ugly hand-me-down stuff from my cousins.”

“You still can. Maybe you can get another job. A temporary one until you have the baby.”

“Who’s gonna hire a pregnant woman?”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I’m pretty sure it’s against the law to discriminate like that.”

“We’re living in Fenton County, Arkansas. Do you really think most employers here actually
care
about the law?”

Neely Kate had a point. “Violet’s going to need help in the nursery. Maybe you can work part-time there.”

She released a short laugh. “
Me
and Violet working together? Did Tabitha shake something loose in your head when she knocked you down?”

“No, but my side sure hurts.” I turned to her with a grin.

She was quiet for a moment. “Thanks for having my back in that mess.”

My smile dropped, and I glanced into her eyes for a second before turning back to the road. “Always, Neely Kate.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek and a mischievous grin spread across her face. “I’m glad to hear
that
.”

“Why do I already regret saying that?”

She laughed. “Because you’re a smart woman, Rose Gardner.”

I asked Neely Kate to tell me about some of the nursery ideas she’d found on the Internet, assuring her that everything would work out and she’d be able to decorate Ronnie Jr.’s room however she pleased once she had confirmation he was a boy.

“You could just have a vision and tell me now,” she said. “It would save me an awful lot of aggravation.”

I pressed my lips together. “You know how I feel about that.”

She released an exaggerated sigh. “I guess it’s for the best. I’ve always wanted to be a chef, and after I confirm Ronnie Jr.’s a boy, I’ll be too busy decorating to cook anymore.”

I squinted. “Since when have you wanted to be a chef?”

She gave me a half-shrug.

I suddenly wondered if I was being played.

Before I could confront her, we drove into the tiny town of Holler Creek, which consisted of a shabby gas station/convenience store, a café, a used bookstore, and a post office.

“Where’s Gems?”

“I think it’s just outside of city limits. A lot of towns don’t like to be associated with establishments like that.”

“You mean bars?”

Neely Kate pointed straight ahead. “Turn there on County Road 135.”

We drove about a half-mile before a big clearing appeared to the left. “She works at the race track?” I asked, confused. They’d put a dirt track in a few years before, but I was pretty sure they only raced once or twice a week.