Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans (32 page)

“Skeeter is only minutes behind us.”

What did it matter? I leaned my head back on the seat and unpinned my hat, laying it on the seat next to me as I blinked to stop the tears that were blurring my vision. Everything I’d done tonight suddenly became overwhelming. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed with Mason, Muffy plastered up against me. Only Mason was locked away, and I couldn’t even talk to him.

The car door opened a couple of minutes later, but I didn’t sit up.

“Lady?” Skeeter asked, sounding worried as he slid in next to me and shut the door.

“My name is
Rose
.” I lifted my head, but it took tremendous effort, like I’d been drugged and every movement was delayed.

“Why did you talk to Winn?”

“Maybe because the gun he pointed at me was pretty convincing.”

Jed must have described that part of the situation to him in some detail, because he didn’t seem surprised. He just said, “What did he tell you?”

“He wanted to know why you were so interested in me. Somehow he figured out that there was a connection between me and the guys who tried to outbid you.”

“What did you say?”

“I asked him what his connection was to Gems.”

Confusion flickered in Skeeter’s eyes. “Why would you ask him that?”

“It was a hunch. He denied being the owner, but when I asked him if he knew who it was, he said he wished he did so he could help him. Then I tried to have a vision and passed out.”

“So you risked your life for
nothing
,” he growled.

“
Not
for nothing. I think he helped the guys who tried to take you down at the auction. I’m pretty sure he was the guy in Bear’s vision. And he admitted that he hates you. That’s
something
.”

His jaw clenched. “So they’re both trying to overthrow me.”

“And kill Mason?”

“Yes, if they murdered the ADA and pinned the blame on me, I’d be out of the picture. They could take over without anyone in their way.” His eyes narrowed. “It’s a helluva plan. And it almost worked.”

“What’s their connection to Gems?”

Skeeter shook his head. “There isn’t one.”

“But you said Gems was trying to put you out of business. It’s connected.”

“No. Neither Stevens nor Winn have anything to do with Gems.”

“You can’t be sure.”

“I am. Trust me. I’ve already checked.”

“But what about Dolly and Nikko?”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

“But—”

“Gems is small fry, Rose. It’s the least of my worries. Go home, get some sleep, and I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

“I’m still looking into it.”

“
Leave it
.” His words were hard, and if he’d used that tone with me weeks ago, I would have been scared.

What I did wasn’t Skeeter Malcolm’s business, but I knew when to pick my battles. “Then you have to promise to tell me whatever you find out about Bear and Neil.”

He didn’t answer.

“Skeeter, you trust me to share everything that I find out. I have to be able to feel the same way.”

He was silent for several seconds, studying the headrest in front of him. Finally he said, “Okay. If I think anything is helpful to you I’ll share it, but you don’t want me to share
everything
. Trust me on that.”

“You’re right about that.” I reached for the door handle. “Can I go now?”

“Yeah.” He sounded distracted.

I opened the door, and he put his hand on my arm. “Jed told me how you handled all of those interviews. I’m impressed.”

I shook my head, and pain shot through every part of my skull. “I did what I had to do to save Mason.”

“It was more solid information than I’ve gotten in weeks. Thank you.”

I turned to look at him, guessing that
thank you
were two words he rarely strung together. “Coming from you, that means a lot. I appreciate everything you’re doing to help me save Mason. I know it would be easier for you if he . . .” My voice trailed off, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”

“Go home,” he said gruffly.

With any luck at all, Mason would be able to come home tomorrow.

Getting back to Maeve’s was tricky. There was a new deputy parked out in front of Maeve’s house, so I left her car around the block and snuck through the shadowy alley to the back door. I made sure to grab my note on the way to my room.

My headache was so bad I was sure I’d never get to sleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

When I woke up the next morning, the sun was shining through the blinds on the window, and Muffy was snuggled against me, snoring lightly. I sat up, and my stomach felt queasy, like I was suffering from a hangover. A vision hangover. At least I knew the consequences of forcing so many visions in a short period of time. I grabbed my phone to check the time and discovered I’d slept until nine-thirty. I also found two texts and three missed calls.

One message was from SM.
Call me
was all it said. The second was from a number I didn’t recognize that read:
This is my temporary number. Call me when you get a chance. Mason.
Two of my missed calls were from them too.

I called Skeeter first, worried he’d send Jed if I didn’t answer right away. He picked up on the first ring.

“Why haven’t you called me?” he grunted, sounding pissed.

“I just woke up, and my phone was on silent.”

“How are you feeling this morning?”

“Better.” I rubbed my temple. “Is Mason safe now?”

“He’s safe. They’ve been contained.”

“Even Neil Winn? Didn’t he run off?”

He hesitated. “Jed took care of him personally.” I didn’t want to think too closely on what he meant by that, but at least I probably didn’t have to worry about Mason anymore.

“Tell Jed thank you. For everything.”

“If you need anything, and I mean
anything
, you call. Do you hear me?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“Yeah . . .” I said, not used to his protectiveness. I wasn’t sure I liked it. “Thanks.”

I called Mason next, and was relieved to hear his voice. “How much longer do you have to stay there?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Joe’s supposed to stop by in a bit so we can discuss it.”

“I’m going to get ready, and then I’ll come by to see you.”

“Okay.”

The third missed call was from Neely Kate.

“How’s Mason?” she asked when I called her.

I realized I hadn’t checked in with her or Bruce Wayne at all the previous afternoon. She didn’t know Mason’s “accident” had truly been a murder attempt. “He’s better.”

“What time do you want to go look for Billy Jack?”

I realized I’d never solved that piece of the puzzle. Where did Billy Jack fit into the mix with Mason and/or Skeeter? What had Seth’s friend meant when he said it was too bad about Billy Jack? “I overslept. I’m going to go check on Mason at the hospital, then we can go.”

“Oh my stars and garters! I thought he just needed stitches in his head!” she said, alarmed. “Is he all right? Why didn’t you call me? You must be a nervous wreck!”

I scrunched my eyes shut. “No, he’s okay. Really. And I’m okay. I’ll tell you about it in a bit. How about I pick you up after I see Mason?”

“Okay . . .”

“I’ll explain everything. I promise.”

Maeve was in the kitchen, kneading dough on her table when I wandered out.

“Are you making homemade bread?” I asked as my stomach growled.

She laughed. “Yes, but it sounds like you need something to eat sooner. There’s a coffee cake on the counter and a fresh pot of coffee.”

I picked up a cake knife next to the plate and started slicing. “You’re spoiling me, Maeve.”

“You must be hungry after being gone so late last night.”

I hesitated, then continued cutting. “Why do you say that?”

“My car is the next block over.”

“I . . .”

She stopped kneading and turned around to face me. “I’m not sure what you were up to, and I’m not going to ask. But I suspect it had something to do with Mason. Am I correct?”

I studied her face for a couple of seconds.

“Something’s goin’ on that Mason doesn’t want me to know about. Am I right?”

I could lie to her, but I didn’t want to. “Yeah.”

“Just be careful, Rose. Mason would be devastated if you got hurt doing something to help him.”

“I know.” I gave her a grim smile. “Are you going to tell him?”

“If he specifically asks if you went out last night, I won’t lie to him, but otherwise I’ll keep it to myself.”

“Thank you.” I paused. “For what it’s worth. I think he’s safe now.”

Relief filled her eyes. “
Thank
you
.”

After I got ready, she offered to watch Muffy while I went to see Mason and help Neely Kate. But she looked a bit nervous.

“I know Violet will be working over at the nursery today,” she said. “What would you think about me going to help her?”

My eyes widened. “Oh.”

“If you’re not comfortable with it, I completely understand. I know you two aren’t getting along right now.”

“We’re working on it,” I said, “but I think it’s a great idea. Violet needs the help, and even if I wasn’t busy today . . . I just can’t.”

“I know, Rose. Give it time.”

Violet and I were going to need more than time.

Once I got to the hospital, I had to get through two guards to get into Mason’s room. He was on the phone and pacing when I walked up to him. He looked over at me, and a grin tugged at his lips. “I have to go,” he said, then hung up, sliding his phone into the front pocket of his jeans. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

He pulled me into a hug and kissed me, showing me how much he’d missed me.

“We need to get you home,” I murmured against his lips. “Soon.”

“I like the sound of that. We’ll have to wait and hear what Joe’s found out.”

Stupid me. I hadn’t stopped to consider that I couldn’t tell Joe or Mason what I’d found out with Skeeter last night. “Does he have any leads?”

“Last time I talked to him, no.”

I tried to hide my disappointment. I had to figure out a way for Joe to discover what I already knew—who’d been out to get Mason.

“What do you have planned today?” he asked.

“Neely Kate and I are going to try to track down Dolly’s ex-boyfriend so we can talk to him again.”

“I don’t—”

The door opened, and Mason tensed, putting himself between me and the door—the first time he’d shown how seriously he was taking this situation.

“Relax,” Joe said. “It’s just me.”

“Did you find something?” I asked, stepping around Mason.

Joe’s gaze landed on me. “No,” he admitted with a sigh. “But we’ve got a few leads.”

Crappy doodles. I really needed to figure out how to tell them.

“That’s something,” Mason said.

“Well, there’s something else . . .” Joe didn’t look too happy to admit it. “We’re going to move you to a safe house.”

“Where?” I asked.

Joe gave me a grim smile. “It wouldn’t be a safe house if I told you, now would it?”

“Can I go with him?”

“No,” both men said.

Their answer didn’t surprise me. “How long will he be in hiding?”

“Until I know the threat’s eliminated.” Joe took a couple of steps into the room. “Rose, I need you to say goodbye to Mason and take off.”

“Why?”

“We have some official matters to discuss.”

I hesitated, and Mason’s eyes found mine. “It’s okay, Rose.”

I nodded. I knew he was probably safe now. Skeeter would take care of the threat against him, if he hadn’t already, but I was still nervous. I had a hunch that Gems and Dolly Parton’s disappearance were connected to Mason somehow. I just couldn’t put it together.

“One more thing, Rose,” Joe said. “Until we know the threat is gone, you’re going to have a deputy shadow.”

If I was actually in danger, I would have been relieved. Instead, I had a feeling this was going to be a huge hindrance. “Shouldn’t you have all your deputies working on Mason’s case?”

“Assigning you a deputy
is
working on Mason’s case.”

“Is it Deputy Miller?”

He grinned. “The deputy’s waiting outside the door for you.”

Mason turned to Joe. “Can you give us a moment?”

Joe mumbled something under his breath and left the room.

Mason tugged me flush against him, wrapping an arm around my back and looking into my eyes. “Rose, it’s not safe to go traipsing around Fenton County right now. I know you’re hanging out with Neely Kate today, so why don’t you two do something low key? Maybe you could go get pedicures, my treat.”

“I’ll be fine. Just come home soon, okay?”

His smile fell. “I’m not sure when I’ll get to talk to you again. I won’t be able to make any calls.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. “But—”

He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me until I was breathless. When he finally pulled away, he said, “Don’t forget me while I’m gone.”

“Not likely.” I gave him one last kiss. “Be safe.”

“You too.”

I opened the door and found Joe leaning his shoulder against the wall.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

His grin was back. “Deputy Hoffstetter is ready to escort you.”

“Deputy
Hoffstetter?
” I asked in dismay. “She hates me!”

His grin turned ornery. “Maybe so, but she’ll watch you like a hawk hopin’ to catch you doing something you shouldn’t be doin’. I can’t think of anyone more determined to watch your every move.”

That’s precisely what had me worried.

Deputy Abbie Lee Hoffstetter was waiting for me at the end of the hall. Her red hair was pulled back into a bun, and her hands were on her hips. She eyed me like I was a three-day-old tuna sandwich on rye.

“Well, well, well,
Ms.
Gardner,” she said. She took a step toward me and stood with her feet shoulder-width apart. “You and I get to spend some quality time together.” Her eyes narrowed. “Thanks for that.”